Venkaiah Naidu bats for detailed legislative impact assessment for informed law-making

NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday made a strong pitch for detailed legislative impact assessment (LIA) to bring out social, economic, environmental and institutional impacts of legislative proposals for informed law making in the country.
He said that it would be useful to indicate such impact assessment in the legislative proposals for wider dissemination among all the stakeholders.
The Rajya Sabha chairman elaborated the need for such impact assessment while referring to legislative process in the country during his address to 151 officials who have recently joined the Rajya Sabha secretariat.
It was for the first time that the Rajya Sabha chairman interacted with the new recruits on joining the secretariat.
Venkaiah Naidu said that inter-ministerial consultations are held before the Cabinet considers and approves legislative proposals but the scope for undertaking and indicating the impact of such proposals is limited in the present context.
"Informed legislation will help in realising the stated objects of various laws and this requires a detailed impact assessment of legislation at the stages of both pre-legislation and post-legislation. An account of pre-legislative impact assessment could be included either in the Bill or as an annexure to the Bill," he said.

Elaborating on his suggestion, Venkaiah Naidu said that social impact assessment could indicate the social changes that flow from the implementation of a particular law while the economic impact assessment could throw light inter-alia on to what extent a legislation can address the existing inequity.
"Environmental impact assessment of each law proposed is the need of the hour in the context of the serious nature of climate change concerns. It is also necessary to assess the additional demands that will be placed on the existing executive and judicial institutions by the implementation of new laws," he said.
Referring to the legislative impact assessment being undertaken by some OECD countries to good effect, he said: “As the largest and vibrant democracy of the world, it is time that we do take a serious look at such impact assessment for ensuring more informed legislation. I am, hence, making this proposal for wider discussion and consideration by all the stakeholders."
In his interaction with the 151 new recruits, Venkaiah Naidu urged them to enjoy the work and workplace and also gave them 7 tips for making their work a joyous experience.
Secretary general Desh Deepak Verma, secretary P P K Ramacharyulu and other senior officials of Rajya Sabha Secretariat were present on the occasion.