Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao today inaugurated the 19th 'World Peace Conference' here.
"Main aim of the education institutes is to strengthen people to search truth and utilise education for development of the society," Rao said.
The conference is organised jointly by city-based Gokhale Education Society (GES) and International Association of Educators for World Peace.
The Governor lauded the role of GES for its good work towards Adivasi welfare by providing higher education.
Rao assured support to the work done by GES in Palghar district to weed out malnutrition from the region.
The Governor also presented the 'Dr M S Gosavi Excellence Award' to noted scientist Anil Kakodkar.
Former University Grants Commission chairperson Arun Nigavekar and others were present on the occasion.
"The idea of a collective consciousness of humanity to
build an organization such as the United Nations is a reflection of what is possible, when people come together. The idea of deliberative democracy is one such idea, which has taken deep in-roads in many parts of the world," noted Professor Kumar.
(Dr.) Raj Kumar, further observed that deliberation and discussion are the central ideas to decision-making in a deliberative democracy. As the largest democracy of the world, the ideas of deliberative participation, transparency and creation of a rule of law society will be central to our growth and progress as a nation. As a university we are deeply committed to promoting these causes and engaging in such discussions.
Delivering the inaugural address on the occasion, Mr. P. P. Choudhary, Hon'ble Minister of State for Law & Justice, Ministry of Law & Justice, Government of India, said, "I am delighted to be a part of this scholarly conference, that will deliberate on some of the most crucial and central issues of deliberative democracy, I am hopeful that the recommendations arising from this international conference will be able to contribute ideas that will help strengthen the democratic system of our nation."
Speaking on the importance of the freedom of the legislature, he said, "The framework of the Indian constitution specifically postulates the independence of the legislature, in the absence of independence of legislature, a deliberative democracy cannot exist." Speaking on the accountability of the legislature to the citizenry of the country, he noted, "Accountability of legislature to the people of the country is of paramount importance and is crucial for the smooth functioning of the democratic system of the country.
