Lok Sabha Speaker calls upon youth to involve in nation building

New Delhi, May 30 (UNI) Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee today said the task of addressing the inadequacies in the system can be accomplished only if the youth passionately participate in nation building activities.

Delivering the keynote address on the ''Parliamentary Democracy in India'' to mark the 100th birth anniversary of Babu Jagjivan Ram here today, Mr Chatterjee said, ''We need more and more dynamic young men and women, with idealism and commitment to public causes to enter our political life and the democratic institutions and help to infuse our system with a new vigour and vitality.'' He urged the people, particularly the youth, to come forward and contribute to further consolidate our democracy and strengthen the country's representative system.

Noting the fact that 34 per cent of India's 35 lakh legislators at the Panchayat level are women, the Lok Sabha Speaker said, ''It is through the crucible of democracy that the traditionally disenfranchised sections of society are acquiring a new voice and role in India's Governance. In that sense, democracy has become the ultimate leveller, undoing centuries of inequality and injustice and providing a level playing field for all.'' The Speaker, however, regretted that the public perceives a general decline in all institutons of governance, with the Parliament and the state assemblies coming in for strong criticism.

Mr Chatterjee also called for some honest introspection among the political class.

UNI