Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated the ninth India Region Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association today in Udaipur. The theme of the two-day conference is ‘Strengthening Democracy and Good Governance in the Digital Age’.
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) is an association to serve the Parliamentarians of the Commonwealth Countries by providing machinery for regular consultation and exchange of ideas and information among members of Commonwealth Parliaments. The India Region of the CPA comprises 31 legislatures from across the country and has the second largest number of member branches after the African Region. The aims of the CPA are to promote knowledge of the constitutional, legislative, economic, social and cultural aspects of parliamentary democracy, with particular reference to the countries of the Commonwealth of Nations. It provides the means of regular consultation among Members of Commonwealth Parliaments; fosters co-operation and understanding among them; and promotes the study of and respect for Parliament.
Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh, Speaker of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, Dr. CP Joshi also attended the inaugural session.
In the conference, two sessions are scheduled to be held. In the first session, topics like digital empowerment, improving the skills of public representatives in the direction of good governance will be discussed. The second session will focus on the role of public representatives in strengthening the country through democratic institutions. Rajasthan has got the opportunity to host this conference for the first time.
The Conference will conclude on 22nd August, 2023 with the address of Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar.