New Delhi, April 25 (IANS) In an effort to strengthen democratic engagement, the Delhi Legislative Assembly on Saturday launched a weekly Youth Outreach Programme, an initiative of Speaker Vijender Gupta, by hosting the first batch of 75 college students, an official said.
The first batch of students to the Assembly under the programme came from Maharishi Valmiki College of Education, Geeta Colony, the official said in a statement.
The programme establishes a continuing framework under which students from universities and educational institutions will visit the Assembly every Saturday to gain direct exposure to legislative functioning.
During the visit, students were introduced to the historical evolution of the Delhi Legislative Assembly, including the significance of the present building, constructed in 1912 and earlier housing the Central Legislative Assembly, the statement said.
Reference was also made to the legacy of Vitthalbhai Patel and the Assembly’s continued role as a forum of democratic governance since its re-establishment in 1993.
The programme included a structured orientation on legislative procedures and institutional functioning, the statement said.
A commemorative coffee table publication ‘Ek Shatabdi Yatra’ was presented, and a documentary on the Assembly’s institutional history, with voice-over by Padma Bhushan awardee Anupam Kher, was screened.
The visit also included a guided tour of the Assembly House, providing the students with a first-hand experience of its functioning.
The Speaker, while announcing the Youth Outreach Programme, stated that the initiative is intended to bridge the gap between citizens and institutions by enabling our youth to engage directly with legislative processes, understand how laws are made, and appreciate the principles that sustain public life and democratic governance.
Gupta emphasised that the vitality of democracy rests on informed, aware and responsible citizens, and that sustained engagement with institutions is essential to fostering a culture of participation, accountability and respect for democratic processes.
He added that such initiatives play an important role in shaping civic consciousness among the youth and strengthening the foundations of a democratic society.
The programme forms part of a structured initiative of the Delhi Legislative Assembly Secretariat to promote awareness of parliamentary practices and democratic institutions, and is designed to encourage sustained student engagement with public affairs and legislative processes, the statement said.
–IANS
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