Friday, February 4 2005 15:07 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Pune: Asking people of the country, particularly the youths, to join public life in a big way, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee yesterday (Feb 03, 2005) said efforts should be made to stop criminalisation of politics.

"Something should be done to check the entry of undesirable persons into the political system of our country," Chatterjee said after giving away the Bharat Asmita National Awards to four recipients in Pune.

Expressing regret over behaviour of some of the MPs in Parliament, the Lok Sabha Speaker said that it was decided in the Winter Session to telecast live the parliamentary proceedings on two channels.

The basic idea behind telecasting live the proceedings was to rein in those members who were uncharitable in their temper and also to make people aware about the performance of their representatives in Parliament, Chatterjee said.

Saying that pursuit of excellence should be made a national motto, he said people should continue to create new benchmarks of excellence and break new grounds of opportunities for various sections of the society.

Calling for synergy of Government and civil society so as to take the country to great heights, Chatterjee said that despite new ideas and great programmes, India has failed to realise its real developmental potential in last six decades and therefore to check corruption and instil a sense of accountability, effective mechanisms should be put in place at every level of Governance.

Modern management practices needed to be initiated in public service and Government, he said adding that the management institutes should attempt to create a socialist conscientious professional who could assure growth with equity.