Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today urged elected legislators of the State to lead a simple life and maintain decency while dealing with common masses.
Inaugurating a two-day orientation programme for the members of the 16th Odisha Legislative Assembly at the new conference hall of the Assembly, Patnaik said, "The most significant point for a people's representative is that he/she must lead by example. Simplicity should be at the core of our public behaviour. Leading a simple life can help us connect well to people.”
Patnaik also said that legislators must not forget democratic decency while exercising their right of democratic dissent.
"Raising issues of public importance is a basic norm of our democracy. Democratic dissent is a right. However, while exercising this right, legislators must not forget democratic decency. Under no circumstances, democratic dissent should cast a shadow on democratic decency,” stressed Patnaik.
"A country of much diversity, Indian democracy continues to get stronger by each passing year. The roots of our successful democracy lie in our people and their unflinching faith in democratic values. They are the real masters in a democracy," he added.
The CM further stated that, "In whatever position you may be, the people are supreme. Therefore, elected representatives should keep the common people at the centre of all their initiatives," said Patnaik.
As the primary function of the leaders is to make laws, the CM said that an appetite for information and education on legislative procedures and understanding of socio-economic issues and policies will certainly help them.
The Chief Minister said that the legislators should also endeavour to bring the Acts and policies to the public domain so that people can be real partners in the process of change.
Among other MLAs, Speaker Surya Narayan Patro, Leader of Opposition Pradipta Kumar Naik were also present in the training programme.
On the second day of the training, discussion on budget session, on how a legislator can raise important issues in the House will be held.
With Agency Inputs