Dr. Shikha Mishra
Dehradun/Raipur: Uttarakhand emerged as the most proactive state at the 17th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Central Zonal Council, held in Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh, by forcefully presenting 13 major development-related issues—the highest among all participating states. The Centre responded positively to the state’s submissions, giving Uttarakhand a significant edge in pushing its development agenda at the national level.
The meeting, attended by senior officials from Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and the Central Government, assumed special significance for Uttarakhand as it provided a strong platform to raise long-pending and critical issues related to infrastructure, social security, disaster management and governance, while also strengthening inter-state coordination.
The Uttarakhand delegation was led by Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and Principal Secretary, Forest and Environment, R.K. Sudhanshu, along with senior state officials.
Focus on Development, Coordination and Pending Issues
The Standing Committee deliberated extensively on socio-economic development, effective implementation of government schemes, resolution of inter-state and administrative pendencies, and measures to improve coordination among states.
R.K. Sudhanshu described the meeting as “highly productive,” stating that Uttarakhand presented all issues with strong reasoning and practical solutions, to which the Union Government assured appropriate follow-up action.
He noted that 11 key issues raised earlier at the Central Zonal Council meeting in Varanasi had been retained for review and future monitoring. Progress was reviewed on matters including food security measures, cases related to sexual offences against women and children including POCSO, fast-track courts, prevention of malnutrition, ERSS-112 emergency response services, strengthening cooperatives, Ayushman Bharat–PM Jan Arogya Yojana, and establishment of bank branches or India Post Payments Bank facilities within a five-kilometre radius of all villages.
Uttarakhand’s Best Practices Appreciated
The meeting also featured discussions on innovative initiatives and best practices adopted by states. Uttarakhand presented three best practices:
- State-to-Pitch Supply Chain Plan
- Digital Education Management System (DEMS)
- Spring and River Rejuvenation initiatives under “SARA”
Similar presentations were made by Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Uttarakhand’s presentations received particular appreciation, with officials sharing experiences aimed at improving policy design and implementation.
CM Dhami: Coordination Will Speed Up Implementation
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the Central Zonal Council is an effective forum for strengthening coordination among states and addressing regional imbalances. He said Uttarakhand prioritised issues related to development, infrastructure, administrative reforms and public welfare during the meeting.
“The consensus and suggestions emerging from the Council will help accelerate and improve the implementation of schemes in Uttarakhand,” Dhami said, adding that cooperative federalism enhances policymaking and decision-making, delivering direct benefits to citizens.
Extensive Preparation Led by Chief Secretary
Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan ensured thorough preparation by holding detailed meetings with all concerned departments ahead of the Council session. As a result, Uttarakhand raised a record 13 issues, compared to four by Chhattisgarh, five by Madhya Pradesh and three by Uttar Pradesh.
Key issues raised by Uttarakhand included:
- Revision of norms for establishing medical colleges in every district
- Increase in social security pension amounts
- Protection of destitute cattle
- Restoration norms for power lines and electrical infrastructure damaged in disasters
- Meerut–Rishikesh RRTS extension
- Doubling of the Haridwar–Harrawala rail line
- Reconstruction standards for disaster-damaged irrigation canals
- Honorarium for Anganwadi workers and helpers
- Transfer of forest land for rehabilitation of disaster-affected families
- Relaxation in provisions of the Forest (Conservation and Augmentation) Act
- Tanakpur–Bageshwar rail line project
Issues Raised by the Centre
The Union Government placed emphasis on e-governance and administrative reforms, including adoption of the Local Government Directory as a standard location code across schemes and applications. Other topics included PM Jan Vikas Karyakram, PM-YASASVI scheme, establishment of State-level Computer Security Incident Response Teams, digital infrastructure and cybercrime.
Discussions also covered availability of land for Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalaya Scheme, fast-track funding under PMGSY for restoration of disaster-damaged roads and bridges, District Mineral Foundation, mineral block issues, fisheries, traceability, and promotion of aqua parks and zones.
Agenda-Setting Platform for Main Council Meeting
The Standing Committee meeting is crucial as it finalises the agenda ahead of the main Central Zonal Council meeting. Decisions and recommendations taken here are placed before the full Council. The session focused on resolving inter-state disputes, improving policy coordination and removing practical bottlenecks in development projects.
Wide-Ranging Ministerial Discussions
Issues related to a wide range of ministries—including Panchayati Raj, Law and Justice, Home, Cooperation, Women and Child Development, Health, Energy, Housing and Urban Development, Rural Development, Railways, Mines, Social Justice, Electronics and IT, Coal, Civil Aviation, Environment, Jal Jeevan Mission, Food Security, Education, Financial Services, Posts, Animal Husbandry, Commerce and Fisheries—were discussed in detail, with the aim of accelerating development and strengthening inter-state cooperation.
