Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi today met with 40 foreign delegates from 12 countries, who are participating in the 37th Parliamentary Internship Programme, represented by the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE) at the Parliament Secretariat in New Delhi.
The meeting took place at the Lok Seva Bhawan, where the Chief Minister welcomed the delegates and highlighted Odisha’s rich democratic history and the Assembly’s 89 years of public service.
The Chief Minister asserted that the parliamentary functioning of the Odisha State Assembly is among the best in India. He noted that the Assembly held 62 meetings between June 2024 and June 2025 and set a record by debating the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2024 for 12 hours and 25 minutes.
Highlighting the state’s leadership in digital transformation, Shri Majhi mentioned several technological initiatives in the Odisha Legislative Assembly, including the full implementation of the National e-Vidhan application, OSWAS for e-governance, creating a fully digital house, and the use of AI for research and indexing. He proudly informed the delegates that the Odisha Legislative Assembly has won the National Award for Excellence in Digital Applications.
Emphasizing the vital function of various parliamentary committees, the Chief Minister stated that 25 committees, including 10 departmental standing committees, have been constituted in Odisha. He described these committees as a “mini-parliament” working to ensure better governance. The Chief Minister also mentioned the state’s commitment to inclusive governance, evidenced by the successful recent hosting of the National Conference of Chairpersons of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Committees.
Shri Majhi also spoke of Odisha’s cultural richness, describing the state as the cultural hub of eastern India. The foreign delegates, who had earlier visited heritage sites like Puri, Konark, and Dhauli, highly appreciated Odisha’s heritage and hospitality.
Rajya Sabha MP Shri Sujit Kumar, present on the occasion, remarked that the Odisha Legislative Assembly has emerged as a national model in the global democratic environment, representing discipline, constructive debate, and technological innovation. He added that the internship program offers a rare opportunity for young global delegates to learn about India’s unique parliamentary tradition.
Kerimguly Gurbangulyyevich Geldiyev, a Member of Majlis (Parliament) of Turkmenistan representing the internship program, commended Odisha’s dedication to transparency and digital reforms in democracy and expressed that the program would be a memorable experience for all delegates.
Also present at the event were Chief Secretary Shri Manoj Ahuja, Development Commissioner Smt. Anu Garg, Additional Chief Secretary (Parliamentary Affairs) Shri Surendra Kumar, Secretary, Odisha Legislative Assembly Shri Satyabrat Raut, Director PRIDE Shri Prashant Mallick, and senior officers of the Chief Minister’s Office.