By IRNA,
New Delhi : The 14th meeting of National Integration Council (NIC) began in New Delhi Monday morning. The meeting is chaired by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
Prevention of extremism, promotion of communal harmony and security among minorities, and equitable development are some of the important items on the agenda of the National Integration Council meeting began in New Delhi.
The 14th meeting of the council comes in the backdrop of communal violence in Orissa, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir and Assam.
Promotion of education among minorities, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes; elements contributing to national integration; and removal of regional imbalances, caste and identity divisions and will also be discussed in the day-long meeting.
The council, which has 146 members including all the Chief Ministers, leaders of national/state parties and key Cabinet ministers, will also deliberate on ways to improve coordination between the Centre and the states in various spheres.
The last meeting of the NIC was held in New Delhi on 31st August 2005.
NIC headed by the Prime Minister includes Union Ministers, Chief Ministers of all States and Union Territories, which have legislatures, leaders of national political parties and of regional political parties, Chairpersons of National Commissions, eminent public figures and representatives from business, labour, media and women.