M Venkaiah Naidu wants Rajya Sabha MPs to be physically present

NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu has directed his secretariat to explore options to maximise physical participation of members in the monsoon session of Parliament even while following precautionary measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
At his Friday meeting with officials, it was concluded that 127 RS MPs can be accommodated in the RS chamber while following physical distancing norms if galleries were included for seating members. The Upper House has a strength of 242 members at present. Arrangements would have to be made for the remaining 115 members.

Naidu held an hour long meeting with the Rajya Sabha secretariat where the officials were directed to draw up appropriate plans based on strength of parties or any other effective criteria like list of members to be seated on a given day. Some parties are of the view that they be allowed to prepare a roster of members who will participate on which day.

The feasibility of seating MPs in the Balayogi auditorium at the Parliament library building was taken up at the meeting. This is in addition to the previous suggestion of using Parliament’s Central Hall. Members would be virtually linked from these two places to the RS chamber. The plan includes using all galleries of the Upper House, barring press enclosure. No guests would be allowed to visit Parliament House during the session.

“Limited virtual participation is being considered in view of the capacity constraints of NIC at present to enable such virtual participation of all MPs,” sources said, adding that Naidu emphasised in the meeting on upscaling capacities for larger virtual Parliament in future.

Guidelines are also being finalised for social distancing norms to be followed by the press. The meeting also discussed using display screens to display House proceedings for members participating virtually and others. Sources said the issue of Question Hour, voting, administering oath/affirmation, planning transportation as per social distancing norms and sanitisation were also discussed. Officials have been directed to submit an action plan by early next week.