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Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with Union Home Minister Amit Shah after Parliament approved the abrogation of special status given to J&K under Article 370, in the Lok Sabha, in New Delhi on Tuesday.[/caption]
New Delhi, Aug. 6 (PTI): Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday said it was the most productive session since 1952.
He was speaking before adjourning the House sine die.
The first session of the 17th Lok Sabha, which began on June 17, was to conclude on July 26, but it was extended till August 7.
The session had 37 sittings of total 280 hours, in which 36 bills were passed while 33 were introduced in the Lower House, Birla said.
He also mentioned that the House sat for 75 hours during late in the evening to transact the business.
He said 1,086 issues were raised by members mostly first timers during the Zero hour.
Out of the 265 first time members, 229 got chance to speak during the Zero Hour, while 42 out of 46 women MPs also spoke during the same period, he said.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi requested Speaker Om Birla to adjourn the proceedings sine die as “99 per cent” of the government business has been completed.
Rajya Sabha passes bill on NIDs
Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed a bill which seeks to declare four National Institutes of Design in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, and Haryana as institutions of national importance.
Currently, these institutes are registered as Societies under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and do not have the power to grant degrees or diplomas.
The National Institute of Design (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced in Rajya Sabha by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on July 30, 2019. It was passed by voice vote in the House. The Bill seeks to amend the National Institute of Design Act, 2014.
Replying on the Bill in the Rajya Sabha, Goyal assured the members that the autonomy of these institutes would be maintained.
He said, “Except at the time of appointment of member of governing councils, the government has no role to play. Nothing on these institutes come to me (for administration purpose). I am here only because of this bill. We want complete autonomy of the institutes.”
On the suggestion to give funds to private institutes of excellence, he said that government funds can be given for setting up government institutes of eminence. He also assured the members that the suggestion of roping in industry academia and consultancy with industry would be considered.