Jaipur, July 10 (Representative) Union Home Minister Amit Shah presided over the 30th meeting of Northern Zonal Council in Jaipur on Saturday and stressed on preparing effective strategy to deal with cyber crime. Zonal Councils provide an important forum for discussions regarding cordial relations between the Center and the States, amicable settlement of inter-State issues, enhancing regional cooperation between States and on issues of common national importance to be implemented across the country. In the meeting, stress was laid on preparing an effective strategy, by all stakeholders, to deal with cyber crime. Home Minister Amit Shah instructed constitution of a committee under the chairmanship of Union Home Secretary to formulate a strategy to prevent financial frauds and cyber crimes committed through social media. Threats of cyber crime and strategies to prevent these and emphasis on conducting cyber awareness campaigns through various mediums, a government statement said.
“Organised and coordinated cyber attacks have a deep impact on national security, public order and economic activity, prompting the need for all to work together to ensure safe national cyberspace and overall security,” the statement said. Shah called for strict action against cyber criminals in various hot-spots of cyber crime by better coordination between central and state security agencies. The statement also said the Narendra Modi government has laid an emphasis on holding regular meetings of the Zonal Council should be regular.” Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Inter-State Council, Union Home Ministry and all the Ministries of the Government of India are working with State Governments to speed this up,” the statement added. Between 2006 and 2013, six meetings of Zonal Council and eight meetings of its Standing Committee were held, while from 2014 to 2022, 19 meetings of the Zonal Councils and 24 meetings of Standing Committees have been held.
Home Minister Amit Shah said we have significantly increased number of meetings of Council and have also made them result-oriented, this momentum and record of achieving results should continue.Resolving issues between the States in the Northern region and between the Center and States is very important for the development of the country and to strengthen the federal structure, the Home Minister said.Although the role of the Council is advisory, I am happy that in my experience of last three years, more than 75 percent of the issues in the Council have been resolved through consensus. A very good process has started and we all should continue with it, we are moving towards achieving 100 per cent results on issues of national consensus,” said the Minister. Northern Zonal Council’s 30th meeting and 19th meeting of the Standing Committee discussed a total of 47 issues, out of these four have been identified as significant at national level. Out of these 47 issues, 35 issues were resolved, the Home Ministry said.