New Delhi: Parliament’s Budget Session will be held from January 31 to April 8 with a nearly month-long recess after the first half. The Union budget will be presented on February 1 and the President will address a joint sitting of both Houses.
The schedule has been announced amid a spike in Covid-19 cases and the session will coincide with the elections in five states, including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Uttarakhand. The last five Parliament sessions were curtailed due to the pandemic.
Officials said they were exploring options such as a staggered timetables for the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha and seating arrangements that take care of social distancing during the Budget Session.
“We are looking at various options. But the final decision will depend on the Covid situation towards the end of this month. The Lok Sabha Speaker and the Rajya Sabha chairman will meet around January 25 or 26 to decide how to run the session,” said an official, who did not want to be named. The official added it is unclear whether the session will face any curtailment amid the surge in Covid-19 cases as many lawmakers, key leaders, and officials of both Houses have contracted the disease.
More than 400 Parliament staff members have tested positive for Covid in the first week of the month, according to news agency ANI.
On Tuesday, Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla inspected the Parliament House Complex (PHC) to take stock of the health safety-related measures and other preparations.
Mr Birla directed officials to take special care of MPs above the age of sixty years and attend to their requirements in a proactive manner.
“We have made arrangements for testing and vaccination in the Parliament complex. It is true that a large number of officials in the Parliament have tested COVID positive. All the officials are fine. They are being monitored and taken care of by the doctors,” he said.
“I hope that all of our officials remain safe amid this situation of the spread of infection and also our members can discharge their duties properly. The Parliament is making all the arrangements,” he said.
This morning, India witnessed a 6.7 per cent jump in new Covid cases as it added 2.64 lakh new infections over the last 24 hours, the highest in 239 days. Deaths from Covid rose by 315, with total fatalities now at 485,350, the Health Ministry said.
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