HM Amit Shah tells northern states to ensure speedy justice in crimes against women, kids (Lead)
Faridabad, Nov. 17 – Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged northern states on Monday to keep pushing for quick justice against crimes that hurt women and children. In his speech at the 32nd Northern Zonal Council (NZC) meeting, Shah highlighted that India cannot tolerate sexual offences and must act faster to stop them.
“We must investigate rape cases under the POCSO Act swiftly,” Shah said. “Fast‑Track Special Courts (FTSCs) must expand so victims get the justice they deserve.” He added that any society that lets such crimes go unpunished is not civilised.
Shah also tackled big health and hunger problems. “We must end malnutrition and stunting in our children,” he told the crowd. His focus on health ties to a broader plan to boost the country’s welfare.
The minister said India’s biggest hurdles are poverty and jobs. “Cooperation, agriculture and fisheries are our strongest tools for creating work and pulling families out of poverty,” he said. “They can turn the model of ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’—prosperity through cooperation—into real prosperity.” He noted that the government has launched 57 new measures to support the cooperative sector, including computerising primary agricultural credit societies (PACS), establishing three national‑level cooperatives and opening Tribhuvan Sahkari University.
In addition to justice and health, the meeting highlighted other national priorities. The agenda listed:
* Rapid FTSC implementation for rape cases
* Bank branch coverage in every village district
* Water‑sharing and environment issues
* Urban master planning and power‑grid upgrades
* Strengthening PACS
* Running the Poshan Abhiyan to fight child malnutrition
* Reducing school drop‑outs
* Integrating public hospitals into the Ayushman Bharat scheme
Shah also reminded leaders that the primary role of zonal councils was advisory, but over the past decade they have turned into action hubs. “With follow‑ups, we no longer just discuss problems—we solve them and create concrete solutions,” he said. He stressed the need for all states to coordinate on water‑resource challenges.
The meeting brought together top officials from Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi and Chandigarh. Chief Ministers and lieutenant governors listened as the Home Minister called for a united push toward a “Great India” built on regional strength, national progress and global leadership.
In closing, Shah celebrated the historic heritage of regions like Surajkund and the role of Sikh Gurus that shaped India’s spirit of sacrifice and struggle. He pointed out that without figures such as Gur Tegh Bahadur, the nation might not hold its current traditions.
The NZC meeting underscored that India’s future depends on fast justice for vulnerable citizens, strong cooperative economies, and a united effort to lift people out of poverty—not just a rising GDP.
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