New Delhi: Addressing the media persons at the conclusion of the Eighth Session of the Seventeenth Lok Sabha, Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla, informed that during this Session, a total of 27 sittings were held which lasted for about 177 hours 50 minutes.
Shri Birla further said that the overall productivity of the House stood at 129 percent in the Eighth Session. Also, the House sat late for 40 hours and discussed important issues.
Shri Birla further said that the General Discussion on the Union Budget for the year 2022-23 was held on 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th February, 2022. The discussion lasted for 15 hours 35 minutes. Further, discussions were held on Demands for Grants under the Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. All other Demands for Grants of the remaining ministries for the financial year 2022-23 were taken up for voting in the House on 24 March 2022 and all were passed together and the Appropriation Bill was also passed.
Supplementary Demands for Grants (2021-22) and Additional Demands for Grants (2018-19) were also passed after voting in this Session. In addition, Demands for Grants (2022-23) and Supplementary Demands for Grants (2021-22) for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir were also passed after voting.
The Speaker also informed that various important financial, legislative business were transacted during the Session. 12 Government Bills were introduced and 13 Bills were passed.
Referring to the Question Hour, Shri Birla said that oral answers were given to 182 Starred Questions during the Session.
Simultaneously, the members raised 486 matters of public interest before the House under Rule 377.
Referring to the reports of Parliamentary Committees, Shri Birla said that a total of 62 reports were presented by various Parliamentary Committees during the Session.
Shri Birla thanked the Prime Minister, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, leaders and members of various parties for their contribution to the smooth functioning of the House.
Speaking on the role of Information Technology in the changing context, Shri Birla stressed on the need to equip legislatures with modern technology for greater efficacy. Shri Birla said that the vision of the Prime Minister for ‘One Nation, One Legislative Platform’ will be implemented within a stipulated time frame.
