https://sputniknews.in/20230607/mlas-to-discuss-strengthening-indias-democracy-at-nlc-bharat-former-lok-sabha-speaker-says-2370389.html
MLAs to Discuss Strengthening India's Democracy at NLC-Bharat, Former Lok Sabha Speaker Says
MLAs to Discuss Strengthening India's Democracy at NLC-Bharat, Former Lok Sabha Speaker Says
Sputnik India
Elected members of legislative assemblies in India generally meet during the proceedings of their respective state assemblies, and there has never been a case... 07.06.2023, Sputnik India
2023-06-07T15:27+0530
2023-06-07T15:27+0530
2023-06-07T15:27+0530
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The MIT School of Government, Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad and Atulya Bharat Nirman Foundation have come together to organize an inaugural National Legislators’ Conference Bharat (NLC-Bharat) with a vision to bring the Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) and Members of Legislative Councils (MLCs) to one platform to enhance legislative effectiveness.Rahul Vishwanath Karad, executive president of MIT World Peace University, is the convenor of the NLC-Bharat, and its patrons and governing council members include the present speaker of the Lok Sabha (the Lower House of Parliament), Om Birla, and his predecessors, Sumitra Mahajan, Meira Kumar, Manohar Joshi, and Shivraj Patil.The three-day conference is scheduled to be held from 15 to 17 June in Mumbai and around 2,500 MLAs have already confirmed they will be attending.Delegates will take part in several plenary sessions and discussions related to excelling in legislative debates, welfare schemes, the best use of MLA local area development funds and technology for the economic welfare of constituencies.During a press conference held in New Delhi on Tuesday (6 June), Sputnik talked to former Lok Sabha speaker and one of the patrons of NLC-Bharat, Meira Kumar. During the talk she shared her thoughts about the conference and how it will benefit future plans.Sputnik: This is the first time a gathering of legislators has been convened. Where did the idea come from and what is the purpose of such a conference?Kumar: The idea was mooted more than a year ago by Rahul Karad, convenor of the NLC-Bharat - and I must give full credit to the young man for the brilliant idea of bringing together all the legislators and speakers of the country's various state assemblies to one, apolitical platform.Sputnik: It is described as a non-partisan platform where members of all political parties will participate to strengthen the democratic essence of the country. How can this be achieved when all the parties have different political ideologies?Kumar: Of course, it can be achieved. This can be seen by the fact that more than 2,000 legislators have already confirmed they will be present at the conference, and maybe even more will come. It proves that all the legislators - regardless of their political party or state - are ready to attend a conference which is non-partisan and discuss matters which are above politics.Sputnik: Legislators from a whole range of regions and cultures will take part in this vast gathering and discuss sustainability. Each region has its own, specific issues so will talks between the MLAs be fruitful?Kumar: The discussions will be extremely fruitful as they will understand the problems of the people of other states. Furthermore, MLAs will be able to share with each other the good practices they use to solve the problems facing the people.For example, a legislator from Tamil Nadu will meet his counterpart from Nagaland and learn what problems he or she is facing. And as legislators talk to their counterparts, they will gain a greater understanding of the major problems faced by the country's people and they can then discuss how to find joint solutions to those problems.Sputnik: Once the conference is over, will the findings be shared with the public so that the country's citizens can know what was discussed and what proposals were made to solve them?Kumar: Of course they will be shared - it's not a classified document. There is a plan to have an archive of all the talks which took place and all the views that were expressed so that even in 50 years or 100 years, if somebody is doing research on democracy and how it has evolved, they will be able to consult the archive.Sputnik: You have served as Speaker of the Parliament where proceedings are often disrupted for various reasons, as is also the case in state assemblies. Do you think this conferences will lead to fewer disruptions in parliament and assemblies in future?Kumar: Well, the disruptions that occur in parliament or state assemblies, and this conference are two different things. I don’t think they are related to each other but, yes, there will be a session on legislation which might help to consider the issue.However, I would like to say that disruptions in parliament or state assemblies are things which are typical to the particular house.Sputnik: Is there any plan to organize such a conference with Parliamentarians also?Kumar: Well, bringing parliamentarians onto one platform will be thought about in the next stage. As far as future plans related to NLC-Bharat are concerned, we have plans to have another conference after 18 months.
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national legislators’ conference bharat, nlc-bharat, mit school of government, bhartiya chhatra sansad, atulya bharat nirman foundation, rahul karad, mlas to gather at nlc-bharat, lok sabha speaker, parliament session, state legislative assembly, sumitra mahajan, om birla, shivraj patil, manohar joshi, enhance legislative effectiveness
national legislators’ conference bharat, nlc-bharat, mit school of government, bhartiya chhatra sansad, atulya bharat nirman foundation, rahul karad, mlas to gather at nlc-bharat, lok sabha speaker, parliament session, state legislative assembly, sumitra mahajan, om birla, shivraj patil, manohar joshi, enhance legislative effectiveness
MLAs to Discuss Strengthening India's Democracy at NLC-Bharat, Former Lok Sabha Speaker Says
Elected members of legislative assemblies in India generally meet during the proceedings of their respective state assemblies, and there has never been a case where legislators have gathered from across India for discussions, regardless of their political affiliation.
The MIT School of Government, Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad and Atulya Bharat Nirman Foundation have come together to organize an inaugural National Legislators’ Conference Bharat (NLC-Bharat) with a vision to bring the Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) and Members of Legislative Councils (MLCs) to one platform to enhance legislative effectiveness.
Rahul Vishwanath Karad, executive president of MIT World Peace University, is the convenor of the NLC-Bharat, and its patrons and governing council members include the present speaker of the Lok Sabha (the Lower House of Parliament), Om Birla, and his predecessors, Sumitra Mahajan, Meira Kumar, Manohar Joshi, and Shivraj Patil.
The three-day conference is scheduled to be held from 15 to 17 June in Mumbai and around 2,500 MLAs have already confirmed they will be attending.
Delegates will take part in several plenary sessions and discussions related to excelling in
legislative debates,
welfare schemes, the best use of MLA local area development funds and technology for the
economic welfare of constituencies.
During a press conference held in New Delhi on Tuesday (6 June), Sputnik talked to former Lok Sabha speaker and one of the patrons of NLC-Bharat, Meira Kumar. During the talk she shared her thoughts about the conference and how it will benefit future plans.
Sputnik: This is the first time a gathering of legislators has been convened. Where did the idea come from and what is the purpose of such a conference?
Kumar: The idea was mooted more than a year ago by Rahul Karad, convenor of the NLC-Bharat - and I must give full credit to the young man for the brilliant idea of bringing together all the legislators and speakers of the country's various state assemblies to one, apolitical platform.
This conference isn't about political parties banging the drum for their own ideologies or criticizing rival parties' beliefs but rather concentrating and focusing on what problems the country's citizens are facing, how these problems can be resolved and how our democracy can be strengthened.
Sputnik: It is described as a non-partisan platform where members of all political parties will participate to strengthen the democratic essence of the country. How can this be achieved when all the parties have different political ideologies?
Kumar: Of course, it can be achieved. This can be seen by the fact that more than 2,000 legislators have already confirmed they will be present at the conference, and maybe even more will come. It proves that all the legislators - regardless of their political party or state - are ready to attend a conference which is non-partisan and discuss matters which are above politics.
Sputnik: Legislators from a whole range of regions and cultures will take part in this vast gathering and discuss sustainability. Each region has its own, specific issues so will talks between the MLAs be fruitful?
Kumar: The discussions will be extremely fruitful as they will understand the problems of the people of other states. Furthermore, MLAs will be able to share with each other the good practices they use to solve the problems facing the people.
For example, a legislator from Tamil Nadu will meet his counterpart from Nagaland and learn what problems he or she is facing. And as legislators talk to their counterparts, they will gain a greater understanding of the major problems faced by the country's people and they can then discuss how to find joint solutions to those problems.
Sputnik: Once the conference is over, will the findings be shared with the public so that the country's citizens can know what was discussed and what proposals were made to solve them?
Kumar: Of course they will be shared - it's not a classified document. There is a plan to have an archive of all the talks which took place and all the views that were expressed so that even in 50 years or 100 years, if somebody is doing research on democracy and how it has evolved, they will be able to consult the archive.
Sputnik: You have served as Speaker of the Parliament where proceedings are often disrupted for various reasons, as is also the case in state assemblies. Do you think this conferences will lead to fewer disruptions in parliament and assemblies in future?
Kumar: Well, the disruptions that occur in parliament or state assemblies, and this conference are two different things. I don’t think they are related to each other but, yes, there will be a session on legislation which might help to consider the issue.
However, I would like to say that disruptions in parliament or state assemblies are things which are typical to the particular house.
Sputnik: Is there any plan to organize such a conference with Parliamentarians also?
Kumar: Well, bringing parliamentarians onto one platform will be thought about in the next stage. As far as future plans related to NLC-Bharat are concerned, we have plans to have another conference after 18 months.
