Agartala, February 27:
A workshop on “Responsibility and Accountability of Public Representatives to All Sections of People,” organised by the Tripura Legislative Assembly in line with guidelines of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, commenced on Friday at Pragna Bhavan in Agartala with a strong pitch for transparency, humility and constitutional responsibility in public life.
The programme was inaugurated by Governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu in the presence of Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan Singh, Chief Minister Manik Saha, and other senior leaders and legislators.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Manik Saha underlined that accountability to the people is the core of democratic responsibility and should not be reduced to a periodic formality.
He said elected representatives must constantly remind themselves that their authority flows from the people who are the tax payers and voted them into office.
“We come here because of them. Nothing is possible without the public, because everything runs on the taxes they pay,” he said, stressing that representatives must remain accessible and grounded.
Saha asserted that public representatives should not distance themselves after winning elections and must regularly visit their constituencies, monitor implementation of government projects, and remain connected during emergencies such as fires or natural disasters.
He emphasised that health, education, road conditions and public grievances require continuous engagement.
Representatives, he said, should speak with transparency, avoid arrogance and cultivate the habit of listening more than speaking. “God has given us two ears and one mouth — we should listen more and speak less,” he remarked, adding that even a simple smile while interacting with citizens can strengthen trust.
The Chief Minister also cautioned against corruption, describing it as a disease more dangerous than cancer for society.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of building a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047, Saha said a developed India would only be possible through developed states, including Tripura, and that this responsibility rests heavily on elected representatives at every level — from panchayats to the Assembly.
He stressed inclusive governance, saying representatives must serve all sections, irrespective of who voted for them, and use technology and social media responsibly to maintain communication and counter misinformation.
Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh, in his address, invoked the spirit of the Constitution and said democracy demands that once elected, a representative serves the entire population and not any exclusive caste, business or interest group.
Citing the vision of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and Dr. Rajendra Prasad, he said the strength of the Constitution depends on the integrity and character of those who implement it.
Harivansh emphasised that accountability must extend to tribal and rural families just as much as to urban citizens, and said development must preserve cultural identities while ensuring equal attention to all 19 recognised tribal communities in Tripura.
Referring to India’s constitutional journey, he noted that the Constituent Assembly debated extensively without disruption to frame the world’s lengthiest Constitution, demonstrating collective commitment over division.
He described power as a trust, echoing Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy, and said elected leaders must act as trustees of the people.
Effective governance, he added, requires ethical conduct, optimal use of resources and a commitment to serve society as a whole rather than personal or sectional interests.
