By IANS,
New Delhi : With the internal security environment as the focus, President Pratibha Patil will chair a two-day conference of governors that commences here Tuesday, the first time she will be doing so after assuming office.
Twenty-eight governors of the states and three lieutenant governors of union territories will participate in the conference, the 42nd in a series.
“The focus of the two day Governors’ Conference will be on the internal security environment with special reference to left wing extremism and insurgency and steps taken for police modernization, the security scenario along our international borders and related issues, various aspects of bilateral relationship with our neighbouring countries,” a statement issued Monday by the president’s secretariat said.
Issues relating to climate change and sustainable development in India’s context, the Indian agricultural scenario and food security, the current economic situation and the strategy for price stability will also come up for discussion.
“Rural development related matters with special reference to employment, drinking water and sanitation, the strategy for promotion of gender equality, gender budgeting, implementation of women’s empowerment programmes and combating social evils and the role of governors in the context of administration of scheduled areas and tribal areas will also be deliberated upon,” the statement said.
Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the ministers of external affairs, defence, home, finance, human resource development, agriculture and consumer affairs, food and public distribution, tribal affairs, rural development, and science & technology and earth sciences and the minister of state (Independent Charge) for women and child development will also participate in the conference.