Kohima: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will inaugurate the 22nd annual conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region Zone-III in Kohima on Monday, bringing together presiding officers and lawmakers from the eight Northeastern states for a two-day dialogue on governance, technology, and public engagement.
Speaking to reporters on his arrival in Dimapur on Sunday, Birla said the conference will explore new ways to make the lawmaking process more participatory in an era shaped by artificial intelligence and rapid digital transformation.
“The CPA conference will deliberate on ways to bring assembly proceedings closer to the people amid changes ushered in by the digital revolution,” he said.
Themed ‘Policy, Progress and People: Legislatures as Catalysts of Change’, the event will also address pressing environmental challenges, including the rise in cloudbursts and landslides across the Northeast, and discuss mitigation strategies.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, and Nagaland Assembly Speaker Sharingain Longkumer—who also chairs CPA India Region Zone-III—will be among the key dignitaries attending the conference.
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According to officials, the CPA Zone-III has played a pivotal role in promoting regional cooperation, strengthening parliamentary practices, and supporting initiatives like the Act East Policy and infrastructure development.
The region has been instrumental in advancing the India–ASEAN Vision for trade and cultural exchange, while advocating for accelerated connectivity and economic integration.
The conference will also showcase ongoing efforts to make legislative institutions more transparent and accessible through digitalisation and the National eVidhan Application (NeVA), which aims to modernise assembly proceedings and enhance citizen participation in governance.
