Panaji: Highlighting the growth rate of 7.8 per cent achieved in the first quarter, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Monday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has worked continuously since 2014 to transform the country into a rapidly moving economy.
Chairing the 28th meeting of the Western Zonal Council in Panaji, HM Shah said that the Indian economy recording such a growth rate amid global turbulence is a matter of pride for all of us.
The Home Minister said that over the last 12 years, PM Modi has worked to realise the provision of cooperative federalism enshrined in our Constitution.
He said that after PM Modi assumed office, there has been a significant increase in the number of meetings of the Zonal Councils.
The Home Minister said that during 2004 to 2014, the total number of meetings of the Zonal Councils and their Standing Committees was only 25, whereas since 2014, a total of 71 meetings of the Zonal Councils and their Standing Committees have been held, which is an increase of nearly three times.
He said that the nearly three-fold increase in the number of meetings is an excellent example of Prime Minister Modi’s concept of Team India. A total of 1,893 issues were discussed in these meetings, out of which 1,445 issues have been resolved.
Home Minister Shah said that the country’s Western Region is extremely important from several perspectives and that this region is the country’s largest economic, industrial and financial centre.
He said that Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and the three States of the Western Zonal Council have also made a significant contribution towards achieving the growth rate of 7.8 per cent in the first quarter of the financial year.
He said that the Western Region is known as the WEST Engine of the country’s economic growth. W stands for wealth and finance, which are generated in this region; E stands for exports and ports; S stands for start-ups and semiconductors; and T stands for tourism and the blue economy, in which the Western Region has the largest share in the country, said HM Shah.
He said more than 1 crore tourists visit Goa, of whom 5 lakh are foreign tourists. Tourism contributes 16 per cent of Goa’s GSDP. Maharashtra ranks first in the country with 33,872 start-ups. Dholera has now become a hub in the semiconductor sector. Gujarat’s Mundra Port handles the highest volume of cargo, and Deendayal Port (Kutch) is the largest port in terms of cargo volume. Mumbai, the country’s financial capital, is also emerging as a major hub for global capital.
Other issues discussed at the Western Zonal Council meeting included implementation of Fast Track Special Courts for speedy investigation and early disposal of cases of rape against women and children, and issues related to the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112).
Home Minister Shah also discussed issues related to food safety standards, Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, provision of brick-and-mortar banking facilities within the prescribed radius of every village, issues related to railway development projects, issues concerning environmental clearances, and others.
In addition, issues of national importance were also discussed, including urban master planning, issues related to electricity supply, strengthening Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACSs), eliminating malnutrition among children through the Poshan Abhiyaan, reducing the school dropout rate among school children, participation of public hospitals in the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, and issues related to cybercrime and digital infrastructure, among others.
(IANS)
