Deputy Speaker of the Meghalaya Assembly, Timothy D Shira, and the Assembly Commissioner & Secretary, Andrew Simons, participated in the 85th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference held in Patna from January 19 to 21.
The conference was inaugurated by Om Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, and Harivansh, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
Shira participated in discussions on the topic ’75th Anniversary of the Constitution: Contribution of Parliament and State Legislative Bodies in Strengthening Constitutional Values’, a press release stated today.
Simons contributed to the parallel conference of Secretaries of legislative assemblies on the theme ‘Adoption of Modern Technologies in Our Legislative Bodies for Greater Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Productivity’.
Shira described the Constitution as a progressive and living document that serves as the soul of Indian democracy.
“The Constitution of India, adopted on November 26, 1949, is considered one of the most progressive in the world. It protects the rule of law and ensures democratic governance, social justice, and individual rights. It has been amended 106 times since its enactment in 1950, reflecting its responsiveness to the evolving needs of society,” he said.
Shira concluded by urging collective efforts to address modern challenges, such as climate change and social inequalities, in light of constitutional values.
Simons detailed several initiatives undertaken by the Meghalaya Assembly, including the implementation of the NeVA (National e-Vidhan Application) project in 2022.
He also highlighted the Assembly’s progress toward digitalisation, stating, “We have introduced AI for transcription of House proceedings, significantly aiding Assembly reporters in compiling records swiftly. Members have been equipped with touch-screen tablets integrated with the NeVA In-House application, reducing the use of paper and promoting efficiency.”
He also announced Meghalaya’s consent to join the National Digital Grid and integrate with the Digital Sansad App, which aims to connect legislative bodies under one platform for seamless information sharing and greater accessibility.
