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| LS Speaker for strengthening democratic institutions; strong PRIs imperative for better laws | | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Aug 31: Asserting that everyone has to collectively work to strengthen the democratic institutions so that no one is left out in the country, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday said that a strong Panchayati Raj is imperative for better laws and programmes for the development of common masses.
Birla said that it is his duty as the Lok Sabha speaker to ensure that all the democratically elected institutions are transparent, accountable and work for the betterment of the people.
"We have to collectively work towards strengthening the democratic institutions in the country. As the panchayats are connected with the people at grassroot, if this institution is strengthened we will be able to make better laws, programms for common masses," he said during his address at the inaugural ceremony of 4th parliamentary outreach programme for strengthening Parliamentary Raj Institutions (PRIs) here on Tuesday.
"We are trying to improve the lives of the people though democratically elected bodies across the country. We are trying to make the elected bodies more accountable to the people. Though this programme (Parliamentary Outreach programme) we want that our panchayats should work more efficiently," he said
Mesmerized by the beauty of Kashmir valley, he said, "I'm really happy that I have come to a centre-administered Union Territory (UT) which is the most beautiful place in the word. We call it the paradise on earth… the lakes, waterfall, meadows and particularly the people of the valley are amazing."
Lauding the UT administration, he said J&K is heading towards peace, progress and development. "All the government institutions are working to make democratically elected bodies in J&K stronger. I would like to congratulate them for this," he said.
"Democratic is in our daily lives, we didn't get it after independence. Democracy is embedded in the rich culture of this country. Since centuries, democracy has been an essential part of the lives of the people living in villages. Democracy is embedded in everything we do. This is why during ancient times the decisions made in a village used to be collective decisions. And everyone used to accept those decisions," he said.
"Today also, democracy is considered as the best way to govern any region. India still leads the way when it comes to democratically elected governments across the word. India is the biggest democracy in the world… Since independence our democratic institutions have further strengthened," he added.
Birla said people's participation has also increased many folds in the democratic institutions. "The people's participation has also increased in Panchayats which has led to development of the respective villages. People are satisfied with the works being done by Panchayats. This has led to the improvement of our socio-economic development," he said.
"People in India have different religions, have different mindsets and eating habits, but it is democracy which connects each one of us. Panchayats across the country are working with dedication and have been made accountable to the people of India. Panchayats are working for socio-economic development of the people. We should further strengthen democratic institutions so that no one is left behind," he added.
Birla is visiting Jammu and Kashmir as a part of the Parliamentary Outreach Programme, aimed at strengthening the Panchayati Raj Institutions in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Parliamentary Outreach Program is an initiative to strengthen grassroots level institutions. An outreach program was held in Ladakh on August 27, which was attended by around 195 Panchayat representatives.
Earlier, outreach programs were held in Dehradun in Uttarakhand in January, and Shillong in Meghalaya in February. |
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