Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): The Haryana Vidhan Sabha organized a specialized training workshop for its members at Haryana Niwas in Chandigarh this Thursday, focusing on the critical role of parliamentary committees. Presiding over the session, Assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan emphasized that the strengthening of democratic institutions is a fundamental requirement for achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’. He urged the gathered representatives to prioritize the public interest by developing a profound understanding of legislative rules, procedures, and technical data to enhance their effectiveness in the house.
During his address, the Speaker noted that the time constraints of a standard assembly session often prevent exhaustive discussions on every topic. Consequently, parliamentary committees serve as the most potent instrument for holding the administration accountable. He highlighted that these committees frequently operate beyond partisan divides, allowing legislators to pose precise questions to officials and use their expertise to identify gaps in administrative reports. Kalyan specifically encouraged the significant number of young MLAs in the current assembly to integrate technical insights and legal frameworks into their speeches, which would assist the government in arriving at superior decisions.
The Speaker stressed that the process of learning should not be confined to workshops but must remain a continuous journey throughout an MLA’s tenure. He suggested that every representative should maintain the mindset of a student, as this hunger for knowledge is what ultimately transforms a legislator into a successful minister or a respected public leader. Drawing inspiration from the Karnataka Assembly’s motto—”Government’s work is God’s work”—he reminded the 90 members of the Haryana Assembly of their immense responsibility in managing the welfare and budget of a large population.
As part of the initiative to support legislators, Speaker Kalyan released a special guidance booklet containing essential formulas for legislative decision-making and strategies for navigating complex challenges. He also discussed plans to create a shared digital platform for all state assemblies under the guidance of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. This platform would facilitate the exchange of best practices and successful legislative models between different states, further modernizing the democratic process in India.
The workshop also featured a lecture by former Rajya Sabha member Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, who described parliamentary committees as “mini-parliaments.” He explained that a budget is much more than a financial document; it is a comprehensive assessment of government spending that requires meticulous scrutiny. Sahasrabuddhe pointed out that committees now play an active role in questioning why allocated funds might remain unspent, thereby ensuring greater transparency and executive accountability.
The event saw participation from several high-ranking officials and ministers, including Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mahipal Dhanda, Panchayat and Development Minister Krishan Lal Panwar, and Child Development Minister Shruti Choudhry. Senior officers such as the Director General of HIPA, Manoj Yadav, and representatives from the Lok Sabha Secretariat also contributed to the training. The session concluded with a collective commitment to continuously improve the capacity of the state’s representatives to foster long-term development in Haryana.
