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Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday expressed concern over the increasing commotion and acrimony in legislatures, noting that this issue has been discussed with presiding officers from time to time.
He stressed that presiding officers have been urged to conduct House proceedings with dignity, decorum, and in accordance with Indian values and standards. The 10th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region Conference, which began on September 23 at the Parliament premises, concluded today (Tuesday). Om Birla, who is also the Chairperson of the CPA India Region, chaired the concluding session. He emphasised that the traditions and systems of the House should reflect Indian values and that policies and laws should foster a sense of Indianness in order to realise the vision of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat'. He also called on presiding officers to ensure that the House becomes a centre of dignified discussions on the government's policies and programmes, with participation from all members. Highlighting the important role legislatures play in the development of the country and states, Birla stressed that democratic institutions must constantly engage with the public to address their needs and aspirations. He further urged presiding officers to take steps towards making democratic institutions more transparent, accountable, and result-oriented. Birla suggested that new members should be given comprehensive training on the functioning of the House, maintaining dignity and decorum, and using legislative tools effectively to raise public issues. "Presiding officers should maintain continuous and consistent dialogue across parties and set new standards for politics," he said. The Speaker expressed satisfaction with the digitisation of processes and records in state legislatures, as well as the efforts being made to build the capacity of public representatives using information technology. He expressed hope that such initiatives would significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of legislatures. "State legislatures should accelerate digitisation efforts, especially where progress is slow, so that the vision of 'one nation, one digital platform' can be realised," he added. Birla also assured that issues raised by presiding officers during the conference, such as financial autonomy, the decreasing number of sitting days, and the implementation of e-Vidhan, will be further discussed, with the aim of finding acceptable solutions. He expressed hope that the two-day conference would yield tangible improvements in the functioning of legislatures. He encouraged presiding officers to adopt new ideas, a fresh vision, and to create new rules and policies for the future. Birla stressed the importance of ensuring that the benefits of sustainable and inclusive development reach the most marginalised sections of society. A total of 42 presiding officers, including four chairpersons and 25 speakers, along with their principal secretaries and accompanying officers, attended the conference. The theme of the event was "The Role of Legislative Bodies in the Attainment of Sustainable and Inclusive Development." The conference was preceded by an executive committee meeting of the CPA India Region on September 23, 2024. On the second day of the conference, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, along with presiding officers of state legislative bodies, paid tribute to eminent personalities at Prerna Sthal in the Parliament premises. (ANI)
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