Overview

• Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated the two-day forum on August 29, the first time the series has been held outside Delhi since its launch in 1976.
• Organisers said about 200 delegates from Parliament and 19 states joined, with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union ministers Jual Oram and Dharmendra Pradhan, RS Deputy Chairman Harivansh and Faggan Singh Kulaste addressing the meet.
• Birla warned of declining debate and conduct in legislatures and framed committees as bipartisan tools to hold governments accountable through rigorous review of schemes and spending.
• He pressed panels to tailor recommendations to changing community needs, track whether SC/ST allocations reach beneficiaries, and prioritise education as a foundation for empowerment.
• Harivansh called for a nationwide campaign against casteism and highlighted data on poverty reduction, as the event paired policy sessions with an exhibition and planned visits to Konark and Puri.