LUCKNOW: In a first, the UP Vidhan Sabha proceedings are set to be streamed live on various social media platforms, including YouTube and Facebook.
Thanks to the e-Vidhan system, the transition will come into effect on May 23 when the Assembly convenes its budget session – first time since the BJP returned to power for the second consecutive term in March. The MLAs and UP ministers will get the feel of the new system on May 21-22.
Speaker Satish Mahana said the e-Vidhan system would allow people to ascertain the performance of their MLAs in the assembly. “Our aim is to bring in transparency and efficiency,” he said, after chairing an all-party meeting at the Vidhan Sabha on Wednesday.
The development comes more than a year after Yogi Adityanath’s government, during its first tenure, turned the state cabinet meetings paperless. The UP budget was also made paperless days later.
The e-Vidhan system has already been implemented in Kerala and Himachal Pradesh.
Mahana said that the e-Vidhan system would allow the UP Vidhan Sabha to get connected with other state assemblies. This will be a part of Digital India’s National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) which has been conceptualized by the Union parliamentary affairs ministry.
The seat of every MLA will be pre-decided in the assembly and ministers and legislators will be able to participate in the proceedings only by logging in from the tablet installed on their seats.
The number of seats in the assembly, too, are proposed to be increased from the existing 379 to 403, which is the full strength of the Vidhan Sabha. This means that 24 additional seats are proposed to be installed, essentially for ministers who are otherwise part of the Vidhan Parishad.
The members will also have a touch screen device on their desk which will allow them access to various documents, including bills, budget and questions raised by the members, and the answers received from treasury benches.
The Vidhan Sabha secretariat is also in the process of setting up a video-conferencing studio through which the MLAs and officials will be able to interact with their counterparts in other states.
Officials said the e-Vidhan system will be made effective in two phases. In phase 1, emphasis will be on digital legislature, making available all the questions, notices, and reports, bill management system, webcasting, and a portal for members. The second phase will focus on digital archives, library automation, and e-constituency.
Notification for Budget session issued
The UP VIdhan Sabha on Wednesday issued the notification for convening of the budget session on May 23. This will be the first session of the 18th Legislative Assembly since BJP returned to power. On the first day, a meeting of members of both the Houses will be held which will be addressed by Governor Anandiben Patel. Before that, MLAs will be provided training on the e-Vidhan system on May 21-22.
