New Delhi, 08 October (H.S.): A proposal put forward by Nepal and supported by India, among other countries, calling for urgent parliamentary action to address climate-related disasters was adopted as the emergency item at the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Arusha, Tanzania, on Wednesday. The Indian parliamentary delegation participated in the voting on the inclusion of the proposal in the Assembly’s agenda.

Led by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, the Indian parliamentary delegation participated in a range of meetings and deliberations on the third day of the Assembly. Taking part in the General Debate on the theme “Enhancing good governance and empowering communities through inclusivity, trust and opportunities for all”, Harivansh urged parliamentarians to strengthen transparency, uphold accountability and sustain public trust.

Following the vote, the IPU President announced the adoption of Nepal’s proposal, titled “Urgent parliamentary action to address climate-related disasters and strengthen resilience in the Himalayan region and other vulnerable regions”, as the emergency item of the 153rd Assembly. The proposal calls for strengthened parliamentary action to tackle climate-related disasters and enhance resilience in the Himalayan region and other vulnerable areas.

Members of the Indian delegation also held a bilateral meeting with Konstantin Kosachev, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia, and discussed issues of mutual interest. Harivansh also met outgoing IPU President Tulia Ackson and appreciated her efforts to make the organisation’s functioning more inclusive and vibrant, as well as her initiatives to deepen and broaden parliamentary democracy among nations.

Lok Sabha MP Sanjay Jaiswal participated in a workshop on mental health across generations, focusing on issues including digital overload, economic pressures and uncertainty. Aparajita Sarangi took part in a panel discussion of the Standing Committee on United Nations Affairs, while Bijuli Kalita Medhi participated in discussions of the Working Group on Science and Technology and the Standing Committee on Sustainable Development.

Kamaljeet Sehrawat participated in a panel discussion on the role of parliaments in enforcing international humanitarian law and international human rights law. She also took part in a workshop on promoting ethical artificial intelligence for children’s rights and a meeting of the committee dealing with respect for international humanitarian law.

Lata Wankhede participated in a workshop on delivering healthy food in a changing climate.

Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra participated in an expert hearing of the Standing Committee on Peace and International Security. The session examined the role of parliaments in strengthening maritime security during conflicts and safeguarding international navigation and global economic stability through the protection of critical infrastructure.

The Secretary-General of the Rajya Sabha also met Anda Filip, the newly elected Secretary General of the IPU. According to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Filip is the first woman to hold the post in the IPU’s 137-year history. He conveyed the full support of the Parliament of India for the IPU’s efforts to promote democracy and peace and wished her a successful and eventful tenure.

The 153rd IPU Assembly is being held in Arusha from October 5 to 9, 2026, under the overarching theme “Enhancing good governance and empowering communities through inclusivity, trust and opportunities for all”.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar