Only 30 MLAs to be allowed inside the Central hall
In view of the spike in COVID-19 cases, authorities of Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the forthcoming daylong Assembly session scheduled on July 30 passes off smoothly.
As part of the precautionary measures and taking into consideration the standard operating procedure (SOP) and other COVID protocols in place, special seating arrangements are being made, especially considering the fact that 43 of the 60 legislators are in the age group of 50 to 86, considered vulnerable.
As per sitting arrangements, only 30 MLAs would be accommodated at the Central Hall of the Assembly building, while the remaining would have to take seat at the officers’ gallery following the social distancing norm.
Interacting with media persons here on Thursday, NLA speaker Sharingain Longkumer said a letter addressed to both the leader of the house and leader of the opposition was dispatched on Wednesday communicating the names of members that would be accommodated at the officers’ gallery.
He said despite the COVID-19 pandemic, constitutional requirements had to be fulfilled and thus NLA commissioner secretary Dr Antony, who was a member of Lok Sabha secretariat, had communicated how other States Assemblies were conducting their business during this pandemic. Longkumer said other States were conducting Assembly sessions to fulfil the constitutional requirements and at the same time taking necessary precautions in view of the pandemic, adding that some States were even holding the sessions with a quorum. But Nagaland being a small State, he explained that it was decided to hold session with participation of all 60 members.
He said though the Central Hall had 30 benches with a capacity to accommodate two members per bench, only one member would be allowed on one bench this time to ensure social distance. In this regard, only 30 MLAs– 17 from Treasury bench and 13 from the Opposition bench will be allowed inside the Central hall, the remaining will be accommodated at the officers’ gallery.
“While 43 legislators in the 60-member House are between 50 and 86 years, seven among them are between 70 and 86 years. As COVID poses more threat to the elderly people, the special sitting arrangement has been decided,” he explained.
The speaker further explained that as presence of more than 500 government officials and security personnel for two-three days would pose a greater risk of spreading the virus, it was decided to hold the session for one day only.
Mentioning that four to five medical teams would be engaged for the session, he said one team would be at the main gate, another for security personnel, body guards and drivers, two teams for the MLAs and one outside along with watch-and-ward team to ensure that crowding did not take place.
He said opposition MLAs had suggested discussions on COVID situation, Naga political issue and SARFAESI Act during the Business Advisory Council (BAC) meeting held recently, besides listing of 27 questions. He said the 27 questions were mostly related to COVID, school education, national highways, etc.
To make judicious use of the time and in the interest of governance he said a full one-hour question hour was committed, besides the obituary references. He informed the media after obituary references at 9:05 am, the question hour would begin at 9:30 am.
Stating that the request to discuss COVID-19 was accepted in principle at the BAC meeting and a full one-hour discussion had been scheduled by allocating 35 minutes to the Opposition and 25 minutes to the Treasury bench, the speaker claimed that the matter had been communicated through the July 22 letter to leader of the house and leader of opposition.
On the Naga political issues, he said communication had been relayed to discuss the matter at the Joint Legislators’ Forum (JLF), which was proposed to be held after the Assembly session on the same day, subject to confirmation from the leader of the opposition (LoO).
He explained that after receiving a confirmation from the LoO, he would convene a JLF meeting to discuss the Naga political issue and any other related matter.
The speaker clarified that while COVID and Naga political issue were accommodated, the demand for discussing SARFAESI Act was not accepted because, though the issue was pertinent, COVID was more important at the moment.
He also flatly rejected the plea to discuss the governor’s letter as the House was not expected to discuss about the constitutional head of the State.