Peeved over some Elders not attending the parliamentary proceedings during the Session even when they are in the national Capital, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday urged the MPs to come to the House to enrich their knowledge and be present during their allotted standing committee meetings.
Making this point when the Upper House met for the first day of the second half of the budget session, he appealed to the members to be present to enhance understanding of parliamentary procedures and also use the library facility.
Naidu said he was told that some members do not attend the proceedings even when they are in the national capital. He, however, made it clear that he was not referring to any particular member or any party. “I appeal to all the members, please make it a point to be in the House and then observe debates, enrich your knowledge,” he said.
“The Parliament Library is completing 100 years this year. It has a huge collection of about 14 lakh books including hundreds of journals in all languages. I am told that the footfall of Members of Parliament in this source of information and knowledge is not very encouraging,” Naidu said, stressing that sufficient homework is required on the part of members to make quality contribution to debates and interventions.
Naidu also gave an account of the examination of the Demands for Grants for 2021-22 of various ministries undertaken by the eight Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committees of the Rajya Sabha during the three-week-recess after the first part of the ongoing Budget session of Parliament. He referred to several positives that emerged during the Budget scrutiny by the Committees of Rajya Sabha and some concerns as well.