Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla stresses role of House panels amidst decline in debate standards

New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday said that State Assemblies and Parliament are above politics and that the dialogue and discussions taking place are worrying.

He was speaking at the National Conference of Chairperson of Committees of Parliament on the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes at Bhubaneshwar, which has been held for the first time since 2001.

During his speech, Birla also said that lawmakers across the country must rise above party lines on issues of national interest. He said that the decline in the number of sittings of legislatures and disruptive behaviour of members in legislative bodies is a worrying trend, and that the decline in the level of discussion and dialogue in legislatures is a matter of concern.

The First Conference of Chairpersons of Committees on the Welfare of SCs and STs was held in 1976 in New Delhi, and since then, have been held in 1979, 1983, 1987and 2001. This is the first time that the Conference is being organised outside Delhi.

“Parliamentary Committees play an important role; they are the backbone of parliamentary democracy. Unlike the political compulsions that drive debates in the House, Committees examine issues in detail, free from partisan politics, and arrive at consensus-based recommendations,” he said.

Committees, particularly those dealing with the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, he said, scrutinise budgetary provisions minutely, evaluate the performance of schemes, and assess whether allocations have been fully and effectively utilised. “Their reports not only hold the government accountable but also provide valuable guidance for course correction,” he added.

Among those present at the Conference were Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Jual Oram, Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh among others. Odisha Legislative Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy delivered the Welcome Address.