Orientation programme for newly elected MLAs underway LS Speaker notes heritage of Manipur Assembly

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jun 6 : Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE), Lok Sabha Secretariat organised the inaugural function of a two-day orientation programme for the newly elected Members of the Manipur Legislative Assembly at Parliament House Complex, New Delhi today.
The orientation programme which began today, will conclude tomorrow on June 7.
Among those attending the three-day orientation programme are 19 MLAs of Manipur including Education Minister Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh, MLAs Sheikh Noorul Hassan, Khongbantabam Ibomcha, Khwairakpam Raghumani Singh, Nishikant Singh Sapam, Thangjam Arunkumar and Sagolshem Kebi Devi.
Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla inaugurated the orientation programme which was attended by 19 newly elected members of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.
It may be noted that the Lok Sabha Speaker also released a coffee table book launched by PRIDE titled, “PRIDE: Congruency, Cohesion and Continuity”, celebrating its 46 years of existence, achievements and the impact it has made within India and across the world.
Secretary General, Lok Sabha, Utpal Kumar Singh delivered the welcome speech and received the dignitaries.
Addressing the gathering, Om Birla opined that the conduct of the people’s representatives in the House is not limited to the House but has an impact at several levels. He cautioned that the public knows if their representatives are making the best use of the House and therefore discipline and dignity in the House should be an essential part of the behaviour of people’s representatives, he asserted.
The Speaker said that for North East India, compromises cannot be made neither on the developmental nor cultural front.
"We have to take both development and culture together and move forward on the path of development through culture", he said.
Referring to the rich heritage of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, he said that in the last 50 years, it has contributed to strengthening and enriching the legislative tradition of the country through its functioning. He added that many people oriented legislations have been passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly over the years to bring about a positive change in the standard of living of the common people.
Noting that the Manipur Legislative Assembly has a mix of young and experienced MLAs, he advised that first-time elected MLAs should take advantage of knowledge of the experienced and senior MLAs of the House. He encouraged them to try to understand the nuances of rule-law making from them. He said that the MLAs should study these rules and procedures and study the Constitution, which will enable them to perform their work as an outstanding legislator.
Khwairakpam Raghumani Singh, Member of Manipur Legislative Assembly, thanked the Speaker and PRIDE, Lok Sabha Secretariat on behalf of Manipur Legislative Assembly for organising the programme. Thereafter, BL Verma, Minister of State in the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region and Minister of State in the Ministry of Co-operation also addressed the members.
On the role of MLAs, the Speaker stressed that only when a law is framed with the consent of all stakeholders, democracy becomes healthier and stronger. In this regard, he advised that when a proposal is brought in the House, the people’s representatives should communicate it with their constituents at their respective levels and seek opinions from the people of the area on the draft or proposal of that Bill.
The Speaker further suggested that legislators should update themselves to suit the changing world. In this regard, he opined that information technology can be very effective in connecting people with the legislature. Stating that under the ‘One Nation-One Legislative Platform’, i.e e-Vidhan, legislatures of the entire country are to be brought on a digital platform. He expressed hope that it will be a portal which will not only technologically develop the Parliamentary system but also work to provide interconnectivity between all the representative bodies of the country.