Union minister of Parliamentary affairs, Pawan Kumar Bansal, said it was decided that periodic training should be imparted to members on tips for effective debates in institutions like IIMs.
Raising the number of sittings of legislatures and training elected members for a meaningful debate were among ten recommendations came up during the All India Whips' Conference here today.
It also proposed to accord status of minister to chief whips and that of minister of state to whips.
The recommendations were drawn at the conclusion of 15th All India Whips' Conference, organised by the ministry of Parliamentary affairs. About 85 delegates from all states, including MPs, chief whips and whips of political parties, attended the meet.
Union minister of Parliamentary affairs, Pawan Kumar Bansal, said it was decided that periodic training should be imparted to members on tips for effective debates in institutions like IIMs. There should be study tours, within and outside the country, to learn about working of legislatures elsewhere.
While whips of all parties should be provided with secretarial facilities, chief whips should be accorded the status of minister and whips that of minister of state.
The minister said research assistance must be provided to members of Houses for better quality of debates in Parliament and legislative bodies.
The Conference would become an institutionalised body with seven members, who would press for effective implementation of its recommendations.
The governments should take immediate measures to enhance honorarium and office assistance to members and former members.
He said serious concern was expressed over the decline in number of sittings and the meet advocated that it must be raised. Low-attendance of members was also discussed.
The tips to improve functioning of Parliament and legislative bodies have come at a time when some states are yet to adopt conclusions of its previous meet. Bansal said "some states, including Bihar, are yet to implement the recommendations of the 14th Whips' conference."
On decorum in the houses, it was felt that indiscipline was obstructing meaningful debate and that the question hour should never be dispensed with. The question listed should be treated as property of the house.
In the case of Rajya Sabha, if the member whose question was listed was absent, then others could ask supplementaries.
It was also proposed that the youth parliament system should be extended to rural youths. "At state level, governments should organise conferences in regional languages for students," Bansal said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}