Mangaluru: Assembly Speaker UT Khader announced on Tuesday that the Karnataka state legislature will transition to a fully paperless system within the next six months. Under this initiative, Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs) will use tablets equipped with a dedicated application during assembly and council sessions.
Elimination of Paper Documents
Khader told reporters that the move will eliminate the need for paper documents, significantly reducing expenditure on printing and transportation. As part of the initiative, the assembly and council have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) project to implement the digitisation programme.
Selection of NeVA Platform
Khader explained that several digital solutions were studied before the government opted for the NeVA platform. Under the project, the central government will bear 60% of the implementation cost. The estimated cost of digitising the legislative assembly in Bengaluru and Belagavi is Rs 78 crore, while the digitisation of the council in the two cities is expected to cost Rs 52 crore.
The project will be overseen by officials from the National e-Vidhan Application and a state-level monitoring committee, Khader elaborated.
Benefits of Digitisation
Once implemented, all legislative documents, including agendas, bills, starred and unstarred questions, and their answers will be made available electronically. Legislators will be able to access these documents through their devices, reducing paperwork and preventing the loss of important records.
Training and Implementation
Khader stated that all legislators will be trained to use the new system. During sessions, tablets will be fixed to members' desks and stored securely once proceedings conclude. This initiative marks a significant step towards modernising the legislative process in Karnataka, enhancing efficiency and transparency.
