It is very encouraging to know that while the parliament may not transact business due to political grand-standing, " MPs do hold shared views, irrespective of party affiliation, and do tend to achieve consensus on a variety of issues" in the committees, as revealed by Jayanthi Natarajan, in her article, The MPs you don't see ( Indian Express,26/4/11). However, it is disappointing to know that "the vast majority of the recommendations are not implemented by any government thereby rendering the valuable work done by the committee rather pointless. A triumph of red tape and bureaucracy over elective and participatory democracy." How can the bureaucracy overrule a parliamentary committee? Bureaucracy is an instrument and MPs should know how to use the instrument. It appears that the horse is taking the rider to its destination, not the other way round. Not a very flattering comment on our parliamentary system.
It would be a good idea to telecast the committee meetings as they do in USA. The committees there invite experts from outside the government to give evidence. It educates the electorate. Whenever a bill is prepared by a committee, it should get input from the section which will be adversely affected so that it gets acceptance easily when it is enacted. Additionally, any citizen from any corner of India should be able to listen and even participate in it. Our democracy should encourage people to participate in decision-making.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/the-mps-you-dont-see/781337/
April 26, 2011.
