CHAPTER - X
EXCHANGE OF GOVERNMENT DELEGATIONS OF PARLIAMENTARIANS
10.1 In the continuously and rapidly changing international scenario, the need to project and propogate our national policies, programmes and problems in the proper perspective among various countries as well as understanding their view-point was being felt for a long time. The Parliamentarians of a country play a significant role in determining the policy of the country and strengthening of relations with other countries. More particularly, it is indeed useful and necessary for a democratic and developing country like India, to select some Members of Parliament and distinguished personalities and utilize their service in projecting our policies, programmes, problems and achievements in different fields with their counterparts and other opinion makers in other countries and secure their confidence in favour of India. Undoubtedly, to achieve the aforesaid objectives, the exchange of Government sponsored delegations of Members of Parliament proved to be effective. Therefore, it was decided that three to four delegations consisting of Members of Parliament, under the leadership of Minister of Parliamentary Affairs/Ministers of State for Parliamentary Affairs be sent abroad and also to invite three to four such delegations from other countries through the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs yearly on a regular basis.
10.2 An amount of Rs. 1.10 crore in the budget of this Ministry for the year 1998-99 has been provided for this purpose.
Visit of Government Sponsored delegation of MPs to foreign countries
10.3 Pursuant to the decision to exchange Government delegation consisting of Members of parliament, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs arranged a visit of a Delegation of 9 Members of Parliament under leadership of Shri Madan Lal Khurana, Hon'ble Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Tourism to Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand during 20-29 September, 1998. The objective of the visit was to effectively project our policies, achievements and programmes in those countries and thereby create an understanding among them about the Indian polity and the Government. The visit was also intended to meet the Presiding Officers and other parliamentarians of those countries and to exchange views about our Parliamentary procedures and practices etc. The Members of the Delegation were chosen in consultation with their leaders/Chief whips. The Delegation consisted of the following:
1. Shri Madan Lal
Khurana,
Leader
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs & Tourism
Lok Sabha
2. Capt. Jagatvir Singh
Drona
BJP (UP)
3. Shri Ram Narain
Meena
INC (Rajasthan)
4. Shri Rupchand
Pal
CPI(M) (West Bengal)
5. Shri Mohan
Singh
Samajwadi Party(UP)
6. Shri Kanchi
Paneerselvam
AIADMK (TamilNadu)
7. Shri Surender Prasad
Yadav
R.J.D.(Bihar)
Rajya Sabha
8. Smt. Chandresh Kumari
INC(Himachal Pradesh)
9. Shri Nilotpal
Basu
CPI(M) (West Bengal)
10.Shri
K.M.Saifulla
TDP(Andhra Pradesh)
Officers
11. Shri S.A.T.Rizvi, Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
12. Shri D.R.Tiwari, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
13. Shri S.C.Poddar, Private Secretary to Minister of Parliamentary Affairs
& Tourism
10.4 It was decided that during the course of the visit the Members of Delegation would have meetings with Executive/Administrative Heads of the following subjects, beside meeting important legislative functionaries in these countries:
1. Tourism;
2. Education;
3. Legal System with emphasis on relationship between Judiciary and
Legislatures;
4. Housing Problem;
5. Transport System; and
6. Family Planning and Population.
10.5 The delegation, during its stay at Singapore, met H.E. Mr. Tan Soo Khoon, Speaker of parliament and Mr. Yatiman Yusof, Leader of Singapore West-Asia and Africa Parliamentary Group, besides various Buddhist Organisations.
10.6 In Indonesia the delegation met H.E. Mr. Ida Bagus Oka, Minister for Population and Chairman of the Natinal planning Board, Indonesia, H.E. Mr. Juwono Sudarsono, Minister of Education and Culture, Indonesia, H.E. Mr. Mrzukin Usman, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture and H.E. Mr. Hary Sabarno, Deputy Speaker of MPR/DPR.
10.7 In Malasia the delegation met Dato Sabaruddin Chik, Malaysian Minister for Culture, Art and Tourism, Tan Sri Mohamed Bin yacob, President of Senate, Malaysia and had a meeting with Buddhist Monks.
10.8 On the last leg of the visit in Thailand the delegation met His Holiness Maha Sangh Raja, the Supreme patriarch of Thailand, Dr. Arthit Ourairat, Chairman, Foreign Relations Committee, Mr. Paijit Sreewaraken, Chairman, Parliamentary Affairs Committee, Thailand, Mr. Seree Wangpaichir, Governor, Tourism Authority of Thailand and H.E. Mr. Wanmuhamad Nor Matta, President of National Assembly, Thailand.
Nomination of Members of Parliament on the Delegations going abroad
10.9 Minister of Parliamentary Affairs nominates or approves the names of Members of Parliament for the delegation being sent abroad by various Ministries. During the year, 1998 the names of the following Members of Parliament in the delegation noted against each of them were recommended/nominated:-
1. Smt. Rita Verma, MP
(LS)
USA - International
2. Smt. Ila Panda, MP
(RS)
Conference on Girls Education.
(Ministsry of HRD)
3. Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra, MP (RS)
4. Shri Prem Singh Chandumajra, MP
(LS)
Malaysia Official Delegation to
5. Shri Chetan Chauhan, MP (LS)
Commonwealth Games, 1998.
6. Shri Ajit Panja, MP
(LS)
(Ministry of HRD)
7. Shri Virender Singh, MP
(LS)
China-6th General Assembly of a Asia-
Pacific Parliamentarians Conference on
Environment and Development.
8. Shri B.P.Singhal,
MP(RS)
Thailand-Official Delegation to 13th
9. Shri Akhilesh Dass,
MP(RS)
Asian Games, 1998.
(Ministry of HRD)
Meetings with Parliamentary Delegations
10.10 During the period from 1.4.1998 to 31.12.1998, Nine Parliamentary Delegations, during their visit to India from various countries, called on Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Tourism for exchange of views on matters of mutual interest. The details of such delegations are given below:
1. 11 April, 1998
A 5 Member DPR Korean Delegation led by H.E. Mr. Hyong Sop, Speaker of the
Supreme People's Assembly of DPR Korea.
2. 10 July,
1998
A 3 Member Venezuelan delegation led by H.E. Deputy Julio Cstillo, First Vice
President, Chairman of Deputies.
3. 28 August,
1998
A 3 Member Delegation led by H.E. Mr. Cyril E. Ndebele, Speaker, Parliament of
Zimbabwe.
4. 15 September,
1998
A 16 Member Delegation led by H.E. Mr. Lawrent Fabius, President (Speaker) of
the French National Assembly and former P.M. of France.
5. 16 September,
1998
A 7 Member Russian Delegation led by H.E. Mr. Vladimir Petrovich Lukin,
Chairman, State Duma Committee on International Affairs, Russia.
6. 9 October,
1998
A 3 Member Sudanese Delegation led by Dr. Salah Eldin Hirgahani M.A. Gaili,
Chairman of the Delegation and Deputy Chairman, Federal Relations Committee,
Sudan.
7. 16 November, 1998
A 13 Member Delegation led by H.E. Mo. Mikko Pesala, Deputy Speaker of the
Finnish Parliament
8. 24 November,
1998
A 9 Member Delegation led by H.E. Mr. Kozo Watanabe, Vice Speaker of the
House of Representatives of Japanese Parliament.
9. 15 December,
1998
A 10 Member Delegation led by H.E. Mr. Autonio De Almeida Santos, President
of the Protuguese Parliament.
Visit of Members of Parliament to Foreign Countries
10.11 69 Members of Parliament( 43 Members of Lok Sabha and 26 Members of Rajya Sabha) informed this Ministry about their private/study visits of foreign countries. Necessary assistance, when asked, was extended to them through the Ministry of External Affairs and our Missions in foreign countries.
Permission under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976
10.12 Under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976, it is incumbent on Members of Parliament, among others, going abroad, to obtain prior permission of the Ministry of Home Affairs, where such visits involve acceptance of 'foreign hospitality' from a foreign Government or organisation. Members are informed about the procedure to be followed in this respect from time to time by this Ministry. All necessary assistance sought for by Members in this regards is also provided.
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