Kaam Chor Representatives.

From: Praful Vora &<praful.vora@gmail.com>
Date: 9 Dec 2007 21:01
Subject: Fwd: Kaam Chor Representatives.
To: Election Commission of India <feedback@eci.gov.in>
Lok Sabha Speaker speakerloksabha@sansad.nic.in
Rajya Sabha Chairman <vpindia@nic.in>

It is requested that the issues raised in the following email be taken up as 'proposed amendments' by the Honourable Members with a view of 'informed citizens' acting for betterment of the country.

Here is something disgusting about our 'elected representatives' in the Sunday 09th Dec. 2007 Mumbai edition of The Times of India, page 9.

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Our MPs aren't doing their job

Avijit Ghosh | TNN

New Delhi: 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-forprofit group, has revealed that the total working hours of parliament 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 the 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.

Times View

TOI has always maintained that the job of our legislators, be they MPs or MLAs, is to legislate. We have repeatedly drawn attention to instances when they waste legislation time either by disrupting parliament, boycotting proceedings or plain bunking. Very often it's because they don't do their work that the judiciary is left with little option but to fill the vacuum. It now transpires that the work ethic of our MPs is only getting worse by the year, as this report suggests, indicating that they have adopted a cavalier attitude towards their responsibilities. It's time to check this. For starters, we feel that the salary and allowances of MPs and MLAs should be pegged in some way to their work in parliament and in the assembly. We also feel that at election time, the parliamentary record of legislators should be communicated to voters, so that voters can factor that in along with the MPs' work in the constituencies. That perhaps will force our elected representatives to take their job more seriously.

LS worked 36% less than last yr

New Delhi: Parliament fell short by 16 days from its original target for the year. The budget session was held for 32 days despite the original plan being for 42 days. Similarly, the monsoon session was planned for 23 days but held for only 16. The winter session, though, went according to schedule.

The Lok Sabha works for six hours and Rajya Sabha five hours a day. In 2007, the Lower House functioned for an average 4.3 hours and the Upper House for an average 3.3 hours each day. In comparison, the 2006 Lok Sabha had functioned an average 5.7 hours and the Rajya Sabha 4.9 hours.This year, the Lok Sabha functioned for 280 hours and the Rajya Sabha for 217 hours. Compared to last year, it is 36% less for the Lower House and 42% for the Upper House.

Interestingly, while young MPs were wary of participating in parliamentary debates, the older guards were much more active in democratic discussions in the country's highest public forum. According to the study, the maximum participation in debates came from the 56-70 age-group of MPs.

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This issue of: absent representatives, persistent disruptions, misbehaviour during sessions, and similar negative activities has been discussed in various public fora and media. The TV broadcast is not enough since it is often not available to citizens. I have some thoughts on this matter:

1. Could the pre-election disclosure norms include queries relating to such behaviour of candidates? For example, queries could be: percentage of 'full day/session' attendance record for previous five years, number of times named by Chair for mis-behaviour in previous five years, number of queries raised in previous five years, number of discussion participation in previous five years. Can the election commission consider inclusion of such in the disclosure norms to allow voters to get to know their candidates better?

2. Could the political parties be persuaded to include such info in their candidate selection process and give publicity to it?

3. Citizens groups who conduct 'meet the candidates' programs must consider giving wide publicity to the 'repeat candidates' activities along the above lines.

4. The print and electronic media could do their bit during the interview sessions too.

5. The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha could give out authentic info at their website to allow voters gain a clear view of their representatives. The same for the State Assembly websites?

Best wishes.

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