" Legislative Council.... the Pillar of Democracy "

PATNA: Vice-President Hamid Ansari has expressed concern over the declining number of sittings in the legislative assemblies and councils.
"This is not conducive to facilitating effective and efficient functioning of our democracy. We must do everything to increase the number of sittings in our legislative bodies," Hamid said while speaking on the concluding day function of the year-long centenary celebration of the Bihar legislative council at the S K Memorial Hall here on Thursday.
Hamid said the Bihar legislative council stood testimony to the success of the 'experimental measure' which Dr B R Ambedkar had referred to in the context of widening the ambit of participation in the democratic process.
"Legislative councils are important optional institutions, incorporated by our founding fathers to cater to special circumstances of states. Their utility is in enhancing inclusive and participatory governance and strengthening the pillars of democracy," he opined.
Advocating for bicameral legislature, the VP said it was the council's initiative that women got voting rights, children in Patna could learn about the House proceedings, and Tibbi and Ayurvedic dispensaries were opened. The council's pioneering experiment in holding the 'Bal Sansad' (children assembly sessions) allowed children from different parts of the state to raise problems and demand solutions, he said.
The legislature in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh is bicameral. "The people of these states have found the second chamber useful and have retained it," he said.
Even the founding fathers of the Constitution had realized the importance of the second chamber of representatives to check hasty and ill-conceived legislation passed by the lower house and to provide equal representation to different constituent units, he said.
Chief minister Nitish Kumar said the development model adopted by successive governments at the Centre has led to regional imbalance. He advocated for adoption of a level-headed approach for equitable development of all regions.
"Bihar needs to be compensated for lack of development over the years, apparently due to neglect by the Centre. It should be accorded special category status to fast track development in the backward state," he said. "Bihar can lead the country in food security if we get equitable share from the centre. We have already suffered a lot," CM said, adding that Bihar, in the '50s, contributed 1/4{+t}{+h} of the total sugar production in the country. Now it is only 2%, he pointed out.
Praising the efforts of the outgoing council chairman Tarakant Jha in making the Upper House lively and vibrant, CM said Jha's proposal to increase the council's strength from 75 to 81 members would widen the scope of more representation.
Bihar governor Devanand Konwar lauded the glorious past of Bihar. Speaker of Bihar Vidhan Sabha, Uday Narain Chaudhary, Tarakant Jha and deputy chairman of the council Salim Parvez also spoke on the occasion.
The President had inaugurated the year-long centenary celebration of the council here on March 22 last year.
The vice-president released several books, including the centenary year souvenir of the council. The CM presented him a shawl and a piece of Mithila painting.