Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday led the 28th meeting of the Western Zonal Council in Dona Paula, Goa, bringing together senior representatives from Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra and the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.

Hosted by the Goa Government, the meeting was convened through the Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Shah heads the Western Zonal Council, while Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is currently serving as its Vice-Chairman.

Chief Ministers of the participating states, along with two senior Ministers from each member state, form part of the Council. Senior officials representing the Central Government, state administrations and the Union Territory also attended the meeting.

The Council provides an institutional forum for governments to raise matters that require coordination across state boundaries or between the Centre and states. Its discussions are intended to strengthen cooperation and advance the broader objective of cooperative federalism.

A range of governance and public-interest matters were taken up through the Zonal Council mechanism. These include improving the investigation and prosecution of crimes against women and children, strengthening Fast Track Special Courts and enhancing the Emergency Response Support System through ERSS-112.

Other areas on the broader agenda include food safety, access to physical banking facilities in rural areas, nutrition, education and healthcare. Discussions also cover power sector reforms, urban development, cooperative institutions, cybercrime and digital infrastructure.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has highlighted the Zonal Councils as an important platform for resolving issues through consultation and building closer coordination between governments. Since June 2014, 70 meetings of various Zonal Councils and their Standing Committees have been conducted with the participation of state governments, Union Territories and