Mahajan graces NLA golden jubilee

‘ENSURE GOVERNANCE REMAIN TRANSPARENT & RESPONSIVE’
 Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan Saturday reminded members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly(NLA) of their responsibility to ensure that governance in the state remained accountable, transparent and responsive to the people’s needs and demands.
The LS Speaker was addressing the grand celebration of NLA’s 50 years at NLA Secretariat Complex in Kohima Saturday as chief guest.
Mahajan also said that the multi-dimensional roles that legislative bodies had to perform tasks ranging from ventilating people’s grievances to making laws, debating policies and subjects of public importance and keeping surveillance over the functioning of the administration.
She said these required that elected members remain true to the principles of democracy and consolidate democratic freedom by combating forces and elements that attempt to “ vitiate our socio-political culture and undermine our institutions of democracy”.
 Lauding Nagaland’s strong democratic system and the village councils for initiating development of the respective villages with proper planning for all round development, she urged the leaders to develop the state according to its special and unique position. She urged the people to develop Nagaland according to its special and unique position in the socio-cultural landscape of the country.
Mahajan expressed pride in visiting Nagaland,which she described as “the land of fearless Rani Gaidinliu”, who fiercely fought against the British Empire and said the dedication of Gaidinliu remained frest in the minds of patriotic people of the country. She also said that the state government should think about the young generation while adopting any developmental policies and pay special attention on skill development. She stressed on the need to provide “state of the art” institutions like ITIs and pointed out that the Prime Minister of India has been paying special attention to skill development for the youth.
Earlier welcoming the guests, Nagaland Assembly Speaker Chotisüh Sazo, described Nagaland as a “paradise state” for social scientists, anthropologists and others for its colorful tradition, folklores, myths and legends. He reminded about the history of Nagaland, the struggle and achievement of statehood, formation of the Interim Body and the consequent constitution of 1st NLA and its first sitting was on March 2, 1964.
He said that the visit of LS Speaker Sumitra Mahajan would leave a footprint that Naga people would cherish even in days to come.
Nagaland chief minister T. R. Zeliang, while greeting NLA members on the occasion, called upon the legislators to have novel vision so as to make proper plans and take up schemes for the benefit of the people. Representing the former interim body members of the NLA, T. Kikon urged upon the present legislators to accomplish things that could not be initiated by the former members.
DIPR adds: Speaking as the honoured guest, Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio said that the State of Nagaland was formed under difficult circumstances through blood, tears and sacrifice of every Naga family.
“The fruits of Statehood which have benefited generations came at a heavy cost of struggle, revolution, violence and great sacrifices”, he said.
Rio said that Nagaland was a political state which was formed out of a political agreement, namely the 16th points agreement simultaneously resulted in the establishment of democratic institution beginning with the NLA.
Speaking on the occasion, CLP leader Tokheho Yepthomi said that the pace of development of Nagaland were very slow with multiple problems, including insurgency, which have hampered the developmental activities. The occasion was marked by special song by Nagaland Chamber Choir and Jubilee assembly choir while vote of thanks was delivered by NLA deputy speaker Er. Levi Rengma.
 Earlier, the Lok Sabha Speaker unveiled the golden jubilee monolith and inaugurated a photo exhibition while also releasing the souvenir and memento on the occasion.
Speakers and Deputy Speakers of West Bengal, Gujarat, Bihar, Sikkim and Manipur attended the celebration.
Bats for women’s quota: Sumitra Mahajan said she would do her best to pass the Women Reservation Bill in Parliament in her tenure as the Lok Sabha Speaker.
Interacting with media persons after the celebration of the 50th year anniversary of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Saturday at the jubilee Hall, Mahajan expressed surprise that there was no woman legislator in the NLA while celebrating 50th anniversary. She said women were equal partners of male members and said women deserved to be recognized. She appealed the menfolks of Nagaland to review the matter to elect women members to the administrative bodies, including the assembly.
When asked about the Leader of Opposition in the Parliament (LoP), Mahajan said that according to laid rules, there should not be a leader of opposition from any party as not a single party has the one tenth number of members of the Parliament. She also informed that the question was raised in the Parliament and accordingly she took opinion of the legal experts, who advised that there was no provision of LoP as per the number of legislators of the opposition parties failed to touch one tenth of the total members of Parliament.
Mahajan expressed joy to have attended the NLA anniversary and termed it as “unique”. She regretted that she would miss the Hornbill Festival due to ongoing Parliament Session.