Hon’ble Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, Shri Thomas A. Sangma, on Wednesday held an interaction session with student interns from various colleges in Shillong as part of the 120-hour internship programme under the National Education Policy (NEP).
The interaction session was organised by the Law Department of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly and was attended by Shri Malthus S. Sangma, Secretary, Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, Dr. Andrew Simons, Adviser (Legislation), Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, and other senior officers of the Assembly Secretariat.
A total of 40 fifth-semester students from St. Anthony’s College (Economics), St. Edmund’s College (Political Science), Shillong Commerce College (Political Science), Synod College (Commerce and Political Science), and K.L. Bajoria College (Political Science) participated in the session. The students are currently undergoing their internship with the Law Department of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.
The interaction provided the interns with an opportunity to engage directly with the Hon’ble Speaker on a wide range of subjects relating to the functioning of the Legislature, parliamentary procedures, governance, policymaking, and the legislative process. Students also posed questions on the constitutional role of the Speaker, parliamentary practices, and contemporary issues relating to public life.
Speaking after the interaction, Hon’ble Speaker Shri Thomas A. Sangma said the internship programme offers students valuable exposure to the functioning of the Legislative Assembly and enables them to understand how governance, policymaking, debates, and the passage of Bills take place in the House.
He informed that nearly 90 students from different colleges have joined the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly as interns under the National Education Policy, with interaction sessions being conducted in batches to facilitate meaningful engagement.
The Hon’ble Speaker further said students had asked several insightful questions, including one on the most challenging aspect of presiding over the House. He said that rather than any particular rule being difficult, the greater responsibility of the Chair is to ensure that every elected member is given a fair opportunity to speak and that every voice in the House is heard with impartiality.
The Hon’ble Speaker further added that such internship programmes help students understand not only the functioning of democratic institutions but also the importance of listening to others, respecting differing opinions, and working towards consensus in the larger public interest. He noted that these values are essential life skills irrespective of the profession students eventually pursue.
Sharing his message for the youth, Shri Thomas A. Sangma said young people should always strive to place the interests of society above personal interests. He encouraged students aspiring to enter public life to first complete their education, remain connected to the aspirations of the people, and uphold the values of integrity, service, and responsible leadership.
Following the interaction, several students described the session as enriching and inspiring. One student who raised a question on VIP culture said the Hon’ble Speaker’s response offered a meaningful perspective on leadership and public office. Another student said the most memorable lesson from the interaction was the Speaker’s observation that although the office is called the “Speaker,” the responsibility of the Chair is, above all, to listen attentively to the voices of the Members of the Legislative Assembly—an enduring principle of parliamentary democracy.
