Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged Governors to work towards the upliftment of the under-privileged sections of the population by utilizing the existing schemes and initiatives. Addressing the inaugural session of the 50th Conference of Governors at Rashtrapati Bhawan, Mr Modi requested them and Lieutenant Governors to listen to the needs of the common man.

The Prime Minister said as India celebrates 70 years of the framing of the Constitution, the Governors and State governments should also work towards highlighting the service aspects of the Constitution, particularly the duties and responsibilities of citizens. He said, this will help to bring about participatory governance in the truest sense. Mr Modi said the institution of Governor has a special role to play in realizing a cooperative and competitive federal structure.

The Prime Minister said the Conference of Governors provides an opportunity for them to exchange views and learn from each other’s experiences as well as to adopt international best practices best suited to each State and Union Territory’s distinct and diverse needs. He said that due to their administrative structure, Union Territories can emerge as a role model in terms of development.

Observing that as India celebrates the 75th anniversary of its Independence in 2022 and the 100th anniversary in 2047, the Prime Minister said the role of the Governor in bringing the administrative machinery closer to the people and showing them the correct path becomes even more important.

Stating that the nation celebrates the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Mr Modi said Governors could utilize the occasion to project the abiding relevance of Gandhian thoughts and values as an important bedrock of the Constitution. He said in their roles as Chancellors of universities, the Governors could help inculcate the values of nation-building amongst youth and help to inspire them towards greater achievements.

The Prime Minister also made a special mention on health-care, education and tourism sectors where there were new opportunities waiting to be harnessed for job generation and betterment of the poor and down-trodden. He pointed out that the Governor’s office could also be used for specific objectives like spreading awareness about Tuberculosis and making India free of this disease by 2025.