Atwal calls for evaluating Parliament's effectiveness

Jabalpur, Oct 7 (UNI) Describing the Parliament and state assemblies as symbols of democracy, public freedom and sovereignty, Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal said those associated with such representative bodies should analyse and evaluate their effectiveness.

''The Constitution of India says that vidhan sabhas form a crucial medium for socio-economic change,'' he said yesterday while addressing a seminar on 'Participation of People's Representatives and the Public in Development of Parliamentary Processes in the Past 50 Years'. The programme was part of a series on the Madhya Pradesh Assembly's golden jubilee year celebrations.

Former Lok Sabha General Secretary Subhash Kashyap and ex-mayor Susheela Singh were special invitees.

''For the success of parliamentary democracy, the highest standards of discipline have to be maintained in assemblies. Over the past five decades, democratic changes with far-reaching affects have taken place globally,'' said Mr Atwal.

The deputy speaker said that amendments endowed panchayati raj institutes and civic bodies with rights that ensured the public's direct participation in government.

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