Members have to make sure conformity with bodily distancing norms. (File)
New Delhi:
The MPs attending Parliamentary Standing Committee conferences must sit six toes aside, and no more than two witnesses from the ministry involved can seem earlier than the panel at a time.
That is a part of the eight-point protocol set by the Rajya Sabha secretariat maintaining in thoughts the COVID-19 pandemic, forward of the conferences of the Standing Committees on Science and Know-how and Residence Affairs on July 10 and 15 respectively.
The assembly of the Standing Committee on Residence Affairs was convened by its chairman Anand Sharma on June three, however it needed to be known as off as members expressed their incapacity to attend it in view of the prevailing state of affairs because of the pandemic.
As members had been dealing with problem in attending the panel conferences as a result of journey and quarantine restrictions, Congress chief Jairam Ramesh, who’s the chairman of the Standing Committee on Science and Know-how, Atmosphere and Local weather Change, has written to Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu to permit digital participation of members within the assembly.
The 2 presiding officers of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha had earlier deliberated on the problem of holding digital panel conferences. Nonetheless, they haven’t given their approval for it as a result of present guidelines that require adjustments by the Guidelines Committee of Parliament and a decision by the Home, in keeping with sources.
The Rajya Sabha has eight Division Associated Parliamentary Standing Committees of the Home, of which two are chaired by Congress leaders Anand Sharma and Jairam Ramesh.
“Revered M Venkaiah Naidu garu, Standing Committee on Science & Know-how is scheduled to satisfy on July 10th. MPs throughout events have requested for digital sitting of Committee to debate S&T points associated to COVID-19. I hope you’ll enable. The place there may be will, there may be ability (sic),” Mr Ramesh mentioned on Twitter.
In his letter to the Chairman, Mr Ramesh mentioned the panel will talk about ongoing S&T associated points regarding COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing and future S&T programmes to boost resilience and capability to cope with such crises.
“Many members of the Committee have expressed their incapacity to attend this assembly due to journey restrictions, quarantine and different constraints. I’m uncertain if we will muster up a quorum.
“However each member regardless of get together affiliation has requested for a digital sitting of the Committee. Certainly, this may be organized – a lot of different nations have held even full Parliament classes in a digital mode. I as soon as once more request you to permit digital conferences of the Standing Committees,” he mentioned.
As per the protocol for conferences of Rajya Sabha Committees, members have to make sure conformity with bodily distancing norms.
Rajya Sabha Secretariat had mentioned the protocol to be adopted on Might 28, anticipating conferences of some Committees after restrictions on home air journey had been eliminated on Might 25.
Officers mentioned the problem once more and introduced the up to date protocol forward of the 2 scheduled conferences.
“Members of the Committee to be seated at a distance of 6 toes and applicable preparations to be made to accommodate the utmost doable participation.
“Solely two witnesses from the Ministry/Division showing earlier than the Committee for proof could be allowed at a time and if extra variety of witnesses had been to be examined, it could be completed in turns.
There isn’t a restriction on the variety of witnesses to be examined by the Committees,” the brand new protocol mentioned.
It additionally said that materials associated to the conferences could be provided to members as tender copies, and reporters might be accommodated within the nicely of the Committee Rooms for taking verbatim word of the proceedings of the Committees.
Whereas participation of officers associated to the Committees might be restricted, the participation of members within the conferences could be ascertained prematurely in order to make sure crucial logistics.
Hand Sanitizers, disposable masks and gloves for the members, witnesses, officers and employees of the Secretariat might be ensured on the entrance of the Committee Rooms and their attendance will even be taken exterior underneath the brand new protocols, the sources mentioned.
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