Chandigarh: Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather on Tuesday said that the vision of Viksit Bharat is ultimately a vision of empowered citizens, effective institutions and responsible leadership, where every citizen becomes a stakeholder in national progress and every legislator an agent of positive transformation.
Rather made these remarks while addressing a two-day conference of the CPA India Region Zone-II in Chandigarh in the presence of Om Birla, Harivansh, Harvinder Kalyan, presiding officers and legislators from across the region.
Speaking on the theme, “Role of Aware Society and Legislators in Realising Future Challenges and Goal of Viksit Bharat–2047,” Rather said India is moving confidently towards becoming a global leader in economic growth, innovation, governance, sustainability and human development.
He said no national vision can be realised by governments alone, asserting that the true architects of a developed nation are its citizens and the true custodians of democratic aspirations are its legislators.
“A democracy flourishes when citizens are informed, engaged and conscious of both their rights and responsibilities,” he said, adding that an aware society is not merely one that participates in elections but one that actively contributes to public discourse, respects constitutional values, upholds social harmony and remains vigilant in safeguarding democratic institutions.
The Speaker observed that while technological advancement has empowered citizens, it has also created challenges in the form of misinformation, polarisation and declining trust in institutions. He stressed the need for access to credible information, critical thinking and civic education.
“As legislators, it is our responsibility to strengthen democratic literacy, promote transparency, make governance more accessible and accountable, and encourage a culture where citizens are informed participants rather than passive observers,” he said.
Highlighting the role of youth in nation-building, Rather said India’s greatest strength lies in its young population and that young legislators bring energy, innovation, technological understanding and contemporary perspectives to democratic institutions.
He noted that young lawmakers understand the aspirations of entrepreneurs, students and emerging generations and can serve as a bridge between traditional governance structures and the expectations of a modern society.
“They can introduce innovative policy solutions, encourage citizen participation through technology and make democratic institutions more responsive and inclusive,” he said.
The Speaker also highlighted several emerging challenges facing the country, including climate change, environmental sustainability, technological disruption, ethical use of artificial intelligence, employment generation, future skills development, urbanisation, cybersecurity, data protection and social cohesion.
He stressed that addressing these challenges requires anticipatory governance, with legislators proactively studying emerging trends and formulating adaptive, resilient and future-oriented policies.
Rather said the journey towards Viksit Bharat requires collective commitment to quality education, skill development, good governance, institutional accountability, innovation, entrepreneurship, social inclusion and equitable development, adding that the legislative community has a central role in advancing these priorities.
Referring to Jammu and Kashmir, he said the region has witnessed the transformative impact of citizen participation, youth engagement and developmental initiatives.
“Our young people increasingly aspire to become innovators, entrepreneurs, professionals and public representatives. Their enthusiasm and determination reflect the spirit of a confident and forward-looking India,” he said.
The Speaker emphasised that the success of Viksit Bharat will not be measured solely by economic indicators or infrastructure projects, but by the strength of democratic institutions, awareness among citizens, participation of youth and inclusiveness of development.
