COACH THE LEGISLATORS
Freepress Journal, March 7, 2016
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Coach the legislators
This refers to “PM’s
SUGGESTIONS: Keep a week for first timers in Parliament” (repress Journal, March
4, 2016). The Lok Sabha decision to organise a two-day workshop for women
legislators on March 6 and 7 is a commendable initiative. Legislatures in
states and up to village panchayats which have no formal familiarisation
sessions now also should follow this example and arrange periodic off-site
conclaves for newcomers and legislators who did not have adequate exposure to
public forums before getting elected.
PM’s suggestions also
keeps in view the need to professionalise the conduct of legislative business
by making it more participative and democratic. Even in states like Kerala
which state has about 100 per cent literacy and most of the legislators getting
elected have higher level of formal education, in-house behaviour of ministers,
MLAs and other people’s representatives as telecast on TV leaves much scope for
improvement. In this context, PM’s suggestions are worth a trial. If followed
in right spirit, the results will get reflected in improvement in country’s
governance.
M
G Warrier
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