Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla ji, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Shri Harivansh ji, Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde ji, Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar ji, and presiding officers from various state assemblies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
A very warm welcome to all of you for the All India Presiding Officers Conference! This conference holds particular significance this time. It is being held immediately after the 75th Republic Day. Our Constitution came into effect on January 26, marking 75 years of its existence. I pay my respectful homage to all the members of the Constituent Assembly on behalf of the citizens of our country.
Friends,
This conference of presiding officers has so much to learn from our Constituent Assembly. The members of the Constituent Assembly had the responsibility of forming a consensus among various ideas, subjects, and opinions. And they did so admirably. This conference provides all presiding officers with an opportunity to once again draw inspiration from the ideals of the Constituent Assembly. All of you should make such efforts during your tenure that can become a legacy for future generations.
Friends,
I have been informed that this time the primary focus is on enhancing the effectiveness of legislative assemblies and committees. These are crucial topics. Today, as the people of the country are vigilantly scrutinizing every representative, such reviews and discussions will be immensely beneficial. The conduct of representatives in the assembly plays a significant role in shaping the parliamentary system of the country. Concrete suggestions emanating from this conference on how to maintain consistent positive behaviour of representatives in the House and how to enhance the productivity of the House will be very helpful.
Friends,
There was a time when if a member breached decorum in the House and invited action according to the rules, then senior members of the House would counsel that member to prevent such mistakes and not to breach the decorum of the House in the future. However, in today's times, we have observed that some political parties start defending the mistakes of such members. This situation is not acceptable, whether it is parliament or legislative assembly. It is crucial to discuss in this forum how to maintain the decorum of the House.
Friends,
Today, we are witnessing another change. Previously, if any member of the House was accused of corruption, everyone would maintain distance from him in public life. But today, we see corrupt individuals who have been punished by the courts being publicly honoured. This is disrespect to the executive, disrespect to the judiciary, and also disrespect to Bharat’s great Constitution. Discussion on this matter in this conference and solid suggestions will help create a new roadmap for the future.
Friends,
The role of every state government and its legislative assembly is very important in realising the goals that the country is setting in this ‘Amrit Kaal’. Bharat’s progress will only happen when our states progress. And the progress of states will only happen when their legislature and executive work together to define their development goals. The more actively the legislature works towards achieving such goals for its state, the more the state will progress. Therefore, the empowerment of committees is also crucial for the economic progress of your state.
Friends,
One major topic is also the end of unnecessary laws. In the past 10 years, the Central Government has repealed more than 2,000 laws that were detrimental to our system. They had become a burden in a way. This simplification of the legal system has reduced the difficulties faced by the common man and enhanced Ease of Living. As presiding officers, if you conduct studies of such laws, create lists, and draw the attention of your respective governments and legislators, it is possible that everyone will come forward to work with greater enthusiasm. This will have a significant positive impact on the lives of the citizens.
Friends,
You know that Parliament approved the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam just last year. In this conference, there should also be discussions on suggestions that further enhance efforts for women's empowerment and increase in their representation. In a young country like Bharat, you should focus on increasing the participation of youth in committees. Our young representatives should not only have more opportunities but also be encouraged to voice their opinions in the House and participate more actively in policy-making.
Friends,
During our discussion in 2021, I mentioned the One Nation-One Legislative Platform. I am pleased to know that our Parliament and our state legislatures are now working towards this goal through the E-Vidhan and Digital Sansad platforms. Once again, I thank all of you for inviting me to this occasion. I extend my best wishes to all the presiding officers for the successful organization of this conference. Thank you very much.
