The Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla, commended the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly for including ‘Zero Hour’ in its practices and procedures.
“You deserve accolades for this. Please share the conventions followed by your Assembly and also the new initiatives taken so that democratic institutions of the country may adopt best practices for each other,” Birla said while addressing MLAs at Rilbong here today during his visit to the state.
‘Zero Hour’ denotes the time immediately following the ‘Question Hour’, during this hour members can raise matters of great importance without 10 days’ notice.
Birla also said that as a state, Meghalaya has all the enabling institutions for inclusive growth.
“The state government and the autonomous councils have to make collective efforts to find amicable solutions to the problems being faced by the people of the state,” the Lok Sabha Speaker said.
Remembering former Lok Sabha Speaker, the late Purno A Sangma, Birla said that his life was inspiring even as he said that he held the office of the Chief Minister of Meghalaya and Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament with great dignity and achieved much.
Birla also lauded the success of a high-level committee constituted under the leadership of Meghalaya Speaker, Metbah Lyngdoh, to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, on the construction of the new Assembly building in the New Shillong Township, Birla said that, once completed, it will truly reflect the diversity and rich cultural heritage of the state. He later visited the construction site in Mawdiangdiang.