Mumbai, Jan 27 (Reporter) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the conduct of members in the House by the representatives determines the image of the House, which is important for Parliament and legislative bodies.Addressing the issue of maintaining decorum within legislative bodies, Prime Minister Modi remarked, “The conduct of members in the house and the conducive environment therein directly impact the productivity of the assembly. Concrete suggestions emanating from this conference will be instrumental in enhancing productivity.” He added that the conduct in the House by the representatives determines the image of the House.Modi addressed the 80th All India Presiding Officers Conference online, which is being held in Mumbai.He lamented the fact that parties, instead of curtailing the objectionable behavior of their members, come out in their support. “This is not a good situation for either the Parliament or the assemblies," he said.Reflecting on evolving norms in public life, Prime Minister Modi emphasized the need for accountability. “In the past, allegations of corruption against a member of the house would lead to their ostracization from public life. However, we now witness the public glorification of convicted corrupt individuals, which is detrimental to the integrity of the executive, the judiciary, and the constitution,” he remarked. Prime Minister Modi stressed the importance of discussing and providing concrete suggestions on this matter during the conference.Recognizing the pivotal role of state governments and their legislative assemblies in shaping India's progress, Prime Minister Modi asserted, “India's progress hinges on the advancement of our states. And the progress of states depends on the determination of their legislative and executive bodies to define their development goals collectively.” Speaking on the significance of empowering committees for economic progress, Prime Minister Modi stated, “The empowerment of committees is crucial for the economic progress of your state. The more actively these committees work towards achieving the set goals, the more the state will advance."Addressing the need to streamline laws, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the efforts of the central government to repeal redundant laws. “Over the past decade, the central government has repealed over two thousand laws that were detrimental to our system. This simplification of the judicial system has eased the challenges faced by the common man and enhanced the ease of living,” he stated. Prime Minister Modi called upon the presiding officers to pay attention to unnecessary laws and their impact on citizens’ lives, stressing that their removal would have a significant positive impact.The conference was inaugurated by Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla, who expressed concern over incidents of indiscipline, disruption of proceedings, and unparliamentary conduct in the legislatures affecting their credibility.Shri Birla noted that there is enough space to give voice to dissent in the democratic system; therefore, disruption should not be used as a tool of protest and dissent. Maintaining the prestige and dignity of the legislatures and dignified conduct in the legislatures are paramount, but it is a matter of concern that despite having a consensus on these issues, we are yet to implement our commitments for the smooth functioning of the House, noted Shri Birla.Stressing that the conduct of public representatives should be in accordance with parliamentary decorum, Shri Birla urged the Members to devote their time in the House to productive business. In this regard, Shri Birla suggested that a concrete and definite action plan, including changes in rules if necessary, should be prepared to ensure that legislatures function without disruptions.Emphasizing innovation, Shri Birla suggested that new and innovative methods of working should be promoted in legislatures so that democratic institutions can better perform their responsibility of monitoring the executive, and people's faith in these institutions will be enhanced. The good works being done by the state legislatures in the socio-economic fields should be discussed in the House; best practices may be shared, as such measures will enhance the credibility of both legislatures and people’s representatives among the public. Stressing the use of technology in legislative work, Shri Birla suggested that public representatives should be proficient in technology and use it to connect with the public. More and more use of technology will enhance the efficiency of members, noted Shri Birla. Capacity building of members should be taken seriously by the legislatures. Regular training programs on the rules of legislatures, legislative tools, and using technology should be conducted for the members, added Shri Birla. Shri Birla urged the state legislatures to digitize debates in a time-bound manner so that ‘One Nation, One Legislative Platform can be a reality soon’.Maharashtra Chief Minister, Shri Eknath Shinde; Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Shri Harivansh; Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Shri Rahul Narwekar; Deputy Chairperson, Maharashtra Legislative Council, Dr. Neelam Gorhe; and Deputy Speaker, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Shri Narahari Sitaram Jirwal, graced the Inaugural Session and addressed the distinguished gathering...////...