Lok Sabha Speaker and Chairman, All India Presiding Officers’ Conference (AIPOC), Om Birla, chaired a meeting of presiding officers of the Legislative Bodies in India and other Leaders on the subject “Prevailing Covid-19 Situation - Role and Responsibility of Public Representatives”.
Apart from the Presiding Officers of State Legislatures, Ministers of Parliamentary Affairs, Chief Whips and Leaders of Opposition in State Legislatures also joined the Virtual Meeting.
Birla observed that after more than a year of the crisis of COVID-19, the pandemic has resurfaced with new challenges. He noted that the new strain of corona infection is spreading more rapidly than last year which is a matter of grave concern.
The Lok Sabha Speaker further said that governments are making all necessary efforts at their level. But in this hour of crisis, the legislature also has to fulfill its duty more promptly. He exhorted the people’s representatives to fulfill their duties in the spirit of solidarity and collectivity and contribute to the society and the country in getting relief from the pandemic.
Birla urged the Presiding Officers to sensitize the public, through the people’s representatives of their respective States, to follow the Corona Protocol. He asked the public representatives to create awareness that personal caution is the most potent weapon in the fight against corona infection and any negligence can prove to be extremely dangerous.
Birla also gave suggested that people’s representatives may engage with social organizations to check the spread of the pandemic and all representative institutions including the Gram Panchayats and local bodies in urban areas may be motivated to make extensive efforts to reduce the corona infection.