Two-day Governors' conference to begin today

New Delhi, Sept. 16 : President Pratibha Patil will preside over the Conference of Governors here today.

28 Governors and three Lieutenant Governors of the States and Union Territories will attend the Conference.

Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister A.K Antony, Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh, Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Minister Sharad Pawar will also attend the conference.

The focus of the two day Governors' Conference will be on the internal security environment with special reference to Left Wing Extremism orInsurgency and steps taken for police modernization, the security scenario along our international borders and related issues, various aspects of bilateral relationship with our neighbouring countries.

Issues relating to climate change and sustainable development in India's context, the Indian agricultural scenario and food security, the current economic situation and strategy for price stability will also come up for discussion.

Rural development related matters with special reference to employment, drinking water and sanitation, the strategy for promotion of gender equality, gender budgeting, implementation of women's empowerment programmes and combating social evils will be discuss .

The role of Governors in the context of administration of scheduled areas and tribal areas and as chancellors in the development of higher education, administration of welfare schemes for ex-servicemen and war-widows, issues of pensionary benefits and other terminal benefits to Governors are the other agenda items to be deliberated upon in the Conference.

ANI