Are Speedy Rape Trials the Key Focus as HM Shah Leads Central Zonal Council Meeting?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Urgent focus on swift investigations of sexual offenses.
- Implementation of Fast Track Special Courts (FTSC) is crucial.
- Advocacy for banking facilities in every village.
- Importance of cooperative federalism in regional development.
- Role of Zonal Councils in enhancing mutual cooperation.
New Delhi, June 23 (NationPress) The rapid investigation of sexual offenses against women and children, along with the establishment of Fast Track Special Courts (FTSC) for their prompt resolution, will be a primary agenda as Union Home Minister Amit Shah presides over the 25th meeting of the Central Zonal Council in Varanasi on Tuesday, as per an official announcement.
HM Shah is anticipated to advocate for the provision of brick-and-mortar banking facilities in every village and the rollout of the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112), the official stated on Monday.
Discussions may also encompass various common-interest issues at the regional level, including enhancing nutrition, education, health, electricity, urban planning, and the cooperative system, according to the official.
The Central Zonal Council consists of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. This meeting is organized by the Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs, in partnership with the Government of Uttar Pradesh.
Attendees will include the Chief Ministers of member states, along with two senior ministers from each state, Chief Secretaries of the state governments, and other senior officials from both state and central governments.
While the role of the Zonal Councils is advisory, they have increasingly served as vital platforms for fostering mutual understanding and cooperation across various sectors.
Over the past 11 years, a total of 61 meetings involving various Zonal Councils and their permanent committees have taken place, as indicated by an official statement.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stressed the importance of utilizing cooperative and competitive federalism for the holistic development of the nation,” the statement noted.
Believing that strong states contribute to a strong nation, the Zonal Councils offer a structured framework for dialogue on issues impacting two or more states or the relationship between the Centre and states, thereby enhancing collaborative efforts.