Lok Sabha Speaker Calls for Unity on National Issues

• Om Birla urges lawmakers to rise above party politics on national issues.
• Expresses concern over decline in sittings and disruptive behaviour in legislatures.
• Stresses that Committees are the “backbone of parliamentary democracy.”

GG News Bureau
Bhubaneswar, 29th Aug: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday urged lawmakers to rise above party lines on issues of national interest, voicing concern over the declining number of sittings and disruptive behaviour in legislatures. He was addressing the inaugural session of the National Conference of Chairpersons of Committees of Parliament and State Legislatures on the Welfare of SCs and STs in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

Decline in Parliamentary Standards Worrisome: Speaker
Birla expressed anguish over falling standards of debate and dialogue in legislatures. He stressed that effective functioning of the House is essential for democracy, warning that disruptions weaken institutions and public trust.

Committees: Backbone of Parliamentary Democracy
Highlighting the non-partisan nature of Committees, Birla said they ensure accountability by scrutinising schemes, budgets, and policy execution. He described Committees as the “backbone of parliamentary democracy” that rise above politics to provide consensus-based recommendations.

Ambedkar’s Vision Guiding India’s Progress
Reaffirming Babasaheb B.R. Ambedkar’s vision of dignity and equal opportunity, Birla said India’s democratic journey reflects inclusiveness, with leaders from marginalised communities rising to the highest offices. He stressed that Viksit Bharat by 2047 can only be achieved through justice, equality, and dignity for all.

Welfare of SCs/STs Central to Policy Agenda
The Speaker underlined that education, financial inclusion, and welfare schemes must empower Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes beyond financial aid, fostering self-reliance and opportunity. He called for strict monitoring of government funds to ensure welfare schemes reach intended beneficiaries.

First-Ever Conference Outside Delhi
The historic conference, first held in 1976, is being organised outside Delhi for the first time. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Ministers Jual Oram and Dharmendra Pradhan, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, and Parliamentary Committee Chairperson Dr. Faggan Singh Kulaste also addressed the gathering.

The two-day event, themed “Role of Parliamentary and Legislature Committees in Welfare, Development and Empowerment of SCs and STs”, will conclude with a valedictory address by Odisha Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati on August 30.