SHILLONG, Jan 12: Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Speaker, Metbah Lyngdoh, was on Tuesday unanimously elected as the president of North East Regional Institute of Parliamentary Studies, Training and Research (NERIPSTR), Khanapara.
The announcement was made at a joint meeting of the executive committee, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, India region, Zone III, which includes the eight Northeastern states.
The meeting was attended by Speakers, Deputy Speakers, Assembly Commissioner and Secretary of all the Northeastern states.
Due to Shillong’s proximity to the institute located at Jawarhar Nagar, Khanapara, the outgoing Chairman of North East Region Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Hitendra Nath Goswami, who is also the Assam Assembly Speaker, suggested that the institute be under the administrative care of Assam and Meghalaya on rotational basis.
Speaking after the meeting, Metbah said he will oversee the functioning of the training institute and ensure that parliamentary studies training is imparted to the Northeastern state’s legislators and Assembly staff at the earliest.
He added that the North East Region Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (NERCPA), India region, Zone III, was initiated by the then Speaker of Lok Sabha, PA Sangma, in 1996.
“The plot of land was donated by the government of Assam and the building was constructed by contributions from all the Northeastern states with the objective to impart training (on parliamentary studies) to legislators of the eight states and Assembly staff,” he said.
Metbah stated that he will convene a meeting of the executive council, NERIPSTR, after Assam Assembly elections, adding that his responsibilities will also include coordinating with Lok Sabha Secretariat to request them to deploy experienced officials to the training centre to impart training. “Legislators and Assembly staff will no longer have to go to Delhi to receive training which will reduce the burden of the state by reducing expenses on transport and accommodation,” he said.
At the meeting, Assam Assembly Speaker, Hitendra Nath Goswami, also handed over the chairmanship of NERCAP to Arunachal Pradesh Speaker, Pasang Dorjee Sona.