New Delhi, Sep 7 — Students from Miranda House, Hindu College and four other Delhi University institutions interacted with Delhi Legislative Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta under Youth Outreach programme on Monday.
Gupta called upon the students to channel their civic awareness into active leadership and governance reform, reminding them that an informed and participatory youth is essential to strengthening democratic institutions.
Replying to a question about the essential quality a Speaker needs to steer the House effectively, Gupta said that the primary trait is to "be patient" when navigating complex parliamentary dynamics.
Elaborating further on the current state of governance, he said, “Democracy faces a major challenge today when legislative bodies are experiencing declining participation and meaningful debate is often overwhelmed by noise; very few members actively take part in House proceedings and sessions, while opposition attendance remains sparse."
Students from Hindu College, Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, College of Vocational Studies (CVS), Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College, Miranda House and Ramjas College visited the Delhi Legislative Assembly under the Youth Outreach Initiative.
The students received first-hand exposure to the heritage, functioning and legislative processes of the Assembly and gained insights into how legislative business is conducted, according to an official statement.
The visit was organised under the Secretariat’s Youth Outreach Initiative to bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world democratic governance.
Designed to give young citizens direct exposure to parliamentary structures, the initiative equips students from fields like law, humanities and others to understand the mechanics of policy-making and public accountability, said the statement.
During their visit to the historic 1912 Assembly complex, the student delegation undertook an extensive guided tour, learning about the building's rich heritage tracing back to the former Central Legislative Assembly and pioneering figures such as Vitthalbhai Patel.
The orientation programme included an in-depth walkthrough on how bills are introduced, debated, and enacted into law, along with a documentary screening detailing the evolution of the Delhi Legislative Assembly since 1993.
The session further featured the presentation of the commemorative coffee-table book, Ek Shatabdi Yatra, followed by a walkthrough of the main Assembly House chamber where the students observed the operational core of local governance firsthand.