Building trust for lawmakers is speaker's responsibility: Sumitra Mahajan

Lok Sabha speaker inaugurates conference exploring role of MPs and MLAs in strengthening people's faith in democratic institutes

Addressing the 78th All India Speakers' Conference at Gandhinagar, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said it is speaker's responsibility to build trust in public representatives and democratic institutions.

Western state of Gujarat is hosting the conference in Gandhinagar. Over 350 delegates, including 70 speakers and their deputies are attending it.

Mahajan inauguated the event on Friday at Gujarat assembly house. It is the third time Gujarat is hosting Speakers' Conference. Earlier, the state hosted the event in 1973 and 1992.

Commenting on the role of a speaker Mahajan said, "Speakers have to play very important role which is very important to create faith in democratic institutions among the citizens. The role of legislators in strengthening public faith in democratic institutions is very important and it is our responsibility to build trust."

The two main topics of this conference are the role of MPs and MLAs in strengthening people's faith in democratic institutes and importance of Speakers' research measures to help MLAs; and remedies to ensure presence of MPs and MLAs during the sessions of legislative bodies and to hold discussion over improving quality of House debates.

She said, "Debates in the House is necessary for the House and we need to work on improve quality of debate or discussions." The inauguration ceremony was attended by Gujarat Governor O P Kohli and Chief Minster Anandiben Patel.

Today, a similar event would be hosted by Sumitra Mahajan at Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad. While on Saturday, Anandiben Patel will host a cultural event at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar.

Participants of the conferences on January 24 will visit to different places in Gujarat, including Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, the Sun temple in Modhera, Ran ki Vav in Patan, Ambaji, Dudhsagar Dairy in Mehsana, and Siddhpur and Kirti Toran in Vadnagar.