Delhi assembly speaker unveils fellowship for detailed study on parliamentary history

New Delhi, Aug 26 (UNI) In a bid to promote study of parliamentary history and practices, including the contributions of Veer Vithalbhai Patel and broader reformist agendas, Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta unveiled the ‘Delhi Assembly Fellowship and Research Programme’ today.

This development comes after the conclusion of the All India Speakers Conference While addressing the media on Tuesday, Gupta noted that the fellowship will enable scholars and researchers to study legislative practices, and share findings with the public, thereby strengthening transparency and democratic literacy.

The speaker informed that the digitalization of the assembly library is underway, which will be completed within six months, ensuring wider access to records and research materials.

Speaking about the speakers’ conference, he underlined that with 29 out of 31 presiding officers of legislative assemblies and councils participating in the event, it reflected a strong spirit of federal unity, standing as one of the most significant gatherings of its kind.

Gupta highlighted the significant outcomes of the conference, foremost among them being the proposal of a ‘National Legislative Index’, an initiative of Delhi assembly to create a complete database that would evaluate and analyse the productivity and efficiency of legislative assemblies across the country.

The index, he explained, will prove to be a vital tool for ensuring transparency and accountability in law-making.

Gupta also emphasized that the centenary commemoration of Vithalbhai Patel’s assumption of charge as the first Indian Speaker of the Central Legislative Assembly was not only a historic celebration, but also a forward-looking exercise to renew the commitment of the country’s legislatures to transparency, accountability, and citizen-centric governance.

Gupta also thanked members of the media for ensuring that the achievements of the conference reached citizens across the nation. The Speaker further announced that, as desired by union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Delhi Assembly is building a repository of legislative records, including verbatim transcripts of proceedings.

Throwing light on the matter, Gupta informed that the assembly secretariat has already acquired verbatim records from the period 1924 to 1930, with every session being preserved in detail. He informed that the translation work on these records has already commenced, ensuring that the historic debates of that era — covering issues such as elementary education, women’s rights, child marriage, and social reform, are available for the public.

Further, Gupta expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for extending support to the Delhi assembly, and acknowledged the partnership of the Central government in transforming the Vidhan Sabha.

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