Parliamentary forums are essential groups where parliamentarians gather to discuss and exchange ideas on specific issues. They can be either formal or informal, offering a platform for collaboration among members from different political parties. By promoting dialogue and sharing expertise, these forums contribute significantly to the democratic process and help foster innovative solutions to complex problems.
Parliamentary Forums: Enhancing Democratic Engagement and Accountability
Definition and Nature of Parliamentary Forums
- Definition: Parliamentary forums are groups of parliamentarians who meet to discuss and exchange ideas on specific issues.
- Nature: They can be formal or informal, and they can be established by the parliament itself or by individual parliamentarians.
Establishment of Parliamentary Forums in the Fourteenth Lok Sabha
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- Observation by the Speaker: On 12 May 2005, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha proposed the creation of a Parliamentary Forum on Water Conservation and Management to discuss critical water-related issues effectively.
- Constitution Date: The Parliamentary Forum on Water Conservation and Management was officially constituted on 12 August 2005.
- Additional Forums: During the Fourteenth Lok Sabha, four more forums were established:
- Parliamentary Forum on Children
- Parliamentary Forum on Youth
- Parliamentary Forum on Population and Public Health
- Parliamentary Forum on Global Warming and Climate Change
- Reconstitution in the Fifteenth Lok Sabha
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- Reconstitution Date: Upon the formation of the Fifteenth Lok Sabha in May 2009, all existing Parliamentary Forums were reconstituted on 21 January 2010.
- Newly Established Forums: During the Fifteenth Lok Sabha, three additional Parliamentary Forums were created:
- Disaster Management – Constituted on 8 December 2011
- Artisans and Craftspeople – Constituted on 26 April 2013
- Millennium Development Goals – Constituted on 11 December 2013
Summary of Parliamentary Forums in the Fifteenth Lok Sabha
- Parliamentary Forum on Conservation and Management of Water
- Parliamentary Forum on Children
- Parliamentary Forum on Youth
- Parliamentary Forum on Population and Public Health
- Parliamentary Forum on Global Warming and Climate Change
- Parliamentary Forum on Disaster Management
- Parliamentary Forum on Artisans and Craftspeople
- Parliamentary Forum on Millennium Development Goals
Composition
- Composition of Parliamentary Forums: It consists of the Speaker of Lok Sabha as the ex officio President of all the Parliamentary Forums, except the Parliamentary Forum on Population and Public Health where the Chairman of Rajya Sabha is the ex officio President and the Speaker of Lok Sabha is the ex-officio Co-President.
- Apart from the President, the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, the Ministers concerned and Chairpersons of the respective Departmentally Related Standing Committee are ex officio Vice-Presidents of the Forum.
- Membership Structure: Each Forum consists of not more than 31 Members (excluding the President, Co-President and Vice-Presidents) out of whom not more than 21 are from Lok Sabha and not more than 10 are from Rajya Sabha.
- Nomination of Members: Members other than the President and Vice- President of the Forums are nominated by the Speaker of Lok Sabha, and the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, as the case may be, from amongst the Leaders of various Political Parties.
Appointment of Member-Convener
- Appointment: The President of the Forum can appoint a Member-Convener to oversee regular programs and meetings.
- Special Appointment: For the Parliamentary Forum on Population and Public Health, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (as ex officio President) and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha (as ex officio Co-President) can jointly appoint the Member-Convener.
Term of Office
- Term of Office: Members of the Forum serve for the duration of their membership in their respective Houses.
- Resignation: A member can resign from the Forum by submitting a written resignation to either the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha or the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
Association of Experts
- Experts related to the Forum’s subject matter can be invited as Special Invitees.
- These experts may share their insights or present papers during the Forum’s meetings or seminars.
Significance of Parliamentary Forums
Parliamentary forums play an important role in the democratic process by providing a platform for parliamentarians to:
- Share Information And Expertise: Parliamentarians can learn from each other’s experiences and perspectives on different issues.
- Develop New Ideas And Solutions: Forums can be a breeding ground for innovative ideas and solutions to complex problems.
- Build Consensus: Parliamentarians from different parties can come together to find common ground on issues.
- Hold The Government Accountable: Forums can scrutinize government policies and programs and hold ministers accountable for their actions.
Types of Parliamentary Forums
There are many different types of parliamentary forums, including:
- All-party Forums: These forums are open to all parliamentarians, regardless of their party affiliation.
- Issue-specific Forums: These forums focus on a specific issue, such as environment, health, or education.
- Regional Forums: These forums bring together parliamentarians from different regions of a country.
- International Forums: These forums bring together parliamentarians from different countries.
Examples of Parliamentary Forums
Significance: Parliamentary forums can be a valuable tool for parliamentarians and can play an important role in strengthening democracies.
- Examples of Parliamentary Forums: Here are some specific examples of parliamentary forums:
- The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is a global organization of parliaments that brings together parliamentarians from around the world to discuss issues of common concern.
- The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is an intergovernmental organization that brings together parliamentarians from 47 countries in Europe.
- The Parliamentary Forum on Sustainable Development (PFSD) is a global forum that brings together parliamentarians from around the world to discuss issues related to sustainable development.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, parliamentary forums play a vital role in enhancing democracy by facilitating communication and consensus among lawmakers.
- They enable parliamentarians to hold the government accountable and address important issues collectively.
- By nurturing collaboration, these forums strengthen democratic institutions and ensure that governments remain responsive and effective.
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