Panaji, April 9 Coastal states have turned their challenges into opportunities, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi demonstrated this while serving as the chief minister of Gujarat, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Thursday.
Delivering the inaugural address at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region Zone VII conference here, Birla also said that legislative institutions will play a crucial role in building a developed India, and young legislators have a greater responsibility in achieving the goal of a developed India.
"Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Goa are coastal states, and with that come challenges. Yet, their leadership has often turned these challenges into opportunities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his long tenure as Gujarat’s chief minister, faced drought, long coastal stretches, and tribal regions. He promoted industrialization, trade, and tourism, transforming difficulties into development. Water from the Narmada was brought to dry areas, and new technologies were introduced to meet global changes," Birla said.
Similarly, the Speaker said that other coastal states have converted natural challenges into opportunities.
"Their assemblies have passed laws and policies to address crises and disasters, ensuring growth despite adversity," he said.
The Speaker said that during his long term as chief minister, Modi brought changes in Gujarat, bringing industries, development in rural areas, transforming tourism sites and providing water to water-starved areas.
He said that people have high expectations and aspirations from their elected legislators, and the three coastal states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa need to adopt best practices from one another for development in coastal regions.
"There should be healthy competition among legislatures of different states to be the best assembly," he said.
Birla said that the world recognises parliamentary democracy as the best system of governance.
"The increasing voter turnout in every election in the country since 1952 is a sign of India's successful democracy," he said.
The Speaker said that the present time is the era of artificial intelligence and technology, but human sensitivity is equally important alongside them.
"Legislators who engage in the best discussions on policies and laws become prominent leaders in their states," he said.
Birla said that the more legislators understand the rules and procedures of the legislature, the greater their participation and the more constructive the dialogue will be.
He also seconded the suggestion that the highest contribution to the country's GDP comes from three coastal states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa.
Chief Minister of Goa Pramod Sawant, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh, Speakers of Goa and Maharashtra Ganesh Gaonkar and Rahul Narvekar, respectively, also spoke on the occasion.
The conference of the Zone VII of the CPA aims to strengthen parliamentary cooperation, promote exchange of best practices and deliberate on key development priorities of the region, an official statement said.
During the conference, the dignitaries are deliberating on subjects like 'The Role of Young Legislators in Achieving the Goal of a Developed India by 2047', 'Priorities of Zone VII in Trade, Tourism, Urbanization, Environment and Coastal Connectivity' among others.
The CPA India Region Zone-VII comprises the legislatures of Goa, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
This is the first conference of the Zone-VII following the restructuring of the CPA India Region into nine zones in 2024.
Legislators from the three coastal states are also attending the conference.
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