Reacting on the request of diabetic MlAs irrespective of party line, Gujarat legislative Assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi decided to change the timings of the House.
As per the decision taken by the Speaker, the House will begin at 11 am instead of 12 noon. In the case of morning session, the House would begin the proceedings at 9.30 am instead of 8.30 am. Some MlAs suffering from diabetes had requested Trivedi to make changes in timings. Sources in the Assembly secretariat said that of the 182 MlAs in the 14th Gujarat Assembly at least 40 are diabetic that include few ministers too. Apart from diabetes, few MlAs are also suffering from hypertension and other health related issues. The MlAs had requested Trivedi to consider their diet and medication regimen which they require to follow.
According to Trivedi couple of ministers as well as few MlAs from ruling as well as Opposition parties was of the opinion that most of the MlAs would generally get read by 10 am but the House initiate in the noon and their time wasted without any reason.
It is worth mentioning that first time ever schedule of the House changed ever since the formation of Gujarat in May 1960. Sources in the assembly said that the factor of improved road network was also considered while changing the timings as earlier roads, especially of remote areas were in bad shape and hence MlAs of those constituencies needed to start in the wee hours to reach at Gandhinagar. However things changed now, said a senior official in the State Assembly secretariat. With the changed timing the work of the House would be completed by 4 pm instead of 5 pm.