Inaugurating a two-day Orientation Programme for newly elected Members of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly in Kolkata today, Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla called upon the legislators to strengthen democratic traditions and lead the State's renaissance.
Emphasizing that elected representatives are the custodians of the people's aspirations, Shri Birla urged the Members to actively contribute to informed law-making, constructive debates, and good governance, while preserving West Bengal's rich democratic and cultural legacy.
Stressing that legislative debates must focus on solutions rather than mere criticism, Shri Birla noted that constructive debate is the hallmark of a vibrant democracy. While criticism is an essential component of legislative functioning, he said that every discussion should also offer practical solutions to public problems.
Legislators should base their interventions on facts, research, and reasoned arguments to enrich the quality of democratic discourse, Shri Birla highlighted. Emphasizing that every MLA is both a representative of a constituency and a custodian of the State’s broader aspirations, Shri Birla said that legislative responsibilities extend far beyond local concerns.
Every debate, law, and policy, he noted, should be guided by public welfare and aimed at finding practical solutions to citizens’ challenges. He reiterated that meaningful democratic discourse must move beyond criticism and place equal emphasis on constructive and implementable solutions.
Congratulating the newly elected Members, Shri Birla observed that the people have reposed immense faith in them and expect responsive, accountable, and visionary leadership. While every MLA has the responsibility of representing his or her constituency, he or she is equally responsible for contributing to the development of the entire State through informed participation in policymaking and legislation, he added.
Calling upon the Members to remain lifelong learners, Shri Birla urged them to regularly study previous debates, landmark legislations, and best parliamentary practices from across India and the world. He stated that continuous learning, openness to new ideas, and constant self-improvement are essential qualities of an effective public representative.
The Speaker noted that the present West Bengal Legislative Assembly has a significant number of first-time Members and a large representation of young legislators. He described this as a historic opportunity to bring fresh ideas, innovation, and people-centric governance to the State.
He also appreciated the increasing participation of young leaders and women in public life. The Speaker advised Members to spend as much time as possible inside the Legislative Assembly, irrespective of whether they are scheduled to speak.
Listening carefully to the debates, arguments, and viewpoints of fellow Members, he said, enriches legislative understanding and helps build informed leadership. Shri Birla reminded the Members that the decisions taken by the present Assembly would influence not only the current generation but also future generations.
He urged legislators to discharge their constitutional responsibilities with wisdom, integrity, and a long-term vision for the State. He noted that the foremost duty of every elected representative is to become the voice of the people, especially the poor and the marginalized.
Legislators must enact effective laws, frame people-centric policies, and ensure continuous oversight of governance so that public welfare remains at the center of every decision. Highlighting the growing role of technology, Shri Birla said that the digital era has created unprecedented opportunities for legislators to access legislative debates, policy documents, and best practices from Parliament and State Legislatures.
Referring to the Digital Sansad platform, he said Members can now benefit from a vast repository of parliamentary knowledge and comparative legislative experiences. The Speaker observed that agreement and disagreement are natural features of democracy.
However, he emphasized that differences must always be expressed through reasoned, dignified, and respectful debate. Legislatures, he said, should remain institutions where ideas compete but democratic values prevail. Describing West Bengal as a land that has shaped India's intellectual, cultural, and nationalist consciousness, Shri Birla said the State has consistently provided the nation with ideas, inspiration, and direction.
He recalled the immense contributions of great personalities such as Raja Rammohan Roy, Swami Vivekananda, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, and Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, whose visions and sacrifices continue to inspire generations.
Expressing confidence in West Bengal's immense potential, Shri Birla said the State's glorious legacy of culture, spirituality, education, industry, and intellectual leadership should be revitalized alongside modern development. He observed that India looks toward Bengal with great expectations and expressed confidence that the State would once again emerge as a leading center of cultural renaissance, innovation, and economic growth.
Concluding his address, Shri Birla expressed confidence that all Members would work collectively to fulfill the aspirations of the people of West Bengal. He urged them to preserve Bengal's glorious heritage while embracing innovation and development, and to contribute toward building a prosperous Bengal and realizing the national vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
He expressed hope that the orientation programme would equip the legislators with a deeper understanding of parliamentary practices, constitutional values, and legislative responsibilities, enabling them to discharge their duties with greater effectiveness and commitment.
Chief Minister of West Bengal, Shri Suvendu Adhikari; Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju; Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, Shri Harivansh; Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Shri Ritabrata Banerjee; and other dignitaries graced the inaugural session and addressed the gathering.
Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Shri Rathindra Bose, delivered the welcome address, and the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Government of West Bengal, Dr. Shankar Ghosh, delivered the vote of thanks.
During the two-day orientation programme, a series of technical sessions have been designed to cover key aspects of legislative work, including: 'How to be an Effective Legislator; Customs, Conventions, and Etiquettes for Members'; 'Executive Accountability through Questions and other Procedural Devices in Legislatures'; 'Committee System in the Indian Parliament'; 'Legislative Process including Private Members’ Bills'; 'Financial Business and Budgetary Process in Parliament'; 'Parliamentary Privileges and Ethics'; and the 'National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA)'.
The sessions will be chaired and addressed by distinguished Presiding Officers of State Legislatures, Members of Parliament, constitutional experts, and senior parliamentary practitioners from across the country. The programme is expected to facilitate the exchange of ideas and best practices while enhancing participants' understanding of legislative procedures, parliamentary institutions, and democratic governance.
The Orientation Programme will conclude on 4 July 2026, with the valedictory address by the Governor of West Bengal, Shri R.N. Ravi, in the historic chamber of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. The session will also be addressed by Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla; Governor of Haryana, Prof. Ashim Kumar Ghosh; Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Shri Harivansh; Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Shri Rathindra Bose; and other dignitaries.The programme is being organized by the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE), Lok Sabha Secretariat, in collaboration with the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.