Chandigarh, February 15 – On the second day of the two-day Orientation Program for the members of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, organized in collaboration with the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE), various key speakers enlightened the MLAs on legislative matters. These included Union Minister of Energy, Housing and Urban Affairs Sh. Manohar Lal, Gujarat Vidhan Sabha Speaker Sh. Shankarbhai Chaudhary, Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Speaker Sh. Kuldeep Singh Pathania, former Member of Parliament Dr. Satya Pal Singh, and additional and joint secretary-level officers from the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha Secretariats, who shared their insights.
On this occasion, Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Sh Harvinder Kalyan welcomed the speakers at the Orientation Program and honored them by presenting mementoes and shawls.
Union Minister of Energy, Housing and Urban Affairs Sh. Manohar Lal, while speaking on the Role of Ministers in Legislative Processes, shared his experiences from his nine-and-a-half years as Chief Minister of Haryana and 250 days as Union Minister with the members of the Legislative Assembly. Sh. Manohar Lal mentioned that he had the privilege of serving the people of the state as a member of the 13th and 14th Haryana Legislative Assemblies.
He stated that to become a better Minister, a member should have a thorough understanding of the legislative process, rules, and laws, as well as key issues of other departments in addition to their own. This knowledge will enable them to answer questions during assembly sessions with complete information. Sh Manohar Lal said that , there may be a need to create new laws through the Assembly or amend existing ones. In such cases, a minister should thoroughly study the draft of the relevant law to become well-acquainted with its aims and objectives. Sh. Manohar Lal also provided detailed information to the MLAs about ordinary bills and money bills.
*The Vidhan Sabha is a platform for dialogue, not debate – Shankarbhai Chaudhary*
Earlier, Gujarat Vidhan Sabha Speaker Sh. Shankarbhai Chaudhary, in his address on Legislative Experience, emphasized that the Vidhan Sabha is a platform for dialogue, not debate. He urged the members of the Vidhan Sabha to present their views within the decorum of the House and to listen to other members with patience. He stressed that MLAs should speak based on facts, as points supported by facts carry greater weight. He also highlighted the importance of MLAs preparing themselves in light of the increasing use of technology. Praising the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, he said that it has played a leading role in implementing ‘NeVA’.
Praising Haryana, Sh. Shankarbhai Chaudhary said, “Haryana is amazing; it is the land of agriculture. From the holy land of Kurukshetra, Lord Krishna delivered the divine message of karma and peace to all of humanity.” He expressed pride in the sportsperson and soldiers of Haryana, noting that Haryana’s players are making the state proud with their outstanding performances at both national and international levels. He also highlighted that today, India has emerged as the 5th largest economic power in the world, with constitutional institutions being protected and preserved. “The more we respect constitutional institutions, the more our country will progress,” he added.
*The newly elected members will benefit greatly from the Orientation Program – Kuldeep Singh Pathania*
During his address on Legislative Experience, Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Speaker Sh. Kuldeep Singh Pathania praised the initiative of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha for organizing the orientation program for MLAs, emphasizing that it will be especially beneficial for the newly elected members, helping them perform their legislative duties more effectively. He urged the members to allocate time to gather information through technology and stay updated with new rules and laws. He also highlighted the special importance of various committees in legislative work, encouraging MLAs to ensure maximum participation in these committees. Additionally, he advised members to effectively raise the issues of their respective constituencies in the House, enabling them to meet the hopes and expectations of the people by addressing and resolving these concerns.
On this occasion, former MP Dr. Satya Pal Singh and Joint Secretary of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat Dr. Raghab Prasad Dash spoke on the topic of Legislative and Financial Business in the Indian Parliament and in the Haryana Legislative Assembly. Former Joint Secretary of the Lok Sabha Secretariat Sh. Ravindra Garimella addressed on Parliamentary Privileges, while Dr. Satya Prakash, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India, enlightened the members on the National eVidhan Application (NeVA).
After the session, MLAs of the ruling party and the opposition expressed their gratitude to the Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker and the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE) for organizing the two-day orientation program for the members of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha. They said that such programs provide valuable insights on how to improve legislative work, while also addressing the doubts of the MLAs through various speakers. They emphasized that organizing such programs should be continued in the future.
