Democratic tradition in our country traces its origin in the days of Rig Veda. Even in those days there were democratic institutions like 'Sabha' and `Samiti'. After independence the framers of our Constitution exercised a deliberate choice in favour of Parliamentary system of government. Parliamentary democracy entails decision-making through a process of structured discussion and debates. Future of a Parliamentary democracy largely depends on cultivating among the people values like divergence of views, tolerance of others' views, respect for the decision of the majority, care for the minority groups, etc. In order to imbibe the concepts of Parliamentary in the young mind and to acquaint them with Parliamentary Practices and produces the Fourth All India Whip Conference held at Bombay in 1966 recommended the introduction of Youth Parliament Competition Scheme in Educational Institutions. The Government of West Bengal introduced the Youth Parliament Scheme in 1994-95 in the form of West Bengal Youth Parliament Scheme in Educational Institutions.
The Scheme is now having the following components.
Youth Parliament Competition at School level starts at Block/Municipality level in districts and at Borough level in Kolkata Municipality Corporation. The next tier is District level and the final tier is the State Level.
In case of colleges, the competition starts at District Level and ends at the next level, that is, State Level. However, it is urged that schools and colleges hold competitions within the institutions.
The admissible strength is 15.
One team from each Block/Municipality/Borough.
One team from each district.
The Youth Parliament Quiz contest Programme is held to sensitize the students about the glorious history of the freedom struggle of the country and the working of the Indian polity.
Same as that for Youth Parliament Competition Programme.
Normally, one selected team from an institution represents it. But subject to the decision of the local Organizing Committee, more than one team from an institution may be allowed to participate in Block/Municipality/Borough Level Quiz Contest.
Two teams from each district may participate in the State Level Quiz Contest Programme.
From the year 2014-15, Parliamentary Affairs Department has introduced Extempore Speech Competition Programme to promote among students qualities like eloquence and oratory skills besides innovative and creative bent of imagination and quick presence of mind.
Same as that for Youth Parliament Competition Programme.
One from each institution.
Five minutes.
Students of classes from Class IX to Class XII of any Government/Government-aided school can participate in the school category and students of undergraduate classes of any Government/Government-aided college can participate in the college category of State Level Essay Competition.
Bengali/English/Urdu/Nepali/Hindi/Santhali.
1500 words.
Notice of State Level Essay Competition is published in leading newspapers through Information & Cultural Affairs Deptt. The Notice is also sent to the Director of Public Information, West Bengal and the district authorities like District Magistrates and District Inspectors of Schools (S.E.).
Eligible students of eligible educational institutions can directly send to the Department their writings along with a duly filled-in Information Sheet with the necessary certificate by the Head of the Institution at the bottom of the Information Sheet.
Detailed guidelines of these programmes can be found in the Guidelines of West Bengal Youth Parliament Competition Scheme in Educational Institutions published by Parliamentary Affairs Deptt. every year.
