Governors' meet from today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for a new India by 2022 will be the dominating theme of a two-day conference of governors beginning on Thursday in Rashtrapati Bhavan. Twenty-seven governors and three Lt. governors of union territories will go into huddle on the theme along with President Ram Nath Kovind, Modi, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and senior Cabinet ministers. Though this is the 48th such conference of governors to be held, this would be the first one to be presided over by Kovind after he took office.

Modi has already conveyed to the governors that he would spend maximum time with the them about on understanding the political, economic and developmental challenged by their states and seek their feedback.

Delivering the 71st Independence Day address, Modi had given a call for all citizens to work for a 'new India by 2022', by which time he promised, the poor shall have pucca houses, access to electricity, healthcare, sanitation and education.

The governors and the Union ministers will brainstorm on ideas that should be vigorously pursued now for India to achieve those goals when it completes 75 years of independence in 2022.

A Rashtrapati Bhavan statement said the ‘New India 2022’ requires a number of initiatives in the infrastructure to cater to the needs of citizens of the country. Similarly, a lot of emphasis would have to be given on various services, namely access to quality education, training and skill development, healthcare, cleanliness, open-defecation free cities and villages, pollution free environment, safety and security of citizens,

The first session of the conference would start on Thursday nwith a presentation by NITI Aayog on the possible elements of ‘New India 2022’. After which, the governors would split into two groups for detailed deliberations on ‘Infrastructure for New India 2022’ and ‘Public Services for New India 2022.’ In each group, concerned Union ministers would join in the discussion.

The second session will see the subjects of ‘Higher Education in States’ and ‘Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to Make Youth Employable’ taken up for discussion. The ministers for HRD and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship will make presentations. The governors would give their remarks and suggestions on ways to achieve the goals along with their experiences in their states.

In the third session on the second day, the governors would make remarks on any special issues pertaining to their respective states and union territories. They will also highlight key achievements or initiatives started in the respective Raj Bhavans, which can be adopted or replicated elsewhere.

A similar conference of governors last year saw then President Pranab Mukherjee reminding them that they are charged with an onerous responsibility - to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.