Sansad Ratna Awards: Advocate Priyadharshni Rahul on Transparency and Merit in Parliament

 

In this detailed conversation, Advocate Priyadharshni Rahul demystifies the Sansad Ratna Awards, an initiative started in 2010 based on the suggestion of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam to recognise top-performing Members of Parliament. She emphasizes that the awards are not a government function but a Civil Society initiative aimed at fostering healthy competition and strengthening Indian democracy [01:28, 07:15].

Advocate Priyadharshni Rahul clarifies the transparency of the selection process, which is entirely data-driven based on parliamentary records such as attendance, participation in debates, and the number of Private Members' Bills introduced [08:22, 18:28]. She explains that the Jury Committee, currently co-chaired by former Chief Election Commissioner Shri T.S. Krishnamurthy, maintains absolute neutrality, ensuring that awards are given irrespective of political party lines [05:32, 17:36].

A major point of the discussion is why Tamil Nadu MPs have occasionally missed out. Advocate Priyadharshni Rahul notes that while the spirit of performance in the Tamil Nadu contingent is often extraordinary, the awards are strictly bound by the brim of performance data. She highlights that many MPs now reach out to the committee to understand how they can improve their parliamentary productivity [19:15, 20:25].

Beyond the awards, Advocate Priyadharshni Rahul discusses the Next Gen Political Leaders (NGPL) initiative, which provides online training from sitting ministers, bureaucrats, and judges to encourage ethical political participation among the youth [27:48, 28:13]. As the first woman to chair the foundation, she also touches upon the unique struggles women face in politics, asserting that reaching the pinnacle of parliamentary success often requires ten times the effort for a woman compared to her male counterparts [29:56, 32:17].