By IANS,
Bhopal: Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar Wednesday expressed concern over the legislatures’ “declining standards” in discharge of their duties and urged them to do self-assessment to meet the expectations of people.
“There is a general disquiet about the gradually declining standards of our legislatures in the performance of their duties. Debates and discussions, considered to be the hallmark of democracy, are often marked by disruptions, confrontations and various non-democratic alternatives,” the speaker said.
She was addressing the 74th conference of presiding officers of legislative bodies in India held in the Madhya Pradesh assembly.
Meira Kumar emphasised that it had become “imperative that all legislative bodies across the country make self-assessment with regard to their functioning in the realization of the urges, aspirations and the expectations of the people”.
Referring to the demands for carving out new states as also for setting up the second States Reorganisation Commission, Meira Kumar hoped the issue would be discussed in the national perspective.
Meira Kumar was given a guard of honour on her arrival at the ceremonial gate of the Vidhan Sabha Bhawan.
Presiding officers from state assemblies are participating in the five-day conference that is being held in Bhopal after 20 years.