KOHIMA, Nov 27 (MExN): Inaugurating the Parliamentary Research Cell and two-day Legislative Drafting Course for legislators of Nagaland today at the ATI Auditorium, state Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said that the government always wanted men and women to be awake and vigilant.
Rio said that the government empowered the youths, the farmers and women, ‘not for fun’ but for a serious purpose, asserting that goals of development will never be achieved without vigilant men and women participating in the process.
Quoting Plato, Rio said that imbalance between the ‘have’ and ‘have not’ is the oldest and most fatal ailment of republics, which the Nagaland government has been always striving to minimized these ailments of disparity in the Naga society. “The economic and social achievement of this government has been largely the result of such single-minded attempt at reducing this imbalance”, Rio said.
The Chief Minister also said that democracy should not be construed as a guarantee for creating equality of conditions, but added that it offers and guarantees only equality of opportunities.
He said that opportunities will be thrown open equally to all, but at what different speeds men and women would climb the steps in the ladder, will be left to each one’s competence.
Rio also opined that democracy creates equal opportunities for all; therefore, it must be supported by a system which allows free play of competence. Otherwise, there will be monotony of expression of skills and talents at the cost of excellence.
“I personally and sincerely believe that every democracy must have a socialist root and capitalist trunk. The fruits of such a democratic tree would be sweeter than the fruits of any other political system”, Rio opined.
Rio further went on to add that the House is the verdict of the people, and is the repository of the will of the people. He said that the House is not a mere place of passing laws and resolutions, but is place where decisions are taken consensually.
“The House is not a battlefield for clash of egos, or for scoring points over each other. The House is a place where unanimity generally should prevail in regard to protection of public welfare and for taking progressive decisions”, Rio asserted, adding that both the government and opposition must bow before the house.
The Parliamentary Research Cell will have a rich collection of books on parliamentary matters, politics, economics and social issues. Chief Minister has called upon the legislators, officers and youths of the state to make use of the resources available in the Cell.
The Cell, which the CM term as long felt demand for training of legislators and senior officers in the art of legislative drafting, would mainly encourage private members’ legislative initiatives.
There is a need for the House as whole, particularly, for the private members, to actively engage themselves in shaping and broadening the agenda before the house, which would automatically increase the duration of the house. And, with this objective in mind, the department of parliamentary Affairs organized the programme, Chief Minister said.
The Cell may be shifted to new Assembly Complex, with the permission of the speaker, as soon as the infrastructures are ready, Rio also said. The catalogue 2006 of the Cell has been circulated.
Earlier, Rio released a book, “Ideas for an Alternative Anti-defection Law” written by Parliamentary Affairs Secretary, R Kothandaram, which was followed by talk on “Reading and Human Development” by Prof VC Sukla, Dean, Education department of the Nagaland University.
Former Central Vigilance Commissioner, P Shankar spoke on Law and Good Governance, Professor of Strategies Studies Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi, Dr Brahma Chellaney on Peace-A prerequisite for Development, BR Attre, former Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Law, spoke on Principles of Legislative Drafting-Part I, while Sankar Sen, former Director, National Police Academy & Senior Fellow, Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi spoke on Law and Police Administration.
