Have Delhi Speakers Established House Panels for Senior Citizens' Welfare?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Formation of Special Committees to enhance senior citizens' welfare.
- Total of 35 House Panels established in four phases.
- Committees focus on marginalized communities and their specific needs.
- Commitment to responsive and equitable legislation emphasized by Speaker Gupta.
- Reflects evolving role of the Assembly in addressing social issues.
In New Delhi, on July 4, Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta declared the creation of Special Committees dedicated to the welfare of senior citizens alongside five additional House panels, which brings the total number of such MLA groups to 35, as confirmed by an official.
The newly formed panels, as outlined by Gupta, target vital issues including the welfare of senior citizens, peace and harmony, as well as the rights of transgenders and individuals with disabilities, among other significant areas.
These Special Committees have been established to enhance institutional frameworks and provide dedicated attention to the issues faced by marginalized and underrepresented groups, stated an official from the Assembly Secretariat.
The establishment of 35 House Committees has occurred in four stages: the first phase introduced 11 committees, the second phase added seven, the third phase introduced another 11, and the most recent phase unveiled six.
Gupta emphasized that with the introduction of these new Committees, the Assembly reaffirms its dedication to crafting responsive and fair legislation.
The six Special Committees designated for the financial year 2025-26 comprise the Special Committee on Salary and Other Allowances of Members of the Delhi Legislative Assembly, led by Abhay Kumar Verma.
Its members include Gajender Singh Yadav, Poonam Sharma, Raj Kumar Chauhan, Sanjeev Jha, Surya Prakash Khatri, Tarvinder Singh Marwah, Vishesh Ravi, and Chaudhary Zubair Ahmad.
Sanjay Goyal will chair the Special House Committee on Violations of Protocol Norms and Contemptuous Behavior by Government Officers with MLAs, comprising members such as Anil Goyal, Anil Jha, Anil Kumar Sharma, Jarnail Singh, Karnail Singh, Kulwant Rana, Om Prakash Sharma, and Surya Prakash Khatri.
The Special Committee on the Municipal Corporation of Delhi will be chaired by Ravinder Singh Negi, with members including Ajay Dutt, Aaley Mohammed Iqbal, Ashok Goel, Atishi, Kulwant Rana, Manoj Kumar Shokeen, Raj Kumar Bhatia, and Sandeep Sehrawat.
Chandan Kumar Choudhary has been appointed as the chairperson of the Special Committee on Peace and Harmony, with members comprising Aaley Mohammed Iqbal, Ashok Goel, Kulwant Rana, Manoj Kumar Shokeen, Neelam Pahalwan, Punardeep Singh Sawhney, Shyam Sharma, and Surya Prakash Khatri.
The Special Committee focusing on the welfare of senior citizens will be led by Tilak Ram Gupta, comprising members Jitender Mahajan, Kartar Singh Tanwar, Om Prakash Sharma, Pawan Sharma, Ram Singh Netaji, Satish Upadhyay, Umang Bajaj, and Veer Singh Dhingan.
Similarly, the Special Committee dedicated to the welfare of transgenders and persons with disabilities will be chaired by Karnail Singh, with members including Anil Goyal, Harish Khurana, Kailash Gahlot, Kailash Gangwal, Manoj Kumar Shokeen, Prem Chauhan, Shikha Roy, and Virender Singh Kadian.
Speaker Gupta remarked that the establishment of these Special Committees signifies the Assembly's adaptive role in confronting emerging challenges.
He stressed that these Committees serve not only as institutional frameworks but also as instruments of social accountability, designed to ensure that the issues of senior citizens, transgenders, individuals with disabilities, and other underserved groups receive dedicated legislative focus and timely action.