Patna, Bihar: – The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, chaired the 26th meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council in Patna today. The meeting, attended by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and senior ministers from Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand, focused on various regional development and cooperation issues.
In his address, Home Minister Amit Shah acknowledged the cultural significance of the eastern region and its historical role as a center for major educational institutions. He highlighted the region’s contribution to industrial development and the remarkable achievements of patriots in shaping the nation, both pre and post-independence. The eastern states, including Bihar, Orissa, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, were recognized for their rich mineral resources, playing a pivotal role in meeting the country’s needs.
Amit Shah emphasized that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of cooperative federalism has been successfully implemented in the last nine years. He pointed out the increase in Zonal Council meetings under PM Modi’s leadership, showcasing the effectiveness of the Team India concept.
During the three-hour meeting, Home Minister Shah stated that 1157 issues have been resolved in previous Zonal Council meetings, with an emphasis on avoiding political differences and promoting a liberal approach in issue resolution. Key national issues such as malnutrition, school dropout rates, Fast Track Special Courts for rape cases, banking facilities, and agricultural credit societies were discussed. The Home Minister stressed the need for a three-monthly review at the Chief Minister, Minister, and Chief Secretary levels.
The meeting included presentations from all four states – Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha – showcasing successful practices implemented in their respective regions. Land acquisition updates for railway projects and discussions on the caste-based survey in Bihar were also part of the agenda.
Shah assured that the Central government had no intention of hindering the caste-based survey, expressing confidence that any issues related to it would be resolved by the state government.
In conclusion, the Home Minister highlighted the advisory role of Zonal Council meetings and shared that, based on his experience, these meetings have effectively resolved numerous issues. The meeting concluded with in-depth discussions on 48 issues, resulting in the mutual consent resolution of 28 issues.