Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker UT Khader announced on Tuesday that the state legislature will transition to a fully paperless system within six months. The digitisation initiative aims to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and promote environmental sustainability in legislative operations.
Digitisation Plan and Monitoring
Khader stated that the process will be closely monitored by officials from the National e-Vidhan project, a central government initiative to digitise state legislatures, and a state-level monitoring committee. The committee will oversee the implementation, ensuring smooth adoption of digital tools for document management, debates, and record-keeping.
Benefits of Paperless Legislature
The move is expected to significantly cut paper usage, streamline workflow, and enable real-time access to legislative documents for members and staff. It will also facilitate better archiving and retrieval of records. Khader emphasized that the transition aligns with the digital India vision and will set an example for other states.
Challenges and Training
Officials acknowledged potential challenges, including training for legislators and staff, and ensuring cybersecurity. The state government plans to conduct workshops and provide technical support to ease the transition. The National e-Vidhan team will assist in customising the platform for Karnataka's needs.
The announcement comes amid growing calls for modernisation of legislative processes across the country. Several states have already adopted partial digitisation, but Karnataka aims to be among the first to achieve a fully paperless legislature.
