Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Sunday said that democracy runs on public trust and confidence, and, therefore, it is the responsibility of the democratic institutions to bring necessary changes in their working style and, if necessary, even amend the rules so that public confidence in these institutions enhances.

It was stated by the Lok Sabha Speaker during 84th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference (AIPOC) in Mumbai. The two-day Conference, which was inaugurated on January 27, concluded today.

Birla informed that during the two-day conference, the Presiding Officers discussed action plans to connect the democratic institutions with the public and to make them more accountable and transparent.

Mentioning best practices of legislative bodies, the Lok Sabha Speaker lauded the suggestion for establishing channels of communications among democratic institutions at Central, state and grassroots levels. In this regard, he referred to the Outreach programme organised by Lok Sabha and suggested that state legislatures should organise similar programmes.

Strongly pitching for the use of technology in legislatures to make them more effective and efficient, Birla said that suggestions have been received from some state legislatures for a model IT policy by the Lok Sabha and to share them with state legislative bodies.

He further informed that this suggestion will be discussed in detail and appropriate action will be taken.

Referring to the observations of Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding making legislatures paperless in his video address yesterday, Birla informed that Lok Sabha has achieved remarkable success in this direction through Digital Parliament.

The path of technology is the path of the future and we should gain proficiency in technology as soon as possible, emphasised Birla.

The vision of the Prime Minister for ‘One Nation, One Legislative Platform’ will be a reality in 2024, he said.

Mentioning about challenges posed by new technologies in the functioning of legislatures, Birla spoke about telecast and broadcast of proceedings expunged by the Chair and observed that an action plan is required in this direction. Birla opined that the media, including social media, should report authentic records of parliamentary proceedings.