Punjab House session commences today

Ruchika M Khanna

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Chandigarh, June 23

Punjab’s Budget session that begins on Friday will be remembered for introducing two new initiatives in the House — presentation of a paperless Budget on June 27, and, regulation of the Zero Hour.

Bills, announcements on cards

• One MLA, One Pension Bill and another on regularisation of contractual employees against vacant government posts are expected to be tabled in the Assembly
• In the maiden Budget of the AAP government, it is expected that provisioning will be made for 300 units of free power; upgrade of public school and health infrastructure

As the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Opposition prepare to debate on several pertinent issues — the former on highlighting its stand against corruption and nabbing of some accused politicians and the latter taking on the government over the law and order situation — the session is expected to be volatile. The outcome of the Sangrur bypoll held today will also determine the course of politics in the House during this session.

Obituary reference to Sidhu Moosewala

The House will pay tribute to slain singer Sidhu Moosewala, whose name has been included for obituary references in the House proceedings for Friday

In the maiden Budget of AAP, to be presented by Harpal Cheema, it is expected that provisioning will be made for some of the pre-poll doles announced by the government, including 300 units of free power; upgradation of public school and health infrastructure; and promoting startups. A summarisation of the fiscal policies of the previous governments, that has landed Punjab in poor fiscal health, will also be made by the ruling party. Important Bills — One MLA, One Pension and on regularisation of contractual employees against vacant government posts are also expected to be tabled in the House.

Officials in the Vidhan Sabha told The Tribune that the Finance Department had sought the permission to present a paperless Budget. All Budget documents are to be uploaded on a mobile application that is being developed by the department, and no paper copies of any Budget documents are to be distributed to members in the House.

“We are going to provide access to high-speed internet to all members in the Vidhan Sabha, so they may download the application and read it online,” said a senior officer in the Vidhan Sabha Secretariat. The proceedings of the House will also be telecast live on the social media handles of the state government.

Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan has already said the intended regulating the Zero Hour, and all issues raised by members during the period would warrant an answer from the government. This is also the first time that a sitting of the House is proposed for — which is generally a holiday during the course of a session. The government has proposed double sittings of the House session, which ends on June 30.