The 26th meeting of the West Zonal Council began on Monday at Hotel Leela in Gandhinagar under the chairmanship of union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah. During the meeting, the Union Home Minister emphasised the efforts of cooperative federalism to empower the states and promote a better understanding of the policy framework between the centre and the states. At the same time, he also advocated the use of zonal councils for resolving mutual disputes and promoting cooperative federalism.
The council meeting was attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, along with the administrators of Gujarat, Goa, the union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman Diu. Apart from the chief secretaries, advisors, and other senior officers of the state governments and union territories, the union home secretary, the secretary of the interstate council, and several senior officers of the central government have attended the meeting. The West Zonal Council meeting will discuss issues of direct benefit transfer (DBT), telecommunication and internet network expansion, and issues of common regional interest, including infrastructure, minerals, water supply, the environment, forests, and the re-organisation of states. Under Section 15-22 of the States Re-organisation Act, 1956, five zonal councils were established in the country in 1957. The union Home Minister is the chairman of these five Zonal Councils.
Following issues will be discussed:
1. There will be a discussion on the margin issues of the villages of Gujarat falling in the union Territory, which includes Meghwal, Nagar, Raimal, and Madhuban villages. 2. The issue of the transfer of the land of Gujarat falling in the territory of Diu Daman to Diu Daman 3. Branches of banks, all issues related to postal banking, the issue of Aadhaar cards, and DBT 4. Speedy investigation of anti-women cases, rape cases, and sexual harassment cases 5. Quick editing of the cases coming into the fast-track court 6. Continuously increasing tariff charges on water sent from Gujarat to Diu. 7. Motor Vehicle Scrap Policy 8. Status of PACS implementation 9. Ayushman Yojana. 10. Malnutrition. 11. School drop-out ratio 12. Presentation of all the states
