In an effort to make Parliament paperless, Speaker Om Birla has introduced electronic attendance for Lok Sabha members. Starting today, MPs attending the winter session can mark their attendance using digital pens on electronic tablets placed at four counters in the Lok Sabha lobby. This initiative aims to modernize processes and reduce paper usage.
Traditional attendance registers will still be available, but MPs are encouraged to use the electronic option. The Lok Sabha Secretariat explained that members can select their names from a dropdown menu, sign with the digital pen, and press the 'submit' button to confirm attendance. Engineers from the National Informatics Centre will be present at each counter to assist with any technical issues.
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The winter session of Parliament begins today and will run until December 20. Sixteen bills, including the Waqf Amendment Bill, are scheduled for discussion. However, there will be no session on November 26, as it is Constitution Day.
The Opposition plans to raise issues like violence in Manipur and allegations of bribery involving the Adani Group. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has stated that the government is ready to discuss any topic brought forward in Parliament.
This initiative follows earlier efforts to modernize attendance, which included using a mobile app. Attendance is crucial for MPs to receive their daily allowance during sessions. The introduction of digital tablets is expected to streamline the process while contributing to a greener Parliament.