Odisha MLAs to go digital with iPad in budget session

Bhubaneswar: The members of legislative assembly of Odisha will now go digital as they will be provided iPad in the upcoming budget session.

In an attempt to make proceedings of the House paperless, the decision has been taken to provide iPad to all the MLAs, said Assembly Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro.

The legislators can bring their iPads to the House. The IPad will be operational through Nevo technologies currently being used in the Parliament, he said.

The members can take part in the discussion, make reply, raise question and move notice online in the House. Breaking the age-old tradition, they will be provided e-budget book online instead of copies of budget. The legislators, who do not know operation of iPad, will be given training to improve their computer skills, he added.

According to reports, Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC) has been assigned to make WiFi services available in Assembly. The Government has also discussed with the BSNL in this regard. The process to upgrade the Assembly with WiFi is likely to be completed in one month.

Besides, facilities will be made inside Assembly for video conferencing through which the members of different committees can discuss with the state officials.

Notably, the budget session of Odisha Assembly is scheduled to begin from February 14. It will continue till April 9 in two phases. The 31-day budget session will begin with address of Governor Ganeshi Lal to the House. The annual budget for 2020-21 financial year will be tabled by Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari on Feb 18.

The first phase of the budget session will last from Feb 14 till Feb 26. The second phase will begin from March 11 and will continue till April 9 after a gap of 10 days.