M A I N   N E W S

Change mindset, treat women with respect, says President
Tribune News Service

Pranabspeak Governors should work to improve the security and welfare of women Internal security has improved; border states should keep extra vigil Expedite infrastructure development programmes in border areas Governors must strengthen government’s delivery systems

New Delhi, February 11
The overhang of the brutal Delhi gang rape was felt at the Governors’ Conference here today with President Pranab Mukherjee underscoring the need to bring a change in the mindset of the society so that women are treated with dignity and respect.

A fortnight after he emphasised on the need to reset its moral compass, the President utilised the opportunity to recall that the meeting was taking place in the shadow of the unfortunate incident which had shaken the collective conscience of the country.

Urging the Governors to work towards improving the security and welfare of women, he said there was “pressing need to bring about a change in the mindset of the society so that women are treated with dignity and respect.”

While noting that there was an improvement in the internal security last year, Mukherjee advised the border states to keep an extra vigil and suggested that programmes relating to infrastructure development in areas close to the borders be expedited to meet the emerging challenges.

Over the past few years, the Centre has undertaken programmes to develop roads in the areas near the Sino-Indian and the Indo-Pak border, especially in the North and Northeastern regions of the country, building and reactivating airbases in the forward locations.

Turning to other aspects of governance, the President reminded the Governors that the delivery systems of the Government should be strengthened, pointing out that states which worked in this area progressed faster as compared to others.

Stating that there is a direct relationship between water, sanitation and health, Mukherjee asked the Governors to pay special attention to Nirmal Bharat Abhiyaan of the Centre to improve the quality of life of those residing in the rural areas.

He also asked the Governors to constitute State Finance Commission equipped with staff and submission of report since the Centre has already formed the 14th Finance Commission this January.

The conference will be addressed by the Vice President, the Prime Ministers and Union Ministers tomorrow.