President Kovind to address two-day Governors conference

President Ram Nath Kovind will preside over a two-day Conference of Governors at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi.

This is the 48th such conference to be held in Rashtrapati Bhavan and the first to be presided by President Kovind.

Twenty-seven governors and three lieutenant governors of states and union territories will attend the event.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the conference, a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan said.

The theme of the opening session will be New India- 2022. India will complete 75 years of independence that year.

"New India 2022 requires a number of initiatives in infrastructure to cater to the needs of citizens of the country," the statement said.

"Similarly, to build New India 2022, emphasis has to be given on various services viz. access to quality education, training and skill development, healthcare, cleanliness, open-defecation free cities and villages, pollution free environment, safety and security of citizens, etc," it added.

The first session of the conference will start with a presentation by the NITI Aayog on the possible elements of New India 2022.

Then the governors will hold detailed deliberations on infrastructure and public services for New India 2022 in two groups, it said.

In each group, the Centres ministers concerned will be present.

The second session will be on higher education in states and skill Development and entrepreneurship to make youth employable, the statement said.

The governors will give their remarks and suggestions on ways to achieve the goal along with their experiences from the states, it said.

In the third session on the second day, governors will make brief remarks on any special issues pertaining to their respective states or union territories.

They will also highlight key achievements or initiatives started in the Raj Bhavans, which can be adopted or replicated.

In the concluding session, a brief report on the deliberations will be presented by the respective conveners.

The deliberations and outcomes of the conference will be used by governors to sensitise stakeholders in their respective states as well as for working towards New India 2022, the release said.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and other ministers will participate in the conference.

PTI