Valedictory remarks of the Vice President and the Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu on the conclusion of 248th session (Budget session) of the Upper House (Rajya Sabha) of Parliament

Following is the text of valedictory remarks of the Vice President and the Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu on the conclusion of 248^th session (Budget session) of the Upper House (Rajya Sabha) of Parliament:

“Leader of the Opposition Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad ji, leaders of various parties and Members of the august House!

As we come to the close of yet another session, we are at a moment of reflection, a stock taking of what we have achieved and what we have not.

With a heavy heart I have to say that this short but important Budget session of Rajya Sabha turned out to be yet another wasted opportunity. This only reinforces the ‘dysfunctional pattern’ that has been evident over the last few years which is a matter of serious concern as it poses a serious threat to parliamentary democracy.

It is time for all sections of the House to evolve a ‘collective conscience’ to enable effective functioning of the House further to deep introspection to prevent any further damage to the standing of this august House which is also known as the House of Elders. Elders are usually expected to show the way to others.

This was the earnest hope with which I began this session. The optimist in me tells me not to lose the hope and instead wait for a turn around. I only hope that this would happen sooner than later.

Parliamentary democracy is all about ensuring governance through accountability to the people, the ultimate patrons and the ultimate masters. It is not only the accountability of the ‘executive’ to be ensured by the legislatures but the accountability of the ‘legislature’ and the ‘judiciary’ as well. What about the accountability of the legislatures and their failure to discharge the mandated functions? Rajya Sabha, as the second chamber of the apex legislature too is accountable to the people. It’s performance rankles me quite a bit.

This session being the last one before the general elections fast approaching, we need to know as to what extent this august House lived up to it’s role and responsibilities. In a new initiative, I would like to present the broad story of functioning of this august House over the last five years.

As the responsible electorate of our country are soon set to give another verdict, I thought that it would be appropriate and even necessary to present a ‘Report to the people’ on the functioning of Rajya Sabha during the five years since the people gave their verdict last time.

The legislature and the executive have the bounden duty of doing the needful responding to the wishes and aspiration of the people as conveyed in their mandate in the general elections. All the members of this august House would be well aware of the three critical functions of legislatures….Legislative, Deliberative and Accountability functions. We are supposed to make necessary legislations for the betterment of the country and the people, take up and deliberate on issues of public importance and ensure the accountability of the government of the day. Evidence suggests that we did not rise to the occasion in respect of all these three vital responsibilities. People of our country know this and if some don’t, they need to know. That is why a performance report is in order.

Since June, 2014, Rajya Sabha held 18 sessions and 329 sittings till today and passed only 154 bills. This comes to less than a bill in two sittings. The bills passed during this period is 34 lesser than the 188 bills passed during 2009-14 and an astonishing 58 bills lesser than the 251 bills passed by this House during 2004-09. These statistics clearly show that the legislative output of this House has substantially declined since 2014.

Question Hour is primarily meant to ensure the accountability of the executive of the day. Calling Attention Notices and Short Duration Discussions besides the Zero Hour and the provision for making ‘Special Mentions’  are meant for raising issues of public importance and concern. But we had shown scant regard for them.

Every Question Hour lost means an opportunity of seeking answers from the government on 8 issues of policy, implementation and governance by 40 members. Every Zero Hour lost means depriving 15 members from raising issues of immediate public importance. Similarly, if the House doesn’t function, about ten more members lose the opportunity of raising as many issues in the House.

Since June,2014, the productivity of this august House, in terms of the time available and the time utilized for taking up legislative business and the issues of public concern is only 60%. Who is to be held accountable for wasting 40% of the valuable time of this august House? I leave it to the conscience of all sections of the House.

Of the total 18 sessions over the last five years, the productivity of the House has been below the five year average of 60% in respect of 8 (Eight) sessions.

In terms of bills passed, it ranged from just one Bill in case of the Winter session of 2016 and the Budget session of 2018, two bills passed during the Monsoon session of 2015 to a maximum of 14 bills each passed during the monsoon sessions of 2016 and 2018.

While the sittings of the House per year during the last five years has been as per the trend of 60-70 days, the declining productivity and legislative output is a matter of deep concern. A large number of bills are pending consideration of the House, as you all know.

During the last five sessions that I have had the honour of presiding over, a total of 28 bills have been passed during 88 sittings which comes to less than a bill in three sittings. While three Bills were passed during the last Winter Session, this Budget session proved to be far less productive.

This session and the last one have witnessed heightened efforts by some sections of the House to force this august House into a kind of ‘suspended animation’. This has forced me to name some members of the House during the last session as I was worried about the public perception about the state of affairs in the House. Further logical action could not be taken as some senior leaders assured me that they would talk it out with the concerned parties and convince them not to disrupt the House any further. But it did not happen, unfortunately.

I have made my best possible efforts to enable normal functioning of the House but reason did not prevail. I have been regularly talking to leaders of various parties but my anguish had no impact. This only exposed the limitations of the chair in altering the scripts of some sections of the House. This is very unfortunate. If that be the situation, what is the way forward?

As the Hon’ble Members are aware, I have set up a two member committee, to examine the existing provisions of the Rule of Business of the House in terms of their adequacy to enable smooth functioning of the House. This report has been received and the same will soon be referred to the General Purposes Committee of the House.  I would like the Committee to take a final in view on the recommendations so that they could be made effective before the next full session of the House.

Hon’ble Members!

Ultimately, this august House would be what you want it to be. A performing one or a dysfunctional one. People of the country want it to be a performing one. If you have other ideas, you owe an explanation to the people, the ultimate masters.

During this Budget session with 10 sittings, as against the available total time of 48 hours, 39 hours 51 minutes has been lost due to disruptions. Productivity of the House during this session has been 4.79%.

Hon’ble Members

The looming prospect of this session ending up as one without passing any bill has been thankfully averted by late realization and some understanding today. As a result, 5 Bills have been passed today. But I suggest that the practice of passing bills without discussion is better avoided. 6 bills have also been introduced during this session. Only 16 Zero Hour submissions could be taken up during this session and no special mentions at all. We all agree that it was not enough.

I hope the ‘Report to the People’ on the functioning of the House during the last five years will be taken serious note of by the Hon’ble Members and the people at large.

Members of this august House are elected by those elected by the people. You are supposed to demonstrate higher sense of responsibility and ensure normal functioning of the House guided by the people’s concerns and their expectations.

Each of us must seriously think if we can collectively enhance the quality of debates, discussions and, most importantly, the demeanour. If you can follow procedures and use the available parliamentary tools, the hopes and aspirations of the people you are expected to articulate will be heard. If cacophony and disruptive spectacle becomes our House’s defining characteristic, we would have betrayed people’s trust in each one of us. I do hope we don’t allow further downslide in the coming sessions.

Hon’ble Members!

Despite all the shortcomings during the last five years, Rajya Sabha passed a few path breaking Bills positively impacting the socio-economic development of the country besides checking corruption and improving transparency. These include:

1. The Constitution (124^th Amendment) Bill,2019 providing 10% reservation for economically weaker sections;

2. The Constitution (122^nd Amendment) Bill, 2014 for introduction of GST and nine other related Bills;

3. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bills, 2015 and 2018;

4. The Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2018 to prevent sexual abuse of children;

5. The Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018;

6. The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2018;

7. The Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Bill, 2015;

8. The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 and the related Amendment Bill, 2017;

9. The Constitution (123^rd Amendment) Bill, 2017 for setting up a National Commission for Backward Classes;

10. The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2016 to protect the interest of buyers and enhance the confidence in and credibility of the important real estate sector;

11.The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill,2015 and 2016 besides The Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill,2015 for auctioning of mines;

12. The Aadhar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill, 2016;

13. The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2016;

14. The Commercial Courts, Commercial Divisions and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts Bill, 2015; and

15. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2016.

Hon’ble Members!

There is a growing perception that our democracy is in danger through dysfunctional legislatures. The debates in the Constitution Assembly were full of difference of views, humour and hope. But the members still debated and gave us a fine document, the Constitution of India as the law of the land. Obstruction of proceedings can’t be allowed to emerge as the preferred form of parliamentary expression substituting informed debates. Our nation has just entered the 70^th year of Republic. Legislatures and their hon’ble Members should discharge their noble responsibilities. As the House of Elders, we need to lead by example. This is a privilege that people bestow on a few. The expectations are high. Our responsibilities are onerous. We can ill afford to regret over lost opportunities we have had.

We must script a new chapter next time we meet, a chapter we can all be proud of.

Hon’ble Members

RSTV is the property of this august house. I am happy to inform that RSTV, on the 4^th of this month crossed 2 million mark in terms of YouTube subscribers and has emerged as one of the leading channels has grown five times since then.

This reflects on the interest of the people in the proceedings of the House and related content. Hon’ble members may keep this in mind.

Though not a very productive session, I would like to thank all of you and particularly, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat for their efforts and hardwork.

Jai Bharat!”