PM Modi addressed the inauguration of the two-day conference of Governors held under the chairmanship of President Draupadi Murmu

Two day conference of governors

President Draupadi Murmu inaugurated the Conference of Governors at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi today. The conference will discuss a wide range of subjects that not only play a vital role in shaping Centre-State relations but are also important for promoting welfare schemes for the common man. In his inaugural address, the President said that the agenda of this conference includes carefully selected subjects that are crucial for achieving our national goals. He said that the deliberations in this conference will be an enriching experience for all the participants and will be helpful in their functioning.

The Vice President, Prime Minister and Union Home Minister also addressed the inaugural session. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar referred to the oath of the Governors and urged them to discharge their constitutional responsibility to make people aware of the social welfare schemes and unprecedented development that has taken place during the last decade.

In his address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the Governors to play the role of an effective bridge between the Centre and the State and to interact with people and social organisations in a manner that includes the underprivileged. He said that the office of Governor is an important institution which can play a vital role in the welfare of the people of the State within the framework of the Constitution, especially in the context of tribal areas. Union Home Minister Amit Shah outlined the discussions to be held in the two-day conference and urged the Governors to visit vibrant villages and aspiring districts to instill confidence among the people and accelerate development work.

Inaugurating the conference, the President said that the enactment of three new laws relating to criminal justice has ushered in a new era of justice delivery in the country. He said that the change in our thinking is evident from the names of these laws: Indian Justice Code, Indian Civil Defence Code and Indian Evidence Act. The President said that for the smooth functioning of democracy, it is necessary that various central agencies work in better coordination across the states. He advised the Governors to think about how they can promote this coordination as the constitutional heads of the respective states.

The President said that quality higher education is an intangible asset as it promotes individual development and social transformation as well as innovation and economic progress. He said that the National Education Policy emphasizes reform in the accreditation and assessment system of educational institutions. He urged the Governors to contribute to this reform process in their capacity as Chancellors of State Universities.

The President said that the Government of India is giving the highest priority to the development of the poor, border areas, disadvantaged classes and regions and those left behind in the development journey. He pointed out that a large part of our tribal population lives in scheduled and tribal areas, and urged the Governors to suggest ways to achieve inclusive development of the people of these areas.

The President said that if the energy of the youth is channelised into positive and constructive work, ‘youth development’ and ‘youth-led development’ will gain further momentum. The ‘Mera Bharat’ campaign provides a well-thought-out system for this purpose. He said that the Governors should encourage those associated with this campaign, so that more and more youth can benefit.

Referring to the ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ campaign, he said that it has given people of different states and union territories an opportunity to understand and connect with each other. He urged the Governors to contribute in further strengthening the spirit of unity. The President said that many efforts are being made to deal with challenges like climate change and global warming. Governors can contribute to this by making the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign a mass movement on a large scale. The President said that by promoting natural farming, we can increase the fertility of the soil and the income of farmers. He said that Raj Bhavans can set an example in promoting natural farming. The President expressed confidence that all the Governors will continue to contribute to the service and welfare of the people in accordance with their oath.

The conference will have separate sessions in which sub-groups of governors will deliberate on each agenda item. Apart from governors, such sessions will also be attended by Union ministers and officials from the concerned ministries. The comments and suggestions of the sub-groups will be presented to the President, Vice President, Prime Minister and other participants during the concluding session tomorrow (August 3, 2024).

Press release