The Western Zonal Council’s 24th meeting, scheduled to be convened on August 22, 2019 in Panjim, Goa, is set to be presided by the Union Home Minister. The primary focus of the meeting revolves around advancing investigations into sexual assault cases, fortifying railway station security measures, and drafting a comprehensive security plan.
The council operates under the Inter-State Council Secretariat of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and encompasses Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and the Union Territories of Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. The previous council meeting was held in Gandhinagar, Gujrat, in April 2018, chaired by the then Home Minister.
Understanding the Zonal Councils
Zonal Councils are not constitutional bodies but are statutory bodies established under an Act of Parliament, specifically the States Reorganisation Act of 1956. This act divided the country into five zones – Northern, Central, Eastern, Western, and Southern – and allocated a zonal council for each zone.
While dividing these zones, key factors were considered including natural divisions of the country, river systems and communication means, cultural and linguistic affinity, and the necessities of economic development, security, and law and order.
Each zonal council consists of the Home Minister of the Central government, Chief Ministers of all the states in the zone, two other ministers from each state in the zone, and the administrator of each union territory in the zone.
The North-Eastern Council
In addition to the five Zonal Councils, a separate North-Eastern Council was formed under a distinct Act of Parliament – the North-Eastern Council Act of 1971. Members of this council include Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Sikkim.
They serve as advisory bodies that engage in discussions and provide recommendations concerning any matter of shared interest in the field of economic and social planning between the Centre and the States.
The Western Zonal Council in Numbers
| Year | Number of Meetings |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 (Scheduled) |
Key Focus Areas of the 24th Western Zonal Council Meeting
In the upcoming 24th meeting of the Western Zonal Council, top agenda items include expediting investigations into sexual assault cases, formulating a comprehensive security plan, and enhancing railway station security. The long-term objective of the council is to ensure the safety and development of the states and union territories under its jurisdiction.
The meeting, to be chaired by the Union Home Minister, brings together significant stakeholders, including the chief ministers and other ministers of the states and administrators of the union territories, fostering robust discussions on matters of mutual concern in the region.
