SAARC region has seen advent of people's power: Meira

Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, who is leading a delegation of Indian parliamentarians at the SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians Conference in Male, today said the region has seen the growth of democracy and a stronger role for MPs.
Speaking at the Inaugural Ceremony of the 7th SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians Conference in Male, Kumar said the SAARC region has seen the advent of people's power and increasing role of Parliaments and parliamentarians.
"All the countries in the region have seen free and fair elections, reflecting the wishes of the people at large... SAARC is an extremely useful forum available to this region to foster and promote people-to-people understanding and cooperation on a range of vital issues common to our countries," Kumar was quoted as saying in a statement issued here.

She also praised the people of Maldives for their continued faith in democratic values.
"A great deal of goodwill and warmth is generated amongst the countries in the region by the bonds of culture and custom, history and geography," Kumar said, adding that this unity must be elevated to a higher pedestal by representative bodies which understand the pulse of the people.
She noted that in the SAARC countries, Parliaments play a pivotal role in influencing the policies.

She said, "If we are able to share our experiences about the challenges of operating a democratic political system as a means of achieving sustainable development, it will be to our mutual advantage."

"We can learn a great deal by understanding best parliamentary practices and democratic traditions obtaining in our respective countries and derive much benefit by enriching our own systems and institutions back home," she said.
The Indian delegation comprises of MPs- Bhubaneswar Kalita, Sanjay Raut, Hassan Khan, Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah and Ramya Divya Spandana.