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Pratibha Patil calls for decorum in legislatures

Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar

Memento: President Pratibha Patil being presented an Aranmula mirror by Speaker K. Radhakrishnan in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday. Governor R.L. Bhatia is also seen.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: President Pratibha Patil said on Wednesday that Legislative Assemblies in the country should examine how to meet the growing aspirations and expectations of the people, especially the younger generation.

Inaugurating the valedictory function of the golden jubilee celebrations of the Kerala Assembly here, the President said that several issues such as effective and result-oriented functioning of the legislature and improvement of various aspects of the functioning of the government ought to be evaluated.

“How can performance audit be implemented? How can there be greater transparency and accountability in government’s functioning? How can Right to Information be used effectively for better governance? There are several issues that require evaluation.”

Mrs. Patil said that it was incumbent on all members of the legislative bodies in India to maintain order and decorum in the House. “This is important for maintaining the stature, dignity and respect for democratic institutions.”

She said that what happened in the legislature, how it worked, how productive were its debates and deliberations had a decisive role in shaping the destiny of the State and the country. “That being so, it is the duty of the enlightened society and the electorate to constantly watch, and critically analyse the legislative business for the strengthening of the democratic process,” she added.

The legislature should look at how to facilitate the implementation of socio-economic development programmes in an increasingly productive and transparent way within a stipulated time frame.

She said the next challenge before the Kerala Assembly was to look at taking the State towards economic, technological and industrial development. “I believe that from the platform of its progressive human development agenda, it would be possible for Kerala to make a big leap forward into future.”

Students and the youth, she said, are the future of the country and it is important to prepare them for the ever-growing challenges of the future.

The President recalled that the Kerala Legislature had given birth to many trailblazing enactments

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, who delivered the keynote address, said that public demands had found their expression in the House over the years, leading to several landmark legislation.

Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy called for a common development agenda for the State.

Governor R.L. Bhatia presided. Ministers, legislative party leaders Speaker K. Radhakrishnan and Deputy Speaker Jose Baby spoke.

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