Naidu appeals to members to make inspiring fresh start, calls for wider debate on lapsed bills
New Delhi, : Expressing deep concern about frequent disruptions in the Rajya Sabha proceedings and the negative public perception arising out of it, Chairman Venkaiah Naidu on Friday appealed to all Parliamentarians to make an inspiring fresh start beginning with this session and also advised them to think of every Indian before you debate or disrupt.
In his observations in the House on the opening day of the new session, the Rajya Sabha Chairman also calls for a wider debate on lapsed bills.
Putting out his observations during the zero hour, Mr Naidu said, “I fervently appeal to all Parliamentarians to make an inspiring fresh start beginning with this session. It should be our collective duty to strive for better and effective performance. We have to live up to expectations & be role models for other legislatures.”
He urged the members to make systems work better to have more citizen-centric governance in the country.
“Ours is an aspirational country with #youth comprising almost two thirds of our population.This is a huge untapped demographic dividend.We have to make our systems work better,make institutions respond faster & alter governance patterns to become more citizen-centric,” the Chairman said.
Mr Naidu said that it’s an apt time to transform the lives of people.
“It is an opportune time for us to reform functioning of our Parliament so that we can collectively transform lives of our people who have reposed immense trust in each one of us. Please think of every Indian before you debate or disrupt. Think of the India you wish to create.”
Suggesting a wider debate about rules relating to lapsed Bills in the Upper House, Mr Naidu said,’
Rajya Sabha being a continuous House, no Bill introduced in the Rajya Sabha ever lapses. Currently, the pendency in the Rajya Sabha stands at 33 Bills. ‘
Naidu said some of the Bills have been pending for decades. The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 1987, has been pending for 32 years.
‘Three bills are pending for more than 20 years, six bills have been pending for 10-20 years, and 14 bills for 5-10 years, he said.
“This is certainly not a happy situation. In order to streamline the process, I suggest that if a Bill is not taken up for consideration and passing in Rajya Sabha within five years of introduction, such pending Bills should be treated as deemed to have lapsed,” Naidu said.
He also called for eliminating barriers for making India a developed nation.
“The mission before us is to remove hurdles that come in the way of rapid socio-economic progress. To realize aspirations of people cutting across caste, creed, region & religion, Parliamentarians need to redefine and recalibrate their ways of thinking and acting,” Mr Naidu said.
“We cannot allow this to happen. We need to reassure each citizen that we can bring about a distinct change and that change shall begin with each political party and each member of this House. If we fail, we fail our people, we fail our nation,” he added.
He also appealed the members being the elders in Parliament to lead by example.
“India just entered the 70th year of Republic. Legislatures & their Hon’ble Members should discharge their noble responsibilities. As the House of Elders, Rajya Sabha needs to lead by example. This is a privilege that people bestow on a few. The expectations are high.”
People of India want the country to progress on different dimensions.They want transparent, responsive, agile governance.They want quality of life to improve and their voices to be heard. Parliamentarians have to give voice to those ideas, emotions and yearnings for positive change, he added.
UNI.