Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla stressed on accountability and transparency for public representatives in a thriving democracy like India, as he gave the inaugural address of the 21st Annual Conference of CPA India Region, Zone III in the Mizoram Legislative Assembly.
“As representatives of the public, we are all accountable to the public. We need to ensure not just that, but also need that we promote transparency,” Birla said.
Speaking about the immense potential of the Northeast, he urged, “In a democracy like India, we are very competitive. We should be using this competitive spirit for the welfare of the people and adopt best practices.”
Birla said that in democracy, there is enough space for dialogue, discussion, debate and dissent. The Lok Sabha Speaker also spoke about the role that can be played by the Chair. “It is up to each one of us what legacy we want to live behind for the generations to come. It is our responsibility to see that the dignity of democratic institutions is protected,” Birla said.
Speaking on the first day of the two-day conference, deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan Singh highlighted the work done by the Centre in the Northeast over the past decade. He highlighted how more than Rs 50 lakh crore has been allotted, in addition to the boost in the annual budget from Rs 25,000 lakh crore in 2014 to Rs 1 lakh crore. “The progress of the north-eastern states has been marred by geographical issues and legacy problems over the years. But it is well on track now, especially with the commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards making India Viksit Bharat by 2047,” he said.
He further highlighted that PM Modi has made an unprecedented 70 visits to the Northeast, making road and air connectivity possible. “More than eight new airports have been opened in this region since 2014, and railways has also progressed in many ways. In 2022, Nagaland got its second railway station after a century. Now Nagaland can be connected to Guwahati in Assam. Vande Bharat trains have also become a reality in many states in this region,” he said.
Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma highlighted the need for transparency in legislation. “Legislative sanctity refers to the integrity, credibility and inviolability of our laws and processes. It is the foundation upon which democratic governance stands. In a region as diverse and vibrant as Northeast India, fostering legislative sanctity is not just important; it is imperative,” he said.
“Legislative processes should involve diverse stakeholders, including civil society, local communities, and marginalised groups. We need to implement civic education programmes that inform citizens about their rights and the legislative process. Awareness campaigns can empower individuals to engage actively with their representatives and hold them accountable,” said the CM.
The central theme of the two-day conference is ‘Fostering the Legislative Sanctity’. The conference will also focus on the inclusion of the Northeast Region in the India-ASEAN Vision for Trade and Cooperation and Merging the Ministry of DONER with NEC for better strategic planning and coordination of various projects in the region.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) is an international community of Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures working together to strengthen the Commonwealth’s commitment to high standards of democratic governance and the parliamentary system. The CPA is one of the oldest organizations in the Commonwealth. Established in 1911, the federation is made up of more than 180 legislatures divided between nine geographical regions of the 54 Commonwealth countries.
It provides an opportunity for MPs and parliamentary staff to collaborate on issues of mutual interest and share good practices. So far, 20 Regional Conferences have been organised in the Northeastern States including the programmes organized by the North Eastern Region Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (NERCPA) and CPA Zone-III. CPA North East Region has been organizing this regional Conference regularly since 1997.
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