Lok Sabha to make 'paperless' push, Speaker Om Birla lists digitization initiatives

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on July 31 announced that efforts will be made to make the House paperless, a step which will help save crores of rupees.

As part of the initiative, members would have an option to choose to have their documents in digital or paper form, he said. During the Zero Hour, Om Birla told members that less paper should be used as it would also help in preserving trees.

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The newly-elected Speaker told the members that various new initiatives will be taken to improve the functioning of the House and announced that Lok Sabha will become paperless from the next session onwards. It will save crores of rupees, he said. However, he assured the House that if any member needed paper he or she would be provided.

We should go completely digital. We will give an option form to members who can chose whether they want to go digital or not. I am hopeful that we will set an example for the rest of the country," Om Birla told the House soon after the Zero Hour got over adding that card payments or digital payments should be made for any purchase in the canteen.

Seeking opinion of the members, the Speaker said the House cannot be made paperless in one day and efforts should be made in this regard. The Lok Sabha should be known as a paperless House as crores of rupees are spent on printing papers, he added.

Trinamool Congress member Kalyan Banerjee said the objective is very laudable but it should be ensured that Wi-Fi is available all the time.

The Speaker said a system is being put in place wherein the name, party and constituency along with allotted time would be displayed on the screen in the House when they are speaking.

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