Bengaluru: The state government has plans to make biometric identification compulsory for members of various legislative committees constituted to assist the government in implementing programmes and policies on time.
"It is my thinking as several members come to meeting in the evening and append their signature to claim TA/DA. This defeats the very purpose of forming such committees", Legislative Assembly Speaker K.B. Koliwad told DC. He said this would be one of the suggestions which would be made to the Rules Committee to be formed soon.
The government constitutes several committees and appoint legislators as members since the Assembly or the Council do not have time to discuss every subject during the session.
The purpose of this is to help the government address several issues. Unfortunately, many members arrive at the fag end of the meetings, confirm their attendance and claim benefits without really participating in the deliberations.
"I suggest that members sign within 30 minutes after the meeting begins and stay on till the end. If we (legislators) do not sit through the meeting, how can we expect officers to be present the whole day", he wondered.
The Speaker said the practice of members marking their attendance in the evening has been continuing for quite some time and this needs to change. Perhaps, making attendance compulsory would address this problem, he said adding that the decision would be finalised only after it was approved by the panel concerned.
On several House committees taking years to submit their reports, Mr Koliwad said he would write to chairpersons of the committees on irregularities in power purchase, on the Nice project and on the working style of clubs in the state. The working of each committee is being reviewed every week. “I will convene a meeting of chairmen of the three House committees to know how much time they require to submit their final report.”
