Meira Kumar calls for sweeping changes in LS functioning

New Delhi, Jun 4: Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar is calling for major reforms in the way the Lower House of Parliament functions in order to better address the issues citizens face in the country.

In a comment on Friday, Meira called for holding at least 100 days of session every year so that more days could be allotted for debating and discussing the problems in the country.

She also requested that a consensus be made on changing the time of the Question Hour in Lok Sabha, the kind that was implemented in the Rajya Sabha. Her earlier attempt to alter the timings was met with failure.

Speaking at an interview to a news channel she said, "Lok Sabha proceedings should be increased from the current 70 days to 100 days. There is a need for sufficient time for having a debate on multitude of problems facing a vast country like India."

Meira Kumar was voicing the concerns of political observers and Parliament experts who have time and again raised concerns over the drop in standards in debates and the humongous loss of precious tax payer's money following frequent adjournments and disruptions. Statistics reveal that the two Houses could only meet on an average of 70-80 days a year.

It was just in March that the Question Hour in Rajya Sabha was moved from 11am to 2pm by Chairman Hamid Ansari in lieu of the frequent disruptions. The CPI was one party that had been constantly demanding that the two Houses meet for at least 100 days in an year. The speaker had supported the move and said that she wanted a consensus on the issue.

OneIndia News