Indore – 9 July : Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla, who was on a one day visit to Madhya Pradesh, interacted with the public representatives of the Municipal Corporation in the programme “Sadan Ki Baat”. Present on the occasion were Members of Parliament, Shri Shankar Lalwani, Members of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly Shri Kailash Vijayvargiya and Shri Ramesh Mendola. The Mayor of Indore, Councillors of Indore Municipal Corporation and officials were also present.
Highlighting India’s rich democratic heritage, Shri Birla emphasized that, contrary to popular belief, India’s democratic roots extend far beyond its Independence, tracing back to ancient times. He observed that democratic values have profoundly influenced our thoughts, traditions, and institutions. India and its people have a longstanding tradition of resolving conflicts through dialogue and mutual consultation, which Shri Birla believes is now a cornerstone of global policy. The stature of India as a democracy has grown exponentially in recent times and the world now looks up to India as an inspiration, Shri Birla felt.
Elaborating that India’s democratic success stems from its robust tradition spanning from village governance to local, state, and national levels, he encouraged the mayor and councilors to fulfill their roles as public representatives by fostering trust and accountability among the citizens who have high expectations of them. Shri Birla also exhorted Urban Local Bodies to adopt rules and procedures to conduct their proceedings in line with Parliament. This would allow in-depth discussions on public issues through mechanisms like Question Hour and Zero Hour, Shri Birla noted. Emphasizing that constructive suggestions and solutions could be achieved through consensus, Shri Birla opined that public representatives should work in a manner that meets the people’s expectations, thereby enhancing trust and confidence in democratic institutions.
Shri Birla commended Indore’s unique achievement in its outstanding success in urban cleanliness, as demonstrated by its repeated accomplishment in the Swachh Bharat Mission over the years. Shri Birla lauded Indore Corporation’s efforts in reducing carbon emissions, highlighting climate change as one of the most significant global challenges today. He emphasized that such initiatives are crucial in combating climate change and urged the gathering to intensify their efforts, so that similar successes could be replicated nationwide. He noted that Indore’s success in urban rejuvenation has made Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s initiative a grand success.
