8,700 Covid tests done during parliament session

September 25, 2020 17:56

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday said that the lower House of parliament saw 68.65 per cent average attendance of members during the monsoon session, which had 10 sittings and was held with precautions against Covid-19.

Birla said that 8,700 Covid-19 tests were done during the session in parliament, which began on September 14 amid several precautionary measures and ended on September 23.

"As it was an extraordinary session due to Covid-19, regular Covid tests were being done in the parliament," he added.

He said the debate on Covid-19 lasted for 5 hours 8 minutes and 74 MPs participated in the discussion.Ahead of the session, AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria briefed MPs on Covid precautionary measures on September 13 and September 14.

For the first time in the history of Parliament, members of both houses sat in both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha including galleries during the proceedings to maintain social distancing.

The Speaker told the media that the session saw several achievements though it as full of challenges amid conditions created by COVID-19.

"India's democracy is strong and people have faith in it. Since 1952, voters' percentage has increased as they exhibited faith in democracy. Many countries held their Parliament virtually. The kind of support we received from all political parties and government, we were able to finish more work compared to the time we had. We saw a good percentage of MPs present in Parliament," added the Speaker.

On the first day of the session, 369 MPs attended the Lok Sabha. The maximum number of MPs were present on September 22 when 383 MPs attended the house, he said. -- PTI

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