On Assam visit, UK Parliamentarians to strengthen bilateral ties

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, February 16: Lord Speaker of the House of Lords, Baroness D’Souza will be leading a delegation of members from the House of Lords and the House of Commons to Guwahati and Kolkata to strengthen ties and co-operation between Indian and British parliamentarians.

Official sources said that the area of priority for the visiting parliamentarians delegation is to learn how India is dealing with issues of intertiol concern like tackling climate change, developing climate smart cities and promoting renewable energy; advancing women and girls’ rights; and the work towards ensuring food security. The visitors are keen to explore pro-growth and sustaible initiatives being taken to achieve these objectives. At the same time, the British parliamentarians will have wide-ranging discussions with business and industry leaders to understand the current economic challenges and opportunities in India, as well as the areas where the UK and India can partner each other for mutual growth and prosperity.

In Kolkata and Guwahati, the 10-member British delegation will have interactive sessions with elected representatives from the respective states - West Bengal and Assam. An official of the British High Commission said the visiting parliamentarians are keen to gain a better understanding of the

challenges faced by their Indian colleagues on various fronts, including the relationship between business, civil society and elected representatives; the representation of women in political life and progress towards achieving gender equality in politics; and relationship between the Union and state legislatures.

The UK delegation will also call on the Chief Ministers of West Bengal and Assam during their visit.

Apart from meeting parliamentarians, the visiting delegation will also have meetings with trade and industry leaders, see first-hand civil society at work and interact with social activists, and engage in Indo-UK work on environment issues.

The delegation will stay in Guwahati on February 19 and 20. While in the city, the delegation will attend a UK-supported semir on India Burma Young Leaders’ Dialogue and pay their tribute to those who had sacrificed their lives in the World War at the Guwahati War Cemetery. There are 486 Commonwealth servicemen of the Second World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery.

The delegation will also visit a tea garden in gaon district and interact with tea experts to understand the socio-economic importance of tea in Assam.