Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the states to exchange their views on the Aadhar, education and internal security in a free and frank manner and forge consensus on these vital issues at the eleventh Inter State Council Meeting.
Delivering the opening address at the meeting of the ISC that is being held after a ten year gap, the prime minister said consensus on these issues will not only enable them to better tackle them, and strengthen the spirit of cooperative federalism and Centre-State relations, but also secure a better future for the citizens.
The prime minister urged the states to find solutions to the challenges confronting the internal security of India, and called for mutual cooperation.
“ The internal security of the country cannot be strengthened until we focus on intelligence sharing, ensure greater coordination among agencies, and equip our police with modern approach and technology,” he said, adding that while we have come a long way, we need to continuously increase our efficiency and capacity. We must constantly remain alert and updated, Modi said.
The prime minister began by evoking former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and quoted what he had said at this very formum 16 years ago.
“In a democracy as big and diverse as ours, debate, deliberation and discussion help evolve policy that relates to the ground reality. More importantly, they enable the effective implementation of such policies.
“The Inter-State Council is an inter-governmental forum that can be used for evolving policy as well as ensuring its implementation. I, therefore, urge the states to increasingly use this forum as an effective instrument to strengthen our democracy, our society and our polity,” said the prime minister.
The chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Karnataka were not seen as the prime minister was speaking.
Modi, who had given the slogan of PM+CMs = Team India, said with the acceptance of the 14th Finance Commission recommendations, the states' share in central taxes has increased from 32 per cent to 42 per cent. Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies will receive 2.87 lakh crore rupees during the period of the 14th Finance Commission.
“The rights of states have been kept in mind even in revenue received from the auction of natural resources; auctions of coal blocks will yield 3.35 lakh crore rupees to states in the years to come. Auctions of other mines will yield an additional 18,000 crore rupees to states. Similarly, through amendments to CAMPA Act, we are attempting to free up about 40,000 crore rupees lying idle in banks, for disbursal to states,” the prime minister elaborated.
The union government, he said, would share with states, the amount that is being saved as a result of transparency being introduced into the system—be it kerosene or LPG.
