BJP's orientation programme will ensure good governance

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asked the newly-elected BJP MPs to focus on their conduct both in the Parliament and also in public, and directed them to spread the message of good governance. Speaking at a two-day orientation programme being organised in Surajkund, Modi guided all the first-time MPs from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on how to nurture their respective constituencies and make use of the media, especially the social media in spreading the party message.

The orientation programme for MPs has been organised to make them understand their importance and role in the governance machinery. The role of MPs becomes more pivotal in Parliamentary form of Government where they are not only confined to legislative business but have to take Government's agenda among the public. Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had earlier highlighted the importance of MPs saying they are representatives of people's hopes, understands importance of the Parliamentarians very well. Modi knows that his dream of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' can only materialise if his Ministers work together as a team.

A total of 150 newly-elected Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs of BJP are participating in the event.

Many Parliamentarians do not utilise even 50 % of MPLAD funds alloted to them

Interacting with the MPs, Modi emphasised that their approach to the party has to be that of mutuality and fellow-feeling. "We are a family and all are working for a common goal. Try to make new friends, learn from each other and develop a new collectivism," he said. The Prime Minister who has always pitched for result-oriented work also asked the party MPs to develop a sense of mission towards their duties and to remain connected at ground level for better communication between Government and public.

Modi's stress on better connect at grass root level is very crucial as MPs are often found unable to utilise their funds allocated for development of their constituencies. According to reports, many Parliamentarians could not utilise even 50 per cent of MPLAD (Member of Parliament Local Area Development) funds allocated to them. Each of the MPs get Rs 2 crore a year for developmental work in their constituencies. As per the records available with the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, nearly163 MPs (in 2013) had spent much less than their quota of funds allocated under MPLADS. It is evident from this that a large number of Parliamentarians have a disregard towards their own constituencies.

For proper functioning of Government, it is very important for representatives to have proper understanding of their duties and conduct in the Parliament. For this, they are required to have a proper training time to time which not only guide them on number of issues but also provides them platform to exchange their ideas.

Maintaining that the training is not just a ritual, Modi said the party has a long tradition of capacity building. He also took a dig at those ridiculing such training camps for MPs, saying, "Lack of training in political establishment is a serious lacunae but unfortunately, many outside politics take efforts for human resource development very lightly and sometimes even try to ridicule such efforts."

BJP's orientation programme under the leadership of Modi is a good idea which can go a long way in ensuring healthy functioning of the Government.