Lucknow, Jan. 20 -- Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla on Monday underlined the crucial role of legislatures in strengthening democracy. He was addressing the 86th All India Presiding Officers' Conference, which was inaugurated at the Vidhan Bhavan complex here. The three-day national conference is being held with the theme 'Strong Legislature-Prosperous Nation' and has brought together presiding officers of legislatures from across the country on a single platform. All legislative assemblies in the country have become digital and paperless, with live telecast of proceedings ensuring direct access of information to the public, Birla said. He emphasised that maintaining public trust and credibility was the biggest responsibility of legislatures. Despite differences in political parties and ideologies, people expect their issues to be raised effectively in the House. Consensus and dissent, he said, were the real strengths of democracy, and India can take pride in being the world's largest democracy. Referring to the era of information technology and social media, Birla, in his keynote address, said public representatives were under constant scrutiny, making adherence to parliamentary decorum and discipline even more critical. Maintaining the credibility of legislatures, he noted, is a collective responsibility. He said platforms like AIPOC strengthen coordination among democratic institutions, promote policy harmony and improve governance. Presiding officers, he added, must ensure adequate opportunities for all members, especially new and young legislators, to raise public issues effectively....