95 out of 244 MPs on parliamentary committees absent from all meetings: Naidu

As many as 95 MPs did t attend even a single meeting of parliamentary standing committees that reviewed allocations for different ministries post-presentation of Union Budget for 2020-21 fiscal, Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu said Monday.

two dozen department-related parliamentary standing committees, with 244 MPs from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, considered Demands for Grants of all ministries during three-week recess following Budget presentation.

Giving an account of meetings of se panels on opening day of Rajya Sabha after recess, Naidu said, "95 members, accounting for 39 per cent of total 244, did t attend any meeting on Demands for Grants. Only 28 members had zero attendance last time".

Of 78 Rajya Sabha MPs on se committees, 23, or 29 per cent, did t attend any meeting as against 11 such members in last review in December. Out of 166 Lok Sabha MPs, 78, or 47 per cent, were absent in all meetings of se panels against 72 MPs in last review, he said.

Naidu said since introduction of department-related parliamentary standing committees in 1993, substantial work of Parliament is being transacted by se panels which have members from all parties and work in a npartisan manner.

meetings of se panels make up for about 30 sittings of Parliament and fill void created by decline in number of days when Parliament meets -- on 60-70 days in a year from earlier 100 or more, he said, adding that three-week recess was meant for 24 department-related parliamentary standing committees to consider Demands for Grants of all Ministries as proposed in Budget presented on February 1.

" total number of members who skipped two or more successive meetings has increased from 100 last year to 106 w. se include 28 members from Rajya Sabha as in case of last review and 78 members from Lok Sabha, with an increase of six from last time," he said.

Naidu said exercise was to bring in more accountability and transparency in system so that Parliamentary functioning can improve.

"I would like to reiterate my appeal to leaders of all parties, floor leaders and members to ensure better attendance in meetings of Parliamentary Committees so that y do justice to mandate with which y have been conceived. This warrants qualitative and quantitative improvement," he said.

Naidu said out of 24 department-related parliamentary standing committees, 8 relating to Rajya Sabha saw 45.35 per cent attendance in 20 meetings held in budget recess.

"I am t happy on that count," he said. "Four of se eight Committees have reported attendance of more than 50 per cent, which is a positive sign. highest attendance of 65.51 per cent has been in meetings of Committee on Health and Family Welfare. I am also happy to inform that 19 of 29 members of this Committee attended each of three meetings of Committee. Lowest attendance of 32.25 per cent has been in respect of Committee on Commerce."

attendance of Rajya Sabha MPs at 52.57 per cent continues to be higher than that of Lok Sabha at 46.37 per cent.

"While overall attendance of members of BJP and Congress, accounting for a total of 142 members, has been much higher than 50 per cent, attendance of members from or parties, accounting for 102 Members, has been only about 40 per cent," he said.

Giving an account of working of committees in respect of Demands for Grants for 2020-21, he said 8 panels of Rajya Sabha held 20 meetings and discussed demands of 18 ministries over 63 hours, which equals to over 10 sitting of House.

Similarly, 16 Committees of Lok Sabha had ar 20 sittings of Parliament.

"In all, work put in by total 24 DRSCs in examining Demands for Grants of all Ministries equals to 30 days of functioning of Parliament, which is quite significant. That alone takes total sittings of Parliament during a year to over 100 days," he said.

As many as 87 MPs of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha out of 244 members of panels attended all meetings as compared to 36 MPs last year. " number of Members of Rajya Sabha with full attendance has increased from 18 last time to 28 w. In case of Lok Sabha members, increase in this regard has been from 18 last time to 59 w."

" first part of Budget Session has largely been purposeful with 96 per cent productivity," Naidu said. "I hope that this part of Session would prove to be even more meaningful."