Ensure that people remain the focal point of administration: Venkaiah Naidu

Addressing the valedictory session in the Central Hall, Mr Naidu said, "Legislators can ensure that the people remain at the focal point of the Administration.  If the Governments task in a democracy is to promote public good, then you perform a seminal role by becoming a critical link between the people and the Government."

He said legislators were at the core of the public governance system. Being the representative and legislative bodies, they were at the centre of the institutional architecture in a democracy, Mr Naidu added.

"The role of legislators in national development can be fully understood if we recognise two inter-related aspects of our parliamentary democracy," he said.  

Condemning the use of placards and sloganeering in Parliament, which was constantly observed in both the House during the second leg of Budget session, he said, "Legislatures and Parliament are certainly no places for display of placard, banners, etc" adding that Legislators cannot claim to be agents of development if they indulge in disruptions and demonstrations inside the legislatures.

Propagating for women empowerment in political system, Mr Naidu said all political parties must extend their support to have a legislative enactment to increase women's political representation in these directly elected legislative bodies. 

Climate change and terrorism are big challenges before the nation, he said. Some systematic changes must be brought in to make agriculture sustainable, he suggested.

He lauded Speaker Sumitra Mahajan for taking the initiative for holding legislators conference. "I know that the Speaker has been organising workshops and conferences on issues of development for the benefit of the legislators. She has been focussing on Sustainable Development Goals and sensitising the Members about them," Mr Naidu said.

He advised the legislators to be disciplined and punctual.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the National Legislators Conference on the theme 'We For Development' on Saturday. The two-day conference on March 9 and 10, being held at the initiative of the.

Speaker, is being attended by cabinet ministers, chief ministers, members of state assemblies and councils and MPs.

The motive of the conference is to bring MPs and MLAs on a single platform where ideas and plans for development can be exchanged. Role of public representatives in development and optimum use of resources will be the subjects on agenda for discussions.