Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated the National Conference of Chairpersons of Estimates Committees of Parliament and State Legislatures in Mumbai, marking the 75th anniversary of the Committee on Estimates. He emphasized the need to strengthen financial oversight using technology, data analytics, and artificial intelligence, alongside a commitment to people-centric governance. He called for efficiency, transparency, and financial discipline to be the foundational principles of public expenditure.
Birla noted that Parliamentary Committees should not be seen as platforms for political opposition but as forums for informed, consensus-driven scrutiny of government performance and policy implementation. He highlighted the Estimates Committee’s role in contributing to administrative reforms and aligning expenditures with national development goals, citing its influential work in areas like the railway sector, public undertakings, and river rejuvenation.
He acknowledged that governments have accepted 90 to 95 percent of the Committee’s recommendations over the years, showcasing its impact on policy and governance. Urging state legislatures to adopt similar practices, he described these committees as key instruments of fiscal prudence and democratic accountability at all levels.
Birla encouraged a forward-looking strategy to make Estimates Committees more agile and citizen-centric in a complex policy environment marked by expanding public expenditure and rapid technological change. He called on committee chairpersons to collaborate and exchange best practices to uphold institutional integrity and democratic values.
The conference included the release of a commemorative souvenir and saw participation from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, and parliamentary leaders from Maharashtra and across India. The event will conclude with a valedictory address by Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan.
