Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has emphasized on the use of technology to improve the efficiency and functioning of legislatures. He stated this while addressing the two-day 10th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region Conference which began in New Delhi today. Mr Birla urged that legislative bodies discuss various platforms and shape welfare schemes for the welfare of the last person in society through technology. He further added that in the current context, when technology and means of communication have become a part of people’s daily lives, public representatives should find ways and means to meet the increasing aspirations and expectations.

Emphasising that the role of legislative institutions in achieving the goal of sustainable development and inclusive governance, Mr Birla observed that democratic institutions, by ensuring accountability and transparency of the Executive, make the governance more responsible and efficient. Mr Birla said. it is the responsibility of public representatives and legislative bodies to come up with solutions to the challenges and obstacles on the path of inclusive development.

Forty-six Presiding Officers,  25 Speakers and 14 Deputy Speakers of Legislatures from States and Union Territories are attending the conference. The theme of the conference is “The Role of Legislative Bodies in the Attainment of Sustainable and Inclusive Development.

The CPA India Region was created in 2004 from the erstwhile CPA Asia Region as one of the nine Regions of the CPA. Currently, it has 31 Member Branches, including the Parliament of India and 30 State and Union Territories Legislatures. This is the second occasion the CPA India Region Conference is being held in New Delhi.