By Mumtaz Alam, India Tomorrow,

New Delhi/ Chennai, 25 Dec 2013: Handful are the Members of Parliament who seriously participate in a debate on the floor. In minority are also those who promptly and regularly attend sessions. They are saviours of the temple of democracy – they must be appreciated, they must be honoured. Like the last four years, this year also some top performing Members of Lok Sabha – the lower house of Indian Parliament – would be honoured with Sansad Ratna Award by Prime Point Foundation in collaboration with Ezines PreSense and New Gen Thamizhan.

“Every year, we give the awards based on the performance of Lok Sabha Members on the basis of (a) participation in debates, (b) introduction of private members bills, (c) raising questions and (d) attendance,” said the Chennai-based Prime Point Foundation.

Mr Ananda Rao Adsul (Shiv Sena), Mr Hansraj G Ahir (BJP), Mr S S Ramasubbu (Congress), Mr Arjun Ram Meghwal (BJP), Ms Rama Devi (BJP) have already received the Awards in the earlier years.

“This year, we have decided to honour the MPs who score more than 1000 points (debates + private bills + questions) with 'Sansad Ratna Award',” informed the foundation. 

What is the idea of Prime Point Foundation behind institution of Sansad Ratna Award? “The general perception of people about our politicians is that they are bad people. The youth of the country is losing hope. But there are good people also among our politicians and parliamentarians. And that’s why we should celebrate our democracy,” said K. Sriivasan, Chairman, Prime Point Foundation while talking to India Tomorrow.

“We instituted Sansad Ratna Award in 2010 to encourage the good performers and to inspire others,” said Mr. Sriivasan adding that his initiative has paid.

“After our awards, a section of the media started asking questions about low performers. Some MPs have contacted me to tell they are doing this and that and they have asked this number of questions etc.” Mr. Sriivasan said proudly.

This year, his team has finalised to honour all those Lok Sabha Members with a total tally of 1000 and above (Debates +private bills + Questions) during the 5 years period. As per the PRS India data released up to 10 Dec 2014, the following 8 Members have become eligible for 'Sansad Ratna 2014' Awards. These 8 MPs have already crossed 1000 score mark. Of eight, three have got the award for five years consecutively.

Lok Sabha MP from Hyderabad, Asaduddin Owaisi is among three new entrants in the list of awardees for 2014. He and other awardees have been invited to Chennai to receive the award. For last several years, Owaisi has led all Muslim MPs in participating in debates and asking questions.

Sansad Ratna Awardees 2014

5 years in a row

Mr Anandrao Adsul, Shiv Sena MP from Maharashtra

Mr Hansraj G Ahir, BJP MP from Maharashtra

Mr S S Ramasubbu, Congress MP from Tamil Nadu

3 years in a row

Mr Arjun Ram Meghwal, BJP MP from Rajasthan

2 years in a row

Mr Gajanan Dharmshi Babar, Shiv Sena MP from Maharashtra

MPs included in the current list

Mr Asaduddin Owaisi, AIMIM MP from Andhra Pradesh

Mr Pradeep Majhi, Congress MP from Orissa

Mr Shivaji Adhalrao Patil, Shiv Sena MP from Maharashtra

Form 2013, they have introduced a new category for women. “From 2013, we included the top performers under women category also. We plan to honour the top 3 women MPs based on the total tally with 'Sansad Mahila Ratna' Award,” it said.

Sansad Mahila Ratna Awardees for 2014 are Ms Supriya Sule, National Congress MP from Maharashtra, Ms Ratna Singh, Congress MP from Uttar Pradesh and Ms Rama Devi, BJP MP from Bihar. All the three won the award in 2013 also.

In 2013, they introduced Sansad Yuva Ratna Award for the young MPs. For 2014, Mr Pradeep Majhi (Congress MP from Orissa) has become eligible under this category as he has scored more than 1000 points.

Event for 2014 Award

The top performing MPs will be honoured on Saturday 15 Feb 2014 at Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. They have invited Mr Karia Munda, Deputy Speaker, Lok Sabha as the Chief Guest.

Website: www.sansadratna.in

------

Follow the writer on Twitter @MumtazAlam1978