Need to raise productivity: RS members.
Rajya Sabha members have sought that the sittings of Parliament be extended to a minimum of 120 days a year, and suggested that the salary and allowances of members who disrupted proceedings should be deducted on that particular day.
Congress MP Husain Dalwai said that while Jawaharlal Nehru used to sit for long hours when Parliament was in session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the House only for “15 minutes” on Thursdays (the Question Hour day for the PMO).
The members also discussed advancing working hours by an hour, to 10 a.m. Some of them expressed concern over frequent adjournments and disruptions, and said that the loss of working hours should be compensated either by adding more hours to that day or by working on additional days during a session.
The members expressed their opinion during a debate on a private member’s legislation — Parliament (Enhancement of Productivity) Bill, 2017, brought by Shiromani Akali Dal member Naresh Gujral to establish an effective system to prevent and address the decline in productivity of Parliament by an appropriate legal framework. Mr. Gujral, while moving the bill for consideration and passage, said, “We have seen that over the years, now Parliament hardly meets for 70 days in a year. Earlier, when the Rajya Sabha started to meet in 1952, Parliament would meet for over 100 days. ”
Congress member Jairam Ramesh said the Rajya Sabha must have a system of a special session of 15 days, in which all parties should discuss important national issues.
