HOW can India's Parliament function better?
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Transcript of HOW can India's Parliament function better?
HOW can Parliament function better? !
!
!
The AnalysisData Source: PRS Legislative Research
A Better Parliament
The Analysis
The Job of a Member of Parliament
4. Being the Government’s Boss!
1. Making Laws
3. Representing their!Constituencies’ interests
2. Examining the Government's!expenses and budgets
A Better Parliament
The Analysis
Inadequate discussion: in terms of time, and knowledge scope!
Voice Voting, hence limited motivation!
‘Party Whip’ compulsion, means cannot vote as per conscience!
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Not enough time for discussion and debate on Expenses and Budget!
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Constituents unaware of MPs performance, as few metrics are recorded!
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1. Making Laws
3. Representing their!Constituencies’ interests
2. Examining the Government's!expenses and budgets
The Job of a Member of Parliament
A Better Parliament
The Analysis
!
4. Being the Government’s Boss! HOW the Boss could have been better in the last 10 years …!!
Example 1) 2G Spectrum AllocationStanding committee on telecom looked at spectrum management in 2005 but did not recommend a policy for allocation. !Recommendation could have prevented the 2008 “scam”.
After CAG report, two committees examined the issue. PAC did not submit report, JPC report split along party lines.!Parliament’s view on spectrum allocation, still not known.
The Job of a Member of Parliament
A Better Parliament
The Analysis
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4. Being the Government’s Boss! HOW the Boss could have been better in the last 10 years …
Example 2) Information Tech Act !Under the Info Tech Act it is a crime to post something on-line that “offends” other people. Not a crime if done off-line.!Could parliament have prevented this contradiction?
Example 3) Demands & Grants !This year, all Demands and Grants amounting to Rs. 16.6 lakh crores were sanctioned without discussion. !No scrutiny of government’s proposed expenses by the BOSS!
The Job of a Member of Parliament
A Better Parliament
The Analysis
Back in the 50sAverage Number of Days !
Parliament sat for: 600Average Number of Hours !
Parliament sat for: 3700Average Number of Hours Budget !
was discussed for: 123
The Parliament’s Functioning
A Better Parliament
The Analysis
The present …Average Number of Days !
Parliament sat for in the 50s: 600Average Number of Hours !
Parliament sat for in the 50s: 3700Average Number of Hours Budget !was discussed for in the 50s: 123
Average Number of Days !15th Lok Sabha sat for: 335
Average Number of Hours !15th Lok Sabha sat for: 1329
Average Number of Hours Budget !was discussed for in 15th Lok Sabha: 39
The Parliament’s Functioning
A Better Parliament
The Analysis
The decline in Parliament’s functioning is not just bad when compared historically …!
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… it does not keep pace with even the recent past!
Number of Bills passed!
13th Lok Sabha!!
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297!14th Lok Sabha!!
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248!15th Lok Sabha!!
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162
The Parliament’s Functioning
A Better Parliament
The Analysis
And one striking example!
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Bill passed by Lok Sabha !
without debate in under 20 minutes!
And apart from quantity restriction, even the quality of discussion suffers because of lack of time!!!
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35% of Bills passed are debated for less than an hour!
Protection of Women from Sexual Harassment at the Work Place
The Parliament’s Functioning
A Better Parliament
The Analysis leads to frustration … leading to disruptions
The Job of a Member of Parliament!Being the Government’s Boss!
But Government decides the Agenda!Boss, especially if in Opposition, has little control !
The End Result
A Better Parliament
The Analysis
1 HOW can disruptions be limited?
Opposition MPs should decide agenda for 1 day/week. (UK reserves 20 days)
Strict and prompt action against offending MPs.
The 3 Possible Solution Areas
A Better Parliament
The Analysis
2 HOW can number of sitting days be increased?!Instead of Government deciding to convene the Parliament on an ad hoc basis …
Days when Parliament must sit should be pre-decided
Certain number of opposition MPs should be able to ask for a sitting / topic of discussion
The 3 Possible Solution Areas
A Better Parliament
The Analysis
3 HOW can MPs be made more effective?
Record and publicise performance so Constituents can support performing MPs
Staff & Experts, for Research Support Staff Budget: India Rs 3.6 lakhs
US: $ 3mn, UK: 87,000 GBP
Limit compulsory whip voting only to vote threatening
survival of the Government
The 3 Possible Solution Areas
IN CONCLUSION!
Please Ask your Lok Sabha candidate
HOW will the !Parliament be a better Boss !
to the Government?HOW will the !
Parliament sit for more number of days?
HOW will the !Parliament disruptions !
be minimised?
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