Representative Democracy Must be converted into Participatory Democracy

Bhopal: Penal discussions on 'Panchayat Evam Nagarpalika Nirvachano evam Zamini-Star Par Governance ki Ubharti Chunotiya' were held during the 23rd Foundation Day of State Election Commission. Editor India Today Anshuman Tiwari said that Representative Democracy must be converted into Participatory Democracy during the penal discussions. Former Chief Information Commissioner Satyanand Mishra said that attention must be paid on contents in place of pageantry. Prof. Dr. Gita Oberoi of National Judicial Academy stated that all rights should be given to the women public representatives.

The participants said that public representatives' qualifications should be determined first for Member of Parliament and Member of legislative Assembly, later on for Corporators and Panchs. Also suggestions on monitoring of election expenses and section 40 were given.

Commissioner State Election Commission R. Parshuram threw light on the subject of the penal discussion. Chairman Madhya Pradesh Estate Regulatory Authority Antony De sa, Former Senior Administrative Officer P.K. Das, Advisor to State Planning Commission Mangesh Tyagi, Deputy Secretary State Election Commission Girish Sharma, Senior Journalists L.S. Hardenia, Mahesh Shrivastava, Vijay Tiwari, Palash Surjan and other participants gave important suggestions.

Collector Mandsaur Swatantra Singh and other Officers were honoured for excellent works on the occasion.

Penal discussion was conducted by Former State Election Commission Commissioner N.B. Lohni and vote of thanks was given by Secretary Smt. Sunita Tripathi.-WTN