Sansad Ratna 2014 Awards presented to top performing Lok Sabha MPs of 15th Lok Sabha at Chennai

L to R: Rama Devi, S S Ramasubbu, Gajanan Babbar, N Gopalaswami, Shivaji Adhalrao Patil, Hansraj G Ahir, K Srinivasan

Top performing Members of the 15th Lok Sabha were honoured at Chennai Press Club with 'Sansad Ratna Award'.  Shri N Gopalaswami, Former Chief Election Commissioner of India presented the Awards.   (picture)

Prime Point Foundation, Ezines PreSense, New Gen Thamizhan and ELTF honour the top performing MPs, based on their participation in debates, introduction of private members bills and raising questions for the past 5 years.  The data is made available by Lok Sabha Secretariat and PRS India.  

Sansad Ratna team selected 9 MPs for overall performance who scored more than 1000 in the total tally of debates, private members bills and questions.  Besides, the team selected 3 top performing women MPs among the women MPs, based on the total tally.  We have announced already the names in our earlier posting.  

Though 8 MPs confirmed participation, 3 could not participate due to urgent political meetings.  Shri Hansraj G Ahir(BJP MP from Maharashtra), Shri S S Ramasubbu (Congres MP from Tamil Nadu), Shri Gajanan Babar (Shiv Sena MP from Maharashtra), Shri Shivaji Adhalrao Patil (Shiv Sena MP from Maharashtra) and Smt Rama Devi (BJP MP from Bihar) received the Sansad Ratna Awards personally at Chennai on 22nd Feb 2014 from Shri N Gopalaswamy, Former Chief Election Commissioner of India.

Some of the media reports online.

MPs win awards for their performance

Eight MPs Receive Sansad Ratna Awards for Best Performance

Parties should recognise performing legislators

Disruptions in Parliament prevented fruitful discussions: MP

Read More

Political leaders and media experts deliberate on politics, democracy and governance - 14 Feb 2014 at IIT Madras

A National Seminar on 'Politics, democracy and governance' was held at IIT Madras on 15th Feb 2014 organised jointly by Prime Point Foundation and IIT Madras. This seminar was divided into three sessions.

Arvind Sivaramakrishnan

Session I - Presentation by Mr Arvind Sivaramakrishnan, Senior Deputy Editor, The Hindu on ' Electoral systems and the composition of elected Assemblies in various democracies'.  He explained how the vote share gained and the seats gained do not match with each other.  He also compared the electoral systems in other countries.  

His presentation may be downloaded from this link.

Session II - Panel discussion on 'Media and Politics'.  Mr Ramalingam (Dinamalar), Mr R Bhagwan Singh (Deccan Chronicle), Mr Pandey (Thanthi TV), Mr Badri Seshadri (Internet media expert) and Ms Josephine (Social worker) were the panelists.  Bhanu Gomes anchored the panel discussions.

(L to R) Ramalingam, R Bhagwan Singh, Badri Seshadri, Josephine, Pandey and Bhanu Gomes

Burning issues like market driven media,  paid news, sensationalising  news and many issues were debated. The panelists also explained the economics of publishing a newspaper.  When a newspaper costs Rs.12/-, it is being sold at Rs.3/-.  The balance of Rs.9/- had to be met out of advertisements.  Hence, they are required to be more market oriented.  

Session III - Panel discussion on 'Mandate 2014'.  Mr H Raja (BJP), Mr T K Rangarajan MP (CPIM) , Mr Gobanna (Congress), Mr Thol Thirumavalavan MP (VCK), Mr David (AAP) and Mr Maalan (Senior Journalist) were the panelists.  Ms Bhanu Gomes anchored this panel discussion.

(L to R) Maalan, David,  T K Rangrajan MP,  H Raja, Thol Thirumavalavan MP,
Gobanna and Bhanu Gomes

During this discussion, all the representatives of the political parties shared their policies and the agenda that may be placed before the voters during this General Elections 2014.  Though the panelists belonged to different ideologies generating heat during debate, they presented their views with high level dignity and courtesy to each other.

(L to R) Prime Point Srinivasan, P Subbaramanian, Arumugam,
Divya and T K Rangarajan MP

After the panel discussions, Divya one of the beneficiaries of the Education loan scheme of Canara Bank was honoured for her getting University Rank, braving all challenges.  Mr T K Rangarajan MP, Mr P Subbramanian (DGM, Canara Bank) and Mr Arumugam (AGM, Canara Bank) presented the memento to her.

Team behind the success of the seminar

Please look at the photos taken during the event. The photos can be downloaded from this link.

Read More