Haryana Chief Secretary Dr. TVSN Prasad chaired the 21st meeting of the Standing Committee of the Northern Zonal Council today at Hotel Lalit, Chandigarh. The meeting was attended by Sh. K. Moses Chalai, Secretary of the Inter State Council Secretariat (ISCS), Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh Sh. Prabodh Saxena, Chief Secretary of Rajasthan Sh. Sudhansh Pant, Chief Secretary of Punjab Sh. KAP Sinha, and senior officers from the participating States, Union Territories (UTs), and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Participating states included Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh, along with the UTs of Ladakh, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Jammu and Kashmir.Various important matters discussed in the meeting of NZC held under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Sh Amit Shah at Amritsar last year were also discussed in the meeting.
Councils facilitate discussions on a wide range of issues, fostering mutual understanding and cooperation
In his welcome address, Dr. Prasad highlighted the importance of Zonal Councils in promoting cooperative federalism, which empowers states and enhances coordination between the Centre and the states within the policy framework. He said that these councils facilitate discussions on a wide range of issues, fostering mutual understanding and cooperation.
The Chief Secretary emphasized that the Zonal Council meetings enable a coordinated approach to address critical social and economic development issues. This collaborative environment aids in resolving pending matters amicably between the Centre and the states, as well as among the participating states, and allows them to share and adopt best practices.
Dr. Prasad invited participants to explore Rakhigarhi and to visit the holy land of Kurukshetra
Dr. Prasad also expressed pride in Haryana’s rich cultural heritage, inviting participants to explore Rakhigarhi in district Hisar, the site of one of the oldest civilizations, and to visit the holy land of Kurukshetra, where Lord Krishna delivered the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita.
Speedy investigation of cases of rape and sexual offences against women and children
The meeting also stressed upon the need of speedy investigation of cases of rape and sexual offences against women and children. The Government in 2018 approved the Criminal Law ( Amendment ) Act 2018 prescribing stringent provisions for sexual offences including award of death penalty in the rape of a girl below the age of 12 years of age.
In order to ensure compliance to the two months timeline for completion of investigation under the the Criminal Law ( Amendment ) Act 2018, advisories are being issued to all the States, UTs along with compliance reports urging them for hundred percent compliance in order for the effective implementation of the Act, the measures to strengthen investigation and prosecution machinery will instill a sense of security amongst women.
Several important inter-state issues discussed
Several inter state issues were also discussed in the meeting including need for neighbouring states to shift to cleaner fuels such as piped natural gas in their industries, complete ban on manufacturing, storage, sale ( including delivery through online marketing platforms) and bursting of all kinds of crackers in NCR , vehicular pollution control : BS VI vehicles registration and electric vehicle promotion and discourage entry of non-destined truck into Delhi.
A total of 69 issues were discussed in the 21st meeting of the Standing Committee of Northern Zonal Council. Out of these several issues have been identified as important topics at the national level, these are being regularly discussed and monitored in the meetings of various zonal councils.
These included Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana , effective implementation of Direct Benefit Transfer for Social Security Schemes, addressing malnutrition among girl children through Poshan Abhiyan, dropout rate of school children, Sahakar-se-Samriddhi, good practices of States and UTs, improving banking services in rural areas, speedy investigation of cases regarding rape and sexual offences against women and children and setting up of fast track court for such cases.
States/UT shared best practices
During the meeting, the participating states and UTs gave presentations on the good practices adopted by them. From Rajasthan, Special Secretary Planning Anupama Jorwal gave presentation on Smart shift from paper to pixel and Rajasthan Jan Aadhar Yojna, from Chandigarh SP Head Quarter Chandigarh Ketan Bansal on Implementation of New Criminal Laws, from Haryana Additional Chief Secretary Raja Shekhar Vundru on AHD Department , Dr Saket Kumar on Energy Department and Amneet P Kumar on WCD Haryana.
From Himachal Pradesh Secretary Ashish Singhmar gave presentation on Child Protection Schemes and Director Fisheries Vivek Chandel on Trout Fish Farming in Cages, a new step towards blue revolution, from Ladakh Sajad Mufti on India’s first dark sky reserve ‘Hanle’ and from Punjab Ajoy Sharma gave presentation on Door Step Service Delivery, Barnala Pahunch and Future Tycoons.
In his closing remarks Chief Secretary Dr. TVSN Prasad praised the innovative practices shared by the states, emphasizing that the meeting served as an excellent platform for collaboration and the exchange of ideas. Vote of thanx was presented by Special Secretary Monitoring and Coordination Dr Priyanka Soni .