‘Listen to needs of people, work for their upliftment’
Guvs have important role, says Prez
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 23: President Ram Nath Kovind said today that the Governors have very important role in the Constitutional system as they can give all proper guidance by using the Constitutional powers given to them to improve lives of the people who have remained relatively behind in terms of development.
In his opening remarks at 50th annual conference of Governors and Lieutenant Governors in New Delhi, Kovind, in an emphatic reference to welfare of tribals, said that development and empowerment of tribals is linked to inclusive growth as well as to our internal security.
“The Governors can give all the proper guidance by using the Constitutional powers given to them, to improve the lives of the people, who have remained relatively behind in terms of development,” he said, as per an official statement.
Kovind said the Governors’ role becomes even more important when “we are emphasizing on ‘Cooperative Federalism’ and healthy ‘Competitive Federalism’ in the interest of progress of the country.”
He added that all Governors have abundant experience in public life.
“The people of the country should get maximum benefit of this experience. Ultimately, we all work for the public and we are also answerable to them,” the President said and emphasized that the role of the Governors is not limited to the protection and preservation of the Constitution but they also have a Constitutional commitment to remain persistent in the service and welfare of the people of their States.
The President said that preparations of the conference have been done in accordance with the new work culture of `New India’ so as to make the conference more useful and goal oriented. Five subjects of national importance were chosen after discussion with senior Governors.
The President said that optimal use and conservation of water resources is one of the highest priorities of our country. “We should make the Jal Shakti Abhiyan a mass movement like the Swachh Bharat Mission,” he added.
“The goal of our new education policy is to make India a ‘knowledge super power’. In order to materialize this ambition, all our institutions of higher education should make every effort to promote research and innovation. Governors, as Chancellor, also perform the responsibility of guardianship. Therefore, they are expected to give proper guidance to the future generations in their efforts to acquire skills and knowledge,” he added.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today that the Union Territories can emerge as a role model in terms of development in view of their administrative structure and called upon the Governors and Lieutenant Governors to listen to the needs of people and work towards upliftment of under privileged sections of the population.
Addressing annual conference of Governors and Lieutenant Governors, the first such conclave to be held after bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh, Modi said that due to their administrative structure, the Union Territories can emerge as a role model in terms of development.
Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Girish Chandra Murmu and Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Union Territory Radha Krishna Mathur are attending the two-day conference along with Governors and Lieutenant Governors of other States and Union Territories.
“As India celebrates the 75th anniversary of Independence in 2022 and 100th in 2047, the role of the Governors in bringing administrative machinery closer to people of the country and showing them correct path becomes even more important. The Governors and State Governments should also work towards highlighting service aspects of the Indian Constitution, in particular the duties and responsibilities of the citizens. This will help bring about participatory governance in the truest sense,” Modi said, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
The Prime Minister called upon the Governors and Lieutenant Governors to listen to the needs of common man during discharge of their Constitutional responsibilities.
“They (the Governors and Lieutenant Governors) should work for upliftment of under privileged sections of the population including the Scheduled Tribes, minority communities, women and youth. They should also work with the State Governments and utilize existing schemes and initiatives,” he said and made special mention of healthcare, education and tourism sectors, where there were new opportunities waiting to be harnessed for job generation and betterment of the poor and downtrodden.
Modi pointed out that the Governor’s office could also be used for specific objectives like spreading awareness about tuberculosis and making India free of this disease by 2025.
He said that the institution of Governor has a special role to play in realizing a cooperative and competitive federal structure.
“In their roles as Chancellors of Universities, the Governors could help inculcate the values of nation building among our youth and help to inspire them towards greater achievements,” the Prime Minister said.
Modi expressed happiness that the latest edition of the conference would see innovative detailed ‘break-out’ discussions in five sub-groups on specific issues and challenges — tribal issues, reforms in agriculture, Jal Jeevan Mission, New Education Policy and Governance for ‘Ease of Living’; whose reports will then be discussed in the larger format by the participants.
At the conference, 17 first time Governors and Lieutenant Governors, including the Lt. Governors of the newly formed Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, participated.
Besides Kovind and Modi, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Home Minister Amit Shah and Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat were among those present on the occasion.
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