Context:

In its 75th year of Independence, India is set to witness a historic moment with the inauguration of the new Parliament House. 

What does it reflect?

• It reflects the vision and aspirations of a country that has evolved significantly since 1947.
• The new building will be another extension of the existing Parliament complex to signify the spirit of change and continuity. 
• The old building gave direction to independent India, while the new one will witness the making of India as ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.

Challenges of Parliament House:

• The main Parliament House, inaugurated in 1927. 
• There was a shortage of space inside the Parliament House.
• Despite the new constructions in the Parliament complex to suit administrative needs, the need for modern facilities in the main Parliament House remained unfulfilled.
• It had to be retrofitted multiple times, which left little space for further improvements. 
• The multiple wirings for computers, air conditioners and security gadgets gave the complex a highly shabby look. 
  • In 2012, the Rajya Sabha proceedings had to be adjourned due to a peculiar stench emanating from AC ducts.

Earlier demands:

• The Presiding Officers of the past have also emphasized the need to find a better solution.
• In 2012, the Speaker, Meira Kumar, stated that the Parliament building was “weeping,” and approved a high-powered committee to look for an alternative complex. 
• In 2015, the Speaker, Sumitra Mahajan, wrote to the Minister for Urban Affairs to have a new Parliament building with modern facilities. 
• All this points to the fact that the new Parliament building was a must and was taken up on priority and a detailed plan to build a state-of-the-art Parliament was set in motion, and its foundation was laid in December 2020. 

Features of New Parliament Building:

• More spacious, energy-efficient, and accessible.
• Updated technology, which makes it well-equipped for future needs as well. 
• Focus towards increasing the efficiency of MPs and modernizing their work culture.
• Facilities to accommodate various languages with state-of-the-art facilities for simultaneous interpretations as well as better features for audio-visual communication as compared to the existing Parliament. 
• Better gadgets, access to an e-library, and important reports will be easily accessible for members from their seats. 

Is such a construction for the first time in the World?

• The building has publicly accessible museum-grade galleries and a Constitution Hall that showcases India’s age-old history of democracy.
• India is not the first country to have constructed a new Parliament building due to paucity of space and to meet the changing needs. Various countries like Australia, the United States, Israel, and Canada already worked towards enhancement in their buildings.

Expectations:

• More efficient and productive Parliament. 
• Adequate functional space and modern facilities for the members will contribute to reducing friction and enabling serious discussions.

Conclusion:

• A modern legislature is required to work in tune with the challenges of time. The new Parliament building should remind us to prepare and equip ourselves to face up to the new challenges with the technologically advancing World. 
• As a fountainhead of the people’s hopes and aspirations, particularly those of the younger generations, it would work as a lighthouse to guide MPs in their ambitious journey to build ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat.’                             

News Source: The Hindu