Parliament Monsoon Session: Rajya Sabha Secretariat Sets Up Additional Screens, Seating Arrangements Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

In order to enable members to participate in debates and discussions and maintain the social distancing norms to avoid the potential transmission of novel Coronavirus, Rajya Sabha chamber and galleries and Lok Sabha chamber will be used for seating the members of the House during the monsoon session.

Photo Credit: PTI

Complying with the direction of the Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu for holding Monsoon Session with complete security amid Coronavirus pandemic, Rajya Sabha Secretariat has reportedly made full arrangements which are further expected to get completed by the third week of this month for the coming monsoon session of Parliament. As per the reports, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at a meeting on July 17, after detailed examination of options for holding Monsoon Session, decided on using chambers and galleries of both Houses for enabling the session under prevailing restrictions. In order to enable members to participate in debates and discussions and maintain the social distancing norms to avoid the potential transmission of novel Coronavirus, Rajya Sabha chamber and galleries and Lok Sabha chamber will be used for seating the members of the House during the monsoon session. As per the reports, 60 members will be allotted seats in the chamber and 51 in the galleries of Rajya Sabha, leaving out the first row. The remaining 132 will be seated in the Lok Sabha Chamber. Moreover, four large (85 inches) display screens in the chambers, six smaller (40 inches) screens and audio consoles in the four galleries, and to transmit real-time audio-visual signals and communications consoles will be set up. Speaking on the preparedness, Rajya Sabha Secretariat reportedly said, "Rajya Sabha Chairman directs full preparedness by third week of August for Monsoon session of Parliament. Work is in progress at fast pace for ensuring several additional installations in prescribed time like four large display screens in the chamber of the House." Some media reports have mentioned that there are also proposals to install an ultraviolet irradiation system in the air-conditioning unit of the Rajya Sabha to kill germs and viruses. The secretariat officials have also been directed to minimize the need for the members to physically handle various papers by ensuring necessary arrangements.