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Urgent Work

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Members of the opposition in, both, the Lok and Rajya Sabhas have been complaining about the punishing pace with which bills are being presented and got passed in Parliament by the Government. Not only has the ongoing session been extended by seven days, members are being asked to work past the scheduled 6 p.m. almost on a daily basis. They feel this and other factors are not allowing them to sufficiently examine the legislation at hand. They think they are being taken for granted despite their willingness to cooperate as much as possible keeping within the established conventions. It may be noted that much of the legislation being brought in is corrective or reformatory in nature so as to update the laws in accordance with the challenges of the present. The economic and the social sectors are under severe stress and have to be dealt with expeditiously. There have been a number of legislations such as the ones on Instant Teen Talaaq and Motor Vehicles that were delayed merely because they could not be taken up earlier in one or the other House. In an age when developments require almost instantaneous cognisance, nineteenth century conventions do need ramping up. PM Modi has given his team the goal of making India a 5 Trillion Dollar economy by the end of his current term and it is not going to be done without burning the midnight oil. Hopefully, the new pace of work in Parliament will inspire the state legislatures to adopt a similar approach, as also the governments. Not only the hollow spaces in the economy such as the bank NPAs, large scale scams in the real estate sector, etc., have to be filled up through speedy legal remedies, but the people energised through a modern, target oriented outlook. There is massive disruption at the international level that has challenged many of India’s strategic initiatives. Means have to be found to finance infrastructure development and technology upgradation in an even bigger way. Human resources need to keep pace, requiring different kinds of investment. Once an awareness of this is created, all sections of public opinion will realise that any delay in response is an unaffordable luxury. The opposition’s numbers are small and it is only natural for it to feel extra pressured, but it should take satisfaction in doing its best rather than complaining. When the time comes, the people will give credit where it is due.