Lok Sabha Speaker to inaugurate orientation programme for WB MLAs on July 3
Kolkata, July 2
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will inaugurate a two-day Orientation Programme for newly elected members of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly on July 3 in Kolkata, the Lok Sabha Secretariat said in a release.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju, Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ritabrata Banerjee and others will be present in the inaugural session.
West Bengal Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose will deliver the welcome address, and the State's Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shankar Ghosh will deliver the vote of thanks.
As per the release, during the two day Orientation Programme, a series of technical sessions have been designed to cover key aspects of legislative work, including 'How to be an Effective Legislator; Customs, Conventions and Etiquettes for Members'; 'Executive Accountability through Questions and other Procedural Devices in Legislatures'; 'Committee System in Indian Parliament'; 'Legislative Process including Private Members' Bills'; 'Financial Business and Budgetary Process in Parliament'; 'Parliamentary Privileges and Ethics'; and the 'National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA)'.
The sessions will be chaired and addressed by Presiding Officers of State Legislatures, MPs, constitutional experts and senior parliamentary practitioners from across the country. The programme is expected to facilitate the exchange of ideas and best practices while enhancing participants' understanding of legislative procedures, parliamentary institutions and democratic governance.
The event will conclude on July 4 with the valedictory address of West Bengal Governor RN Ravi. The session will be addressed by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Haryana Governor Ashim Kumar Ghosh, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, and Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose.
The programme is being organised by the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE), Lok Sabha Secretariat, in collaboration with the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.
It seeks to familiarise newly elected MLAs with various aspects of parliamentary and legislative functioning, including committee systems, financial oversight, parliamentary privileges and emerging digital initiatives in legislatures. It will also provide a platform for interaction and exchange of experiences among legislators, Presiding Officers and parliamentary experts, the Secretariat said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good initiative but why is the Lok Sabha Speaker coming to inaugurate a state-level programme? Feels like the Centre is trying to project influence in West Bengal politics. Let the state assembly manage its own training.
Important topics like committee systems and financial oversight – exactly what our MLAs need. In Bengal, we've seen too many disruptions and not enough actual work in the House. Let's hope this programme brings some discipline. 🤞
The inclusion of NeVA (National e-Vidhan Application) is great – digital initiatives in legislatures are the need of the hour. But I hope this isn't just a photo-op for politicians. Real change will come when MLAs apply this knowledge in the Assembly.
Interesting to see both Suvendu Adhikari and Ritabrata Banerjee on the same platform – hope they learn to work together! West Bengal needs less political drama and more governance. This orientation is a small but positive step.
Is this really necessary? Our MLAs are already experienced – many have been in politics for decades. This feels like a waste of taxpayer money. Better to focus on real issues like unemployment and infrastructure in Bengal.
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