The annual conference of the 19th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region Zone III was inaugurated by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, at Sikkim Legislative Assembly Secretariat on Thursday.
The Lok Sabha Speaker was accompanied by Chief Minister of Sikkim Prem Singh Tamang, Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Harivansh Narayan Singh, Speaker, Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly and Chairman, CPA India Region Zone III, Pasang D. Sona, and Speaker, Sikkim Legislative Assembly, Arun K. Upreti, on the dais.
The event had the participation of Presiding Officers of Legislative Bodies of India, Members of Parliament, Members of Sikkim Legislature and other dignitaries.
In his inaugural address, Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla, expressed happiness for being part of the 19th conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association-India Region Zone III and commended the association for having organised the event in the beautiful State of Sikkim, which is today known to be one of the most progressive State in the country.
Birla also extended gratitude to the CPA for holding the annual conference that provides a platform for all the presiding officers and legislators to come together in strengthening democracy and good governance in the country while having insightful deliberations over peculiar issues of various regions. He added that such conferences aid in public policy making through elaboration and discussion of solutions, necessary to achieve holistic development of the country to take it to greater heights.
Birla further stressed the need to encourage active participation of the youth to engage in governance process through the promotion of a better understanding and awareness on how decisions are made, thereby inculcating the skills of active citizenship among the youth as they are the future leaders and active agents of change in any nation.
Reiterating the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making India a developed Nation by 2047, Birla urged for collaboration from all the legislators, policymakers and stakeholders in formulating and implementing welfare-based policies that would contribute in the socio-economic development of the nation. He hoped that the conference would call for brainstorming sessions that would further bring into light new ideas and perspectives for strengthening of democracy in the country.