Implementing the prime minister's initiative towards increased involvement of state governments in the Centre's plans, the government will hold a two-day conference of chief secretaries of states on February 1.
This is the first such conference of state chief secretaries, and will kickstart an annual ritual of conferences involving state governments.
The prime minister will inaugurate the conference that aims at giving state governments an overview of the global trends applied in various government policies.
The prime minister's initiative to take states on board in the second term of the United Progressive Alliance-II is a major shift in approach from previous governments.
Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar Cabinet Secretary has sent out invitation letters to all the union ministers and chief secretaries to participate in the conference.
The invitation letter has been reproduced below:
With the approval of the prime minister we propose to commence beginning of 2010 with an institutionalised system of annual conferences involving chief secretaries and key senior functionaries of state governments. The first such conference will be inaugurated by the prime minster on 1st February 2010 and will extend over two days.
The conference is intended to give senior state government officials an overview of global trends in various areas the policies of the Government of India and the help if any that may be required from state governments.
A presentation on Climate Change and National Action Plan on Climate Change is slotted for February 2, 2010, which is intended to familiarise chief secretaries and senior officials of states with the problem and dimensions of climate change, the state of global negotiations, India's own concerns on climate change, the National Action Plan and its various components and the role that state governments are required to play
