RS Secretariat working overtime to hold Monsoon Session of Parliament in compliance with social distancing norms

Since the forthcoming Monsoon Session will be the first of its kind to be held with adherence to coronavirus induced restrictions, several additional installations like four large display screens in the chamber of the House, another six small screens in the four galleries of the House, audio consoles in the galleries, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, special cables connecting the two Houses for transmission of audio-visual signals, polycarbonate sheet separating the Official Gallery from the chamber of the House etc are being set up in compliance with the direction of the Chairman.

The chambers and the galleries of both the Houses will be used for holding the session for the first time since in the history of Indian Parliament since 1952, 

At a meeting on July 17, Rajya Sabha Chairman  M Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, after detailed examination of various options for holding the monsoon session, decided on using the chambers and galleries of both the Houses for enabling the monsoon session while sticking to the prevailing restrictions.

Subsequently, senior officials of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat held detailed discussions with all concerned agencies and firmed up the special arrangements to be made and they are being worked upon.

Naidu directed to ensure all arrangements to be in place by the third week of this month for testing, rehearsal and final inspection.

As per the arrangements firmed up, Rajya Sabha chamber and galleries and Lok Sabha chamber will be used for seating the members of the House during the monsoon session.

This includes 60 members in the chamber and 51 in the galleries of Rajya Sabha (leaving out the first row) as per the social distancing norm and the remaining 132 (including bye-polls for two seats) in the chamber of Lok Sabha.

Various parties will be allotted seats in the chamber and galleries of Rajya Sabha based on respective strength and the remaining will be seated in the chamber of Lok Sabha in two blocks meant for ruling parties and the others.

In the Rajya Sabha chamber, seats will be earmarked  for the Prime Minister, Leader of the House, Leader of the Opposition and leaders of other parties.

Former Prime Ministers and former Leaders of the House Manmohan Singh and  H.D. Deve Gowda besides Ramvilas Paswan and Ramdas Athawale, being Ministers and members of the House will also have earmarked seats in the chamber of the House. Other ministers will sit on chairs meant for the ruling party.

Placards will indicate the parties accommodated in each gallery of the Rajya Sabha.

Seating in the Officials Gallery and Press Gallery will also be in conformity with social distancing norms, each accommodating 15 people. 

Only a limited number of secretariat officials will be seated at the Table of the House and the Reporters (for taking verbatim note of proceedings of the House) will be accommodated in the  special box meant for foreign dignitaries.

The three interpretation booths of Rajya Sabha will be integrated with audio systems for simultaneous interpretation for the benefit of the members seated in both the Houses.

RSTV and LSTV, through their existing arrangements in both the Houses, will enable live telecast of the proceedings of the two Houses besides displaying the proceedings of each of the Houses on the screens in the other House.

Rajya Sabha Chairman  M.Venkaiah Naidu also directed the secretariat officials to minimize the need for the members to physically handle various papers by ensuring necessary arrangements.