Itanagar, Sep 5: Emphasizing on proper knowledge and procedures of parliamentary affairs, Arunchal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Thursday said training and orientation of members is necessary for democracy to thrive in its truest form.

Inaugurating a two-day orientation program here todayfor Members of the 7thArunachal Pradesh Legislative Assemblyon ways, means and procedures of Legislative Assembly as well as on the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA), Khandu urged all elected representatives to take advantage of the technical sessions and equip themselves to serve the people better.

He said the 7th Legislative Assembly of the state is one of the best in terms of elected members irrespective of party affiliations.

“I appreciate the people for sending educated, honest and energetic representatives to the Assembly. As members of this august house, we have great responsibilities of fulfilling the aspirations of our electorates,” he pointed.

Reiterating his call to work as Team Arunachal, Khandu however said only sloganeering or verbal services won’t suffice. He said all Members need to be equipped with best and latest technology and knowledge so that they can pro-actively participate in meaningful and positive proceedings of the legislative assembly.

“As every profession needs proper training to succeed, elected leaders too need proper training to deliver. Hence this orientation program,” Khandu said while expressing optimism that next session of the state legislative assembly would witness a vast change in participation of its members.

Khandu also underscored the importance of digitalization of the state legislative assembly, for which the central government has launched the National e-Vidhan Application.

“Once the state legislative assembly is digitalized and assembly sessions go paperless, think of the tons of papers that would be saved directly contributing to the state’s exchequer and to the environment,” he said.

Khandu added that the state government through its Information Technology department has taken upon itself to make all its offices paperless by 2021, which he said, would bring in transparency, immediate disposal of files, save public money as well as contribute to the environment by checking pollution through office-waste.

Assembly Speaker, Pasang D Sona appreciated the attendance of almost all Members and assured that the program is not another run-of-the-mill training. At the end of the day, he said, Members would acquire the know-how and master the technology required in today’s era to evolve as real representatives of the people.

“When the entire world has been summed up in our smartphones, we as people’s representatives cannot remain illiterate….but become e-literate,” he added while acknowledging the importance of the technical sessions on NeVA in the two-day program.

NeVA Project or Paperless Assembly or e-Assembly is a concept to enable automation of entire law making process, tracking of decisions and documents, sharing of information and bring all legislatures of the country together on one platform.

The two-day program is being jointly organized by the Bureau of Parliamentary Studies & Training, Lok Sabha Secretariat and the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly Secretariat.

A team of six resources persons headed by Dr Satya Prakash, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, would be taking the technical sessions.