The work rate of parliament has dipped dramatically. In 2007, parliament functioned for the least number of days and the lowest number of total hours since 2000, with the exception of 2004, an election year.
This year also saw the lowest number of bills being introduced and passed in the new millennium, again barring 2004.
Shockingly, young Lok Sabha MPs (between 25 and 40 years) and their Rajya Sabha counterparts (between 30 and 45 years) had the lowest participation rates among all age groups in parliament debates this year.
A study conducted by PRS Legislative Research, an independent and not-for-profit group, has revealed that parliament's total working hours in 2007 were nearly 40% less than in 2006. This year, the Lok Sabha met for a mere 66 days, the lowest since 2004.
According to constitutional expert Subhash Kashyap, the current state of affairs does not speak well of parliamentary democracy. ``It means that there is a quantitative as well as a qualitative erosion,'' he remarked.
In 2007, parliament introduced 56 Bills and passed 46. Last year was much better: 66 introduced and 65 passed. Between 2000 and 2006 (barring 2004), on an average, 75 Bills were introduced every year and 65 passed.
Political scientist Imtiaz Ahmed said such a development indicated a lack of consensus among political parties and the government's unwillingness to face parliament. ``It also means that parliament now acts primarily as an agitational body rather than as a constitutional and legislative authority,'' he added.
It's time to check this. For starters, we feel the salary and allowances of MPs and MLAs should be pegged in some way to their work in parliament and assembly. We also feel that at election time, the parliamentary record of legislators should be communicated to voters so that they can factor that in along with their work in the constituencies. That perhaps will force our elected representatives to take their job more seriously.
Source: TOI, 09-12-07
