Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday said that digitisation of the State Vidhan Sabha will act as a cornerstone for enhancing the efficiency of the MLAs to raise the issues of public concern and for people to judge their performance. The Chief Minister while addressing the state assembly after the launch of National e-Vidhan Application said that it is a revolutionary step aimed at making the legislatures more effective and responsive.
He said that it is a matter of great pride and satisfaction that Punjab is the first Vidhan Sabha in the country to launch various applications in the country. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that his government has taken this step for the welfare of the common man and to make the MLAs updated.
The Chief Minister said that this system will play a key role in streamlining the work of the state legislative assembly thereby making Punjab as a frontrunner state in the country. He said that after making the proceedings of the Vidhan Sabha live, his government has taken this step to ensure that people are immensely benefited from it.
Bhagwant Singh Mann said that in future also every step will be taken for the well being of the state and prosperity of its people. The Chief Minister envisioned that MLAs of both the opposition and treasury banks would take mileage out of this initiative.
He expressed hope that this will pave the way for drafting and passing of the various pro-people bills in the coming times. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is a step further towards carving out a rangla and prosperous Punjab.
The Chief Minister further said that this is the dawn of a new era as the functioning of the State Legislative Assembly will be now totally paperless. He said that under the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) project it will be easier to trace decisions and documents as well as to share information for transparent and answerable processes.
Bhagwant Singh Mann said that more such efforts will be made to ensure that people are benefitted from it. The Chief Minister informed that attendance of esteemed members of Legislative Assembly will be marked in the house through this unique application.
He said that Punjab is the first state to adopt state of the art digitization process adding that time is changing by every passing day and we need to be updated in this prevailing world. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the people of the state will be able to access the information through this application and the members will get updated information about the proceedings on a single click on their I-Pads.
The Chief Minister said that this new system will end the obsolete paper system resulting in saving the trees, adding that the state government had already presented two paperless budgets for the sake of the environment. Bhagwant Singh Mann also recalled that when he went to Himachal Vidhan Sabha to watch the digitalization of Legislative proceedings where he had decided that if he got the chance then this system will be replicated in Punjab with ultra modern tools.
He said that now this dream has come true and we are delighted that we have not only replicated the system but our system is far more updated than the other states. Meanwhile the Chief Minister also inaugurated Punjab Vidhan Sabha Digital Wing apart from unveiling of Punjab Vidhan Sabha Website and NEVA Brochure besides the inauguration of NEVA Workshop.
He also started distribution of IPads to members and handed over IPads to Local Bodies Minister Balkar Singh and Deputy Speaker Jai Krishan Singh Rori. Earlier the Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha Kultar Singh Sandhwan while expressing satisfaction on the adoption of this unique application, made a brief outlook about the working of this system and said that this step will prove a game changer to save the environment as well as to provide accurate information in just a click.
Calling the present Assembly as the most educated and young assembly with 11 qualified doctors, 14 post graduates, 17 lawyers, he said that the NEVA Sewa Kendra has also been established here to impart training about this system to esteemed members. Sandhwan also informed that Inter Departmental Correspondence will also be converted into electronic mode soon.
On this occasion a workshop was also organized for MLAs to impart training about the working of this application.