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Governors’ meet to discuss internal security

NEW DELHI: Internal security, particularly Maoist violence in left-wing extremism-affected States, will top the agenda during the two-day conference of Governors to be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan here on September 16 and 17.

Official sources said rise in naxalite violence, particularly daring recent attacks by Maoists on the Greyhound commando force in Orissa and targeting of policemen in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, has caused serious concern and President Pratibha Patil appears to be keen to review the law and order situation and security environment with the Governors during the conference.

Sources said the President also wanted to get information on the steps taken by various State governments in modernising their police forces. Governors from the States, which share international frontiers, would be asked to present their views on border management.

The conference will discuss insurgency in some North-Eastern States, particularly Manipur and Nagaland and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir where Assembly elections are scheduled to be held before January 2009.

For the first time, Governors would discuss climate change and sustainable development. They have been asked to come prepared on measures to deal with the challenges posed by climate change, and natural and man-made disasters, sources said. A reference point would be the Kosi river changing its course and flooding Bihar.

The President is keen to have a discussion on steps being taken by the States to ensure food security. While Finance Minister P. Chidambaram will make a presentation on price stability in the wake of steep inflation over the past few months, Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar will make one on food security.

Sources said certain issues relating to ex-servicemen and women and child development are also likely to come up for discussion.

Ms. Patil has evinced keen interest on gender equality, women’s empowerment and rooting out social evils such as female foeticide. “Social Justice and Empowerment as well as Women and Child Development Ministries will be asked to address these issues,” officials said.

Apart from presenting an Action Taken Report (ATR) on the last conference held in June 2005, the Governors will be asked to give their views on difficulties experienced by them in discharging their specific responsibilities.

Informal discussions among the Governors on September 15 will be presided over by the seniormost, designated as the ‘doyen.’

Tripura Governor D.N. Sahay will do the honours this time.

The conference will be attended by Vice-President M. Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Cabinet Ministers.

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