Governors’ advice needed more attention:PM

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today sought to dispel the notion that the Central Government does not pay attention to the advice of state governors, but accepted there was scope for further attention. “Let me suggest that this perception is not totally correct, though I agree that there is scope for benefitting more from the analysis and advice of Governors,” the Prime Minister said addressing the concluding session of the two-day 43rd Conference of Governors here. He said while it might not be possible for him to read all the monthly reports that Governors send, he went through those which he felt could touch upon issues of critical importance. “A summary of most of the remaining reports is also seen by me. But as I said, I agree that we could make more use of the information conveyed and suggestions made by Governors,” he said. Collectively, Governors represent a vast repository of experience and expertise and it is only appropriate that we all benefit from their wisdom through conferences as the present one. Underlining that the Government’s development strategy laid special attention to ensuring that the fruits of development were shared equitably, Governors could perform the role of being eyes and ears of the Central Government in evaluating the effectiveness of major development programmes, especially for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, other backward classes, religious minorities, women and children assume great importance. He urged the Governors to take active interest in the implementation of these development programmes. In this context, the Prime Minister spoke of the economic slowdown, the need for sustaining high growth rate while keeping inflation in check and achieving fiscal consolidation, and creation of infrastructure in the 12th five year plan. In all these areas, the Prime Minister underlined the importance of the role of governors. Dr Singh also said the governors’ suggestions regarding maintenance of law and order and security would be onsidered seriously. The challenges to the maintenance of law and order and controlling terrorism and Left Wing Extremism in the country remain formidable. These problems had both external and internal dimensions, as seventeen of the states have international land borders, and also the country’s long coast line was shared by nine states and four Union Territories. Infiltration by terrorists, illegal migration and smuggling were the main problems being faced along the borders, the Prime Minister said, , adding that the Centre would look into the suggestion of Governor of Punjab and Rajasthan for border fencing of additional stretches. He said Left Wing Extremism continued to pose a major threat to the internal security, but concerted efforts made by the Centre and the States in the past few years had shown some positive results. The quantum of violence in the current year has declined in comparison to the corresponding period last year.