Shri P. Sreeramakrishnan, Hon'ble Speaker, Kerala Legislative Assembly,
Shri P.V. Abdul Vahab, M.P.,
Shri E.T. Muhammed Basheer, M.P.,
Shri V. Abdurahiman, M.L.A.,
Sahodaree Sahodaranmare,
Ellavarkkum Ente Namaskaram,
It gives me great joy to inaugurate the Vajra Keralam Seminar on the Functioningof Parliamentary Institutions, organized as part of the Ente Tanur master plan.
At the outset, let me place on record my appreciation for organizing such a Seminar with the participation of students at the higher secondary and college levels, because they are the future custodians of our Parliamentary institutions.
I see this programme as a meeting place of Statesmen who have excelled in their Parliamentary and Legislative careers and the youth, who are the future legislators and Parliamentarians. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to honour stalwarts like Shri. Aryadan Muhammed, Shri T.K. Hamsa, Shri C. Haridas, Shri Ishaaq Kurikkal, Shri Mohammadunni Haji, Shri P.T. Mohanakrishnan, Shri Nalakathu Soopy and Shri Paloli Mohammed Kutty, whose performance as Legislators has greatly strengthened our democratic tradition. Though they have represented Malappuram district, their performance has bestowed on them a stature that transcends Kerala politics.
I also compliment Shri. V. Abdurahiman, MLA for initiating this programme as part of the 60th year celebration of the first Cabinet in Kerala, because it was that Government which took up the responsibility of showing our people a model in how parliamentary institutions could change the lives of people.
Since our programme also intends to recall the contributions of the first Ministry in Kerala, I feel that I should mention a few things about how that Ministry lay the foundations of change in Kerala. Besides being the first Communist government to come to power through the ballot, the impact created by Government, led by the Late E. M. S. Namboothiripad was tremendous. The message it gave to the people was that human beings had an immense capacity for change. That Cabinet initiated progressive steps which went a long way to transform the social fabric of the State. The law relating to Land Reforms, the steps taken for improving Education and the establishment of the Public Service Commission were some of the revolutionary steps that pointed to the Government's strong will to change the social system.
Many sociologists have opined that the people friendly measures of that Government like Minimum wages for labourers, protection to Trade union rights etc., helped to instill in the people, a sense of social equality and awareness that have now become the hallmark of Keralites. This sense of equality and awareness also rose out of an improved education system, which received top attention of that government.
With such a firm foundation, Kerala could uphold the democratic tradition through well informed dialogue and participation. This tradition has always strengthened our Parliamentary institutions. While we discuss Parliamentary institutions, we should remember that well informed and constructive discussions are what people expect from such institutions. There may be clash of faiths and ideologies, but every democratic and parliamentary institution should be united by the interests of society. Dissent is part and parcel of democracy, but intolerance to opinions is undemocratic. It is like trying to negate the role of an opposition in a democracy. I must also caution the young people sitting here against the frivolous wave of political and communal intolerance that is being spread through some sections of the media and the so called social media.
Every person who is part of a parliamentary institution fulfills the duty of 'nation building' through developmental activities. With the introduction of the Local Area Development scheme, every Member of Parliament and Legislature now gets the added responsibility of directly ensuring development in the constituency. As the author of the Constitution Bench [5 Judges] of Supreme Court of India which gave the verdict upholding the constitutional validity of the MPLAD scheme, I have the personal satisfaction of having been party to the rise of a new development culture in our country. It is this culture that we saw recently in the Chief Minister's decision to personally attend the development discussions in his constituency. It is the same development culture that we see in Shri Abdurahiman MLA's master plan called Ente Tanur.
The younger generation has a lot to learn from the work of contemporary leaders especially in their participation in the parliamentary institutions. For this, we have to first of all, prepare our youngsters to learn about democratic institutions. In fact, the management of political, democratic and parliamentary outfits requires managerial and communication skills and a vast knowledge of social realities. I understand that University of Kerala had, some years ago, initiated a course in Political Management, but it was discontinued due to lack of enrollment.
In fact, our education system has to give more importance to the study of how parliamentary institutions function in a democracy. This lack of orientation is evident from the dilution in parliamentary and legislative procedures, that we see too often these days. At times, our reactions to legislations and ordinances also raise doubts about our basic knowledge and clarity about such matters. I would certainly suggest that institutions like the Center for Parliamentary Studies and Training should conduct orientation programmes for people about how such institutions function. This would enable people in general and people's representatives right from the Ward level onwards in particular, to harbour a realistic view of one's powers , duties and obligations in society. If ordinary people are thus empowered with knowledge, it would certainly improve the functioning of our democratic institutions.
I feel that our students should begin their primary lessons of democracy from the fundamental duties of every citizen. A firm footing on our duties will enable us to think better about our rights, which also means, the rights of people around us. I am happy that the Seminar has a session on the Preamble of the Constitution because anyone who realizes the strength of that Preamble would get a better insight on the Constitution.
I hope the ensuing seminar on Parliamentary institutions and the Students' Parliament would enlighten the youth of this constituency on the procedure followed in parliamentary institutions.
I compliment the Center for Parliamentary Studies and Training and the Legislature Museum for their role in organizing this programme and the Parliamentary Exhibition.
I once again greet all the students who are participating in the programme and wish them all the best.
Ellavarkum Ente Aashamsakal
Nanni
Jai Hind
