Legislator-bureaucrat interface to boost understanding

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, August 14: “A working relationship between MLAs and officials is a must as it ebles them to understand matters in proper perspectives and serve the people in a better and effective manner,” said Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal at the end of an interactive session between MLAs and senior officials of different departments at Assam Administrative Staff College late evening yesterday.

The interactive session that began on July 20 spreading over several days with senior officials of every department making power point presentations before the MLAs and explaining to them the finer points of the programmes, schemes and policies of the Government, including the highlights of the budget 2016-17, evoked tremendous response and helped to create a two-traffic thus helping to build bridges of understanding.

Sonowal said a two-way traffic between the officials and MLAs help both to get a better grasp of things and to know each other better through exchange of ideas and opinions on a wide gamut of issues ebling them in the process to serve the people in a much better way. “When I was MLA for some time, I realiced then the importance of interactive session between officials and MLAs to understand matters in proper perspectives that would eventually lead to better execution of Government schemes and programmes thus taking them to the grassroots level,” he said.

Sonowal said percolation of government schemes and programmes would take place only if officials and MLAs have a perfect bonding ebling to clear many things thus leading to hassle-free and smooth execution. Quoting veteran parliamentarian Somth Chatterjee, Sonowal said, “Art of speaking has to be developed to articulate views with clarity and precision and this can be done by controlling aggression. Our people’s representatives have the ability to do so. And this would not only raise the status and dignity of the Legislative Assembly but also the image of the MLAs before the eyes of the people whom they represent.”

The Chief Minister further said that the MLAs need to do their homework well to articulate their views with firm belief and conviction. “If one articulates one’s views based on factual information there is no question of faltering or fumbling. I would like to recall veteran parliamentarian Hem Baruah who has inspired and motivated me a lot. It was his thought-provoking, eloquent, lucid, clear, apt and accurate presentation on the floor of Parliament that moved everyone, including Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.”

Sonowal thanked the MLAs for their support and cooperation, the Chief Secretary, senior officials and ministers for making the interactive meet a resounding success.

Cutting across party lines, MLAs from both ruling and Opposition parties thanked the Chief Minister for giving them the rare opportunity to interact with senior officials on wide ranging issues ebling them to get grasp of things in proper perspectives.

Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia, while thanking the Chief Minister for giving the unique opportunity for an interface with the MLAs for the first time ever, said it would help to build Team Assam and develop a New Assam. “This interaction will help bridge the communication gap and create a better working atmosphere that augurs well for the State. At the end of it all, the officials are feeling happy that they have been able to get across their views on important issues and provide valuable feedback to the people’s representatives, a platform they seldom get,” he said.

Pipersenia said an institute on the lines of Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training can be set up to familiarise the officials and legislators with the intricacies of parliamentary practices and procedures and on issues of topical interest through orientation programmes when the Assembly session is on.