Indian Parliamentary Forums: Initiatives and their Impact since 2005

Growth & Scope Indian Parliamentary Forums Since 2005

In 2005, the former Speaker of Lok Sabha, Somnath Chatterjee, started a system of Parliamentary forums. The first one was about water conservation, and since then, seven more forums have been created.

Currently, there are eight of these forums, with the Secretary-General of Lok Sabha acting as their secretary. These forums are separate from the Departmentally-Related Standing Committees and do not interfere with their responsibilities.

Objectives and Impact of Parliamentary Forums in Enhancing MP Effectiveness Since 2005

• To provide a platform to the MPs to have interactions with the ministers concerned, experts and key officials to have a focused and meaningful discussion on critical issues with a result-oriented approach.
• To sensitize MPs about the key areas of concern and equip them with the latest information and latest knowledge. Hereby, enabling them to raise these issues effectively in the House.
• To create a database, gather information on important topics from relevant government departments, trustworthy NGOs, newspapers, the United Nations, and the internet.

Parliamentary Forums: Formation, Leadership & Dynamics in Indian Legislative Initiatives

• Each Forum has a maximum of 31 members (excluding the President, Co-President, and Vice-Presidents). Out of these, no more than 21 members are from the Lok Sabha and no more than 10 members are from the Rajya Sabha.
• The Speaker of Lok Sabha is the ex-officio President of all the Forums except the Parliamentary Forum on Population and Public Health, which is led by the Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, who is the ex-officio President, and the Speaker, who is the ex-officio Co-President.
• The Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the relevant Ministers, and the Chairperson of Departmentally-Related Standing Committees are ex-officio Vice-Presidents of their respective Forums.
• Members (other than the President, Co-President and Vice-Presidents) of these forums are nominated by the Speaker/ Chairperson from amongst the leaders of various political parties/groups or their nominees, who have special knowledge in the subject.
• The duration of the office of members of the forum is co- terminus with their membership in the respective Houses.
• A member may also resign from the forum by writing to the Speaker/Chairperson.
• The President of each forum appoints a member to organize regular meetings in coordination with the President. These meetings happen as needed during Parliament sessions.
• The meetings of the forums are held from time to time, as may be necessary, during Parliament sessions.

India’s 8 Key Parliamentary Forums on Critical Issues (2005-2013):

• Water conservation and management (2005)
• Youth (2006)
• Children (2006)
• Population and Public Health (2006)
• Global Warming and Climate Change (2008)
• Disaster Management (2011)
• Artisans and Crafts-people (2013)
• Millennium Development Goals (2013)

Sub-Forums in Indian Parliamentary Youth Initiatives & Integration Within the Parliamentary Forums

• The Speaker also formed four sub-forums under the Parliamentary Forum on Youth:

1. 1. Sub-Forum on Sports and Youth Development
   2. Sub-Forum on Health
   3. Sub-Forum on Education
   4. Sub-Forum on Employment

Parliamentary Committees Vs Parliamentary Forum: Which Better Serves Legislative Functions in India?

Parliamentary Committees	Parliamentary Forum
Given statutory approval and originating from rules, acts, and motions..	No such case with forums.
Generally, they do not have ministers as members.	Forums may have ministers as members.
Committees prepare reports for the government along with the Action Taken Report.	Forums do not prepare reports for the government along with Action Taken Reports.
Committees lack the formal authority to compel civil servants to provide records or give testimony.	Forums also lack the formal authority to compel civil servants to provide records or give testimony.
Tenure of members is 1 year.	Tenure is coterminous with duration of their membership to their house.
Some committees of Parliament are exclusively under the Lok Sabha.	Members from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha can take part in all the forums.

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