Kohima :A two-day orientation programme for Nagaland legislators was organized by Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE) LokSabha Secretariat at Conference Hall, Nagaland Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Kohima.

Speaker, Legislative Assembly.SharingainLongkumer, in his inaugural address, thanked the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE) LokSabha Secretariat. He said it had been his desire to conduct the Orientation Programme since his last tenure and getting re-elected as the Speaker, he announced in the House during the Budget Session which was well received by the House led by the Chief Minister.  

The Speaker said that in a 60 Member House of this 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly, there are 29 new Members from different backgrounds including two women legislators, who are ready to take on new challenges and responsibilities. He complimented them all on becoming Members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly and that it is a matter of privilege to be an elected representative of the people, but such privilege imposes great responsibility on all. 

The speaker further said that as lawmakers, they all need to keep themselves abreast of the changing trends and educate themselves to enable them to discharge their duties and responsibilities more effectively.

The legislators are the bridge between the public and the government, their primary responsibility is to find solutions to people’s problems and to make the legislature effective, it is necessary that the people’s representatives should be sensitive to the problems of the people and work towards fulfilling their hopes and aspirations.

Legislators should inculcate an appreciation of the roles and responsibilities, as representatives of the people and familiarize themselves with the mechanism of parliamentary institution. To be an effective legislator, one should understand the Constitution of India, the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the House, and the practices and conventions of the House, as a pre-requisite in their sincere effort towards public service.  

The Speaker said that he was proud to announce that Nagaland created history by becoming the first State Assembly in the country to implement the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) programme and with the collective support of the Government officers the state is moving towards becoming completely paperless in the early future.

To keep pace with the advancement of information technology, the Nagaland Legislative Assembly launched the National e-Vidhan Application or NeVA in March 2022 during the Budget Session. He also congratulated the team members of SBL which is the implementing agency of the project, their meticulous, sincere, and professional approach to the project has ensured the project being implemented in the shortest possible time.

The Speaker further hoped that the PRIDE team members from the LokSabha Secretariat led by Vinay Kumar Mohan Joint Secretary, LokSabha Secretariat will provide all an opportunity for an in-depth understanding of the various subject matters to discuss during the 2-day Orientation Programme.

The vast amount of experience, expertise, and exposure that they bring along will no doubt help all of them in equipping themselves and at the same time enhancing their calibers in their collective efforts to bring about a robust system of transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness in governance. 

The Resource Persons from PRIDE, LokSabha Secretariat are Vinay Kumar Mohan Joint Secretary, RavindraGarimella, Former Joint Secretary, Santosh Kumar, Director, ParthaGoswami, Additional Director and Sovan Kumar Ganguli, Additional Director.

Earlier the inaugural programme was chaired by Jenny Ndang, Additional Secretary, NLAS, the invocation was said by Rev. T W YamyapKonyak, State Chaplain, and welcome address was delivered by Khruohituonuo Rio, Secretary in-charge, NLAS.