Bhubaneswar, 09 November (H.S.): Vice President of India C P Radhakrishnan will visit Odisha on a two-day tour and attend an orientation programme for newly elected MLAs at the Odisha Legislative Assembly on November 16, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling said.

The one-day orientation programme will comprise three sessions. The inaugural session will be attended by the Vice President, Governor, Chief Minister and Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly.

The visit is significant as it will mark only the second occasion in the history of the Odisha Legislative Assembly when a Vice President attends a programme at the state legislature.

The orientation programme will focus on the functioning of legislative committees and their roles and responsibilities. The Odisha Assembly has 35 committees, including four special committees dealing with financial matters.

Mahaling said the training would emphasise strengthening the committee system and ensuring the effective implementation of decisions and recommendations made by these committees.

The newly elected legislators will also be familiarised with key financial and budgetary matters, including expenditure, expenditure ratios and estimates.

Highlighting the functioning of the Odisha Assembly, the minister said the state legislature holds sittings for a comparatively higher number of days than the national average. While state legislatures across the country meet for an average of around 22 to 23 days, Odisha Assembly sessions are held for a greater number of days, he added.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda