Establishment of Parliamentary Forums
In a significant step toward addressing key national challenges through parliamentary deliberation, the first Parliamentary Forum on Water Conservation and Management was constituted in 2005. This marked the beginning of a series of such forums, with seven more established in the years that followed. Today, eight Parliamentary Forums operate to foster focused discussions on pressing issues, drawing members from both Houses of Parliament.
These forums, listed here in the order of their creation, cover a broad spectrum of concerns: the Parliamentary Forum on Water Conservation and Management (2005); Parliamentary Forum on Youth (2006); Parliamentary Forum on Children (2006); Parliamentary Forum on Population and Public Health (2006); Parliamentary Forum on Global Warming and Climate Change (2008); Parliamentary Forum on Disaster Management (2011); Parliamentary Forum on Artisans and Craftspeople (2013); and Parliamentary Forum on Millennium Development Goals (2013).
Objectives of the Parliamentary Forums
Parliamentary Forums serve as vital platforms in India's legislative ecosystem, designed to foster informed deliberation and accelerate policy action. Their core objectives revolve around empowering Members of Parliament (MPs) through targeted interactions and resource-building.
Primarily, these forums enable MPs to engage directly with relevant ministers, domain experts, and senior officials from nodal ministries. Such interactions facilitate focused, result-oriented discussions on pressing issues, ultimately expediting the implementation of key initiatives.
Beyond dialogue, the forums aim to heighten MPs' awareness of critical challenges and on-the-ground realities. They equip legislators with up-to-date information, technical expertise, and insights from both domestic and international specialists. This preparation allows members to effectively champion these matters during debates on the floor of the House or in sessions of the Departmentally-Related Standing Committees (DRSCs).
Additionally, the forums compile comprehensive databases by gathering data from ministries, credible NGOs, newspapers, United Nations reports, and online sources. This curated information is then circulated among members, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to forum discussions and seek clarifications from attending experts or officials.
Crucially, these forums operate under a clear mandate: they must not encroach upon or interfere with the jurisdiction of the DRSCs overseeing the concerned ministries or departments. This delineation ensures complementary roles within Parliament's oversight framework.
Composition of the Forums
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha serves as the ex-officio President of all parliamentary forums, with one notable exception: the Parliamentary Forum on Population and Public Health. Here, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha holds the position of ex-officio President, while the Speaker acts as ex-officio Co-President. Complementing this leadership, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha, relevant ministers, and the Chairmen of the Departmentally Related Standing Committees serve as ex-officio Vice-Presidents of their respective forums.
Beyond these office-bearers, each forum comprises up to 31 additional members—maximum 21 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha. These members are nominated by the Speaker or Chairman of the relevant House from among leaders of political parties or groups, or their nominees, who demonstrate special knowledge or keen interest in the forum's subject matter. This ensures a balanced representation of expertise across the two Houses.
Membership in a forum aligns directly with a member's tenure in Parliament, ending automatically upon cessation of their parliamentary term. Members may also resign by submitting a written notice to the Speaker or Chairman.
To facilitate operations, the forum's President appoints a member-convener, who organizes regular programs and meetings in consultation with the President. These gatherings occur as needed during parliamentary sessions, fostering focused deliberations on key issues.
Parliamentary Forum on Water Conservation and Management
Parliamentary Forum on Water Conservation and Management
Established to address one of India's most pressing challenges, this parliamentary body plays a pivotal role in promoting sustainable water practices. Its core functions include pinpointing key issues related to water resources and formulating targeted suggestions or recommendations for action by the government and relevant organizations. The forum also devises strategies to actively involve Members of Parliament in conserving and enhancing water resources within their states and constituencies. To foster greater awareness, it organizes seminars and workshops on efficient water management. Beyond these, the forum takes up any additional related initiatives it considers essential.
Parliamentary Forum on Youth Empowerment
The Parliamentary Forum on Youth plays a vital role in channeling the energy and potential of India's young population toward national progress. At its core, the forum fosters focused discussions on strategies to leverage youth as a key human resource, accelerating broader development initiatives across the country.
Beyond deliberation, it works to heighten awareness among public leaders and grassroots communities about the transformative power of youth in driving socio-economic change. The forum maintains regular interactions with youth representatives and leaders, gaining deeper insights into their aspirations, concerns, and challenges. It also explores innovative ways to enhance Parliament's outreach to diverse youth segments, strengthening their trust in democratic institutions and inspiring greater participation. Finally, through consultations with experts, national and international academicians, and relevant government agencies, the forum contributes to redesigning public policies aimed at empowering the youth.
Parliamentary Forum for Child Welfare
The Parliamentary Forum on Children serves as a vital platform dedicated to advancing the welfare of India's youngest citizens. Its primary aim is to heighten awareness among Parliamentarians about pressing issues impacting children's well-being, empowering them to lead effectively and secure children's rightful role in the nation's development journey.
Beyond raising consciousness, the Forum fosters structured dialogue among lawmakers. It offers a dedicated space for exchanging ideas, experiences, and best practices on child-related matters through workshops, seminars, and orientation programs, ensuring informed and collaborative policymaking.
The Forum also bridges Parliamentarians with civil society, creating interfaces with voluntary organizations, the media, and the corporate sector. This engagement highlights critical children's issues and cultivates strategic partnerships to drive meaningful action.
In addition, it facilitates institutionalized interactions with specialized UN agencies like UNICEF and other multilateral bodies. Parliamentarians gain access to global expert reports, studies, trend analyses, and insights directly relevant to child development in India.
Finally, the Forum retains flexibility to pursue any other initiatives, projects, or tasks it deems necessary, adapting proactively to emerging needs in the sector.
Parliamentary Forum on Population and Public Health
The Parliamentary Forum on Population and Public Health serves as a vital platform for parliamentarians to address pressing demographic and health challenges in India. Its primary mandate involves conducting focused deliberations on strategies for population stabilization and closely related issues, ensuring a coordinated national approach to managing growth rates. Complementing this, the forum discusses and crafts actionable strategies to tackle key public health concerns, from disease prevention to healthcare access.
Beyond policy formulation, the forum prioritizes building widespread awareness about population control and public health across all sections of society—with special emphasis on grassroots communities—to drive behavioral change and community participation. It also fosters comprehensive dialogues and interactions with national and international experts, including multilateral organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Population Fund, as well as academicians and relevant government agencies. Through these engagements, the forum bridges parliamentary oversight with global best practices, strengthening India's resolve on these fronts.
Parliamentary Forum on Global Warming and Climate Change
The Parliamentary Forum on Global Warming and Climate Change plays a pivotal role in addressing one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. Established to foster parliamentary action, the forum systematically identifies key problems associated with global warming and climate change. It formulates practical suggestions and recommendations, urging the government and relevant organizations to take decisive steps that curb the escalating impacts of these phenomena.
Beyond problem-solving, the forum actively engages Members of Parliament (MPs) in collaborative efforts. It explores innovative ways for MPs to interact with national and international specialists, accelerating the development of cutting-edge technologies to mitigate global warming. Complementing this, the forum organizes seminars and workshops to heighten awareness among parliamentarians about the root causes and far-reaching effects of climate change. It also devises strategies to empower MPs in disseminating this knowledge to the wider public, promoting grassroots prevention measures. Finally, the forum undertakes any additional related tasks it deems necessary, ensuring a comprehensive and adaptive response to evolving climate threats.
Parliamentary Forum on Disaster Management
The Parliamentary Forum on Disaster Management serves as a vital platform for Members of Parliament to address the multifaceted challenges of disasters in India. Its core mandate revolves around pinpointing critical issues in disaster management and formulating targeted suggestions or recommendations. These are directed to the government and relevant organizations, aiming to curb the devastating effects of natural and man-made calamities through proactive measures.
Beyond problem-solving, the forum actively bridges gaps between lawmakers and experts. It facilitates interactions between Members of Parliament and specialists from national and international bodies, channeling efforts toward pioneering technologies that mitigate disaster risks. To build internal capacity, the forum organizes seminars and workshops, enlightening parliamentarians on the root causes and far-reaching consequences of disasters. It also charts pathways for MPs to champion public awareness campaigns, ensuring that disaster preparedness resonates at the grassroots level. Finally, the forum retains flexibility to pursue any additional related initiatives it considers essential, adapting to evolving needs in this critical domain.
Parliamentary Forum on Artisans and Craftspeople
Established to safeguard and elevate India's rich heritage of traditional arts and crafts, the Parliamentary Forum on Artisans and Craftspeople serves as a vital platform for lawmakers. Its primary aim is to heighten parliamentary awareness of the challenges faced by artisans and craftspeople, encouraging proactive measures to preserve and promote these time-honored traditions through diverse mechanisms.
The forum fosters structured collaboration among Parliamentarians by offering a dedicated space to share ideas, experiences, expertise, and best practices. This is achieved through engaging activities such as workshops, seminars, and orientation programs, ensuring that discussions on artisan welfare remain focused and productive.
Beyond internal exchanges, it bridges Parliamentarians with civil society, including voluntary organizations, media outlets, and the corporate sector. This interface highlights key issues affecting craftspeople and artisans, paving the way for strategic partnerships that amplify their voices and drive tangible impact.
In a formalized setting, the forum facilitates direct interactions between Parliamentarians and representatives from key Union Ministries and government bodies, such as the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Coir Board, and the Council for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural Technology (CAPART), along with other relevant organizations. These engagements strengthen policy coordination and implementation.
Furthermore, it hosts in-depth dialogues with national and international experts and organizations, delving into strategies for preserving traditional arts and crafts while promoting the livelihoods of artisans and craftspeople.
Finally, the forum retains flexibility to pursue additional tasks, projects, or assignments as its members deem necessary, adapting to emerging needs in this cultural domain.
Parliamentary Forum on Millennium Development Goals
Established to galvanize parliamentary action, the Parliamentary Forum on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) serves as a vital mechanism for advancing India's commitments under the UN's ambitious 2015 targets. Its core function is to review progress and heighten awareness among parliamentarians about critical challenges impeding these goals, ensuring sustained legislative focus on their achievement.
The forum provides a structured platform for lawmakers to share ideas, experiences, expertise, and best practices on MDG implementation. Through workshops, seminars, and orientation programs, it fosters collaborative dialogue, transforming insights into actionable strategies.
It also bridges parliamentarians with civil society, spotlighting key MDG priorities such as eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality and women's empowerment, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability, and forging global partnerships for development.
Furthermore, the forum facilitates institutionalized interactions between parliamentarians and specialized UN agencies, multilateral bodies, expert reports, studies, and trend analyses, equipping members with authoritative data to drive MDG progress. Finally, it retains flexibility to pursue additional tasks, projects, or assignments as deemed necessary, adapting to evolving needs.