Dharamshala: For the first time, the Himachal Pradesh Assembly will feature Zero Hour during its four-day winter session, starting December 18 at Tapovan in Dharamshala. Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania announced this milestone during a press conference, stating that Zero Hour will be held daily from 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm, allowing MLAs to raise public interest issues.
To participate in Zero Hour, members must notify the Assembly Secretary at least 90 minutes before the session begins. Each member can raise a maximum of two topics, although discussions will not be held on these issues. However, ministers may choose to respond voluntarily.
The seventh session of the 14th Assembly will include four meetings, spanning December 18 to December 21. During the session, 248 starred and 68 unstarred questions will be addressed, with 128 starred and 32 unstarred questions submitted online through the NeVA app, which has been newly implemented in the Tapovan Assembly of HP.
The session will also feature discussions on 14 topics under various rules, including 5 under Rule 62, 1 under Rule 63, 5 under Rule 101, and 3 under Rule 130. Notably, December 20, the third day of the session, has been designated as Private Member’s Day.
Daily proceedings will begin at 11:00 am with Question Hour, followed by Zero Hour and subsequent legislative business. This streamlined schedule aims to enhance productivity and address key issues efficiently.
Speaking on the utility of the Tapovan Assembly complex, the Speaker noted that the facility is currently used only during the winter session. To enhance its relevance and connect it with the public, plans are being considered to open the complex to visitors and tourists throughout the year. This move is expected to boost footfall, ensure regular maintenance, and make the complex more accessible to the public.
Additionally, the Speaker mentioned exploring the idea of hosting youth parliaments and allowing Panchayati Raj institutions and urban bodies to use the complex for conferences and events. These initiatives aim to maximize the utility of the complex and foster civic engagement.
Arvind Sharma is an award winning bi-lingual journalist with more than 20 years of experience.
He has worked with Divya Himachal, Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhasker, Vir Partap, Ajit and PTI.
In 2010, he was conferred the Himachal Kesri journalism award. He reports on the Tibetan Government in Exile, politics, sports, tourism and other topics. He lives in Dharamshala.
