The Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committees (DRSCs) of Rajya Sabha have reported a marked improvement in their functioning in respect of duration of meetings and attendance during 2019-20, as per an analysis done by the Parliament of functioning of its eight committee.
The secretariat has analysed the functioning of the Committees of Rajya Sabha during the last three years as desired by the Chairman M.Venkaiah Naidu. Naidu has been regularly reviewing the functioning of these committees and shared some of his concerns with the Chairmen of these committees.
“The average attendance in the total 117 meetings of these 8 committees comes to 49.20 % during 2019-20, again the best of the last 3 years. The average attendance crossed the halfway mark with 50.73% for the first time during the first half of 2019-20,” said a Parliament source.
It has, however, come down to 41.15% in the meetings held in the second half during the pandemic period, marking a decline of over 9.50%. However, the committees met for an average duration of 2 hours 23 minutes during the pandemic.
During this year, the number of meetings held with attendance of 50% or more members in each committee increased to 46.15% of the total as against 14% and 30% during the previous two years respectively. The number of meetings held without the required quorum has declined to 10% this year, the lowest of the last 3 years.
These 8 committees met for a total duration of 254 hours 27 minutes this year, the longest of the last 3 years. During the 3 year period of 2017-20, the 8 committees of Rajya Sabha held a total of 300 meetings over a duration of 571 hours 22 minutes. The 3 year average duration of meetings has been 1 hr 54 minutes and the average attendance being 45.35%.
During 2019-20, the Committee on Home Affairs met for the longest duration of 47 hours 27 minutes followed by the Committee on Health & Family Welfare-42 hrs 22 minutes and the Committee on HRD-40 hrs 44 minutes.
During 2017-20, the Committee on HRD met for the longest duration of 100 hrs 05 minutes followed by Home Affairs -87.17, Transport, Tourism & Culture-80.11, Health & Family Welfare- 76.15, Commerce- 70.17, Science & Technology and Environment, Forests & Climate Change- 68.47, Pensions, Public Grievances, Law & Justice-52.19 hours and Industry-36 hours 11 minutes.