Raipur
A one-day workshop on Parliamentary Reporting was organised today for media representatives at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Auditorium in the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly premises.
The workshop was inaugurated by Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Dr Raman Singh and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, who lit a ceremonial lamp before a portrait of Goddess Saraswati. Leader of Opposition Dr Charan Das Mahant, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kedar Kashyap, Assembly Secretary Dinesh Sharma, and Press Gallery Advisory Committee Convenor R. Krishnadas were also present.
Speaking at the inaugural session, Speaker Dr Raman Singh said that in a democracy, both legislatures and the media serve public interest. He emphasized that media plays a crucial role in conveying Assembly proceedings to the public. He noted that following the government’s formation, training was first organised for ministers at IIM, then for MLAs at the Assembly, followed by sessions for personal assistants of MLAs. This workshop for media representatives marks the third such initiative.
He stressed that the sovereignty of the Assembly rests in the Speaker’s Chair and urged journalists not to interpret proceedings based on assumptions or speculations. He said that parliamentary reporters should be well-versed in legislative procedures, terminology, and rules. He also appealed to media personnel to focus on the constructive aspects of Assembly proceedings rather than portraying disruptions in a negative light.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said the state Assembly has completed a glorious 25-year journey, strengthening democratic values. He expressed confidence that the workshop would benefit journalists and help effectively communicate Assembly activities to the public. He also mentioned that the Chhattisgarh Assembly presents Parliamentary Reporting Awards to outstanding media representatives and urged journalists to give due importance to substantive debates, even during disruptions.
Leader of Opposition Dr Charan Das Mahant called for greater transparency in parliamentary reporting to enhance public awareness of their elected representatives’ accountability.
Assembly Secretary Dinesh Sharma underlined the importance of preserving the dignity of the legislature, stating that the public should receive an accurate account of proceedings as they occur within the Assembly.
In the first session, Dr Sanjay Dwivedi, former Director of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), and Professor at Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism, Bhopal, delivered lectures on topics such as starred and unstarred questions, points of order, budget coverage, zero hour, cut motions, Speaker’s rulings, and suspension of proceedings. Dr Dwivedi highlighted the significance of Chhattisgarh’s silver jubilee year and its coincidence with 200 years of Hindi journalism. He stated that communication in India has always served public welfare, in contrast to the confrontational style seen in Western traditions. He emphasized that parliamentary reporting is a responsibility that demands discipline, language sensitivity, and analytical rigor. He added that breaking news from the Assembly should be reported only after thorough analysis.
During the valedictory session, Rajya Sabha MP Dr Sudhanshu Trivedi spoke on the practical aspects of parliamentary reporting, offering insights in an engaging manner. He noted that while Chhattisgarh was once seen as a land of problems, it has now embarked on a new path of development. With live telecasts of proceedings, he said, journalists face increased complexity, as the public not only receives real-time updates but also expects contextual analysis and historical background. He acknowledged the challenges journalists face when different states conduct Assembly proceedings in diverse ways and stressed that when development accelerates, it often encounters resistance—but India continues to rise as a global leader.
Dr Sanjay Dwivedi, Professor at Makhanlal Chaturvedi University, and Dr Sudhanshu Trivedi were honoured with shawls and mementos in recognition of their contributions.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kedar Kashyap, who expressed gratitude to all dignitaries and media representatives.
