Members of Parliament would soon get parliamentary bulletins and synopsis through e-mail as soon as they get uploaded on the websites.
This is because Rajya Sabha chairman M. Hamid Ansari has approved a proposal to constitute a committee for a comprehensive study to evolve a mechanism that usage of paper is minimised to the extent possible.
The committee shall present its report before the beginning of the Monsoon Session, expectedly in July this year. Its recommendations shall be placed before the Committee on Provision of Computer Equipment to the members of Rajya Sabha.
Mr Ansari took this initiative after realising that the consumption of huge quantities of paper in the modern age is not required.
He is of the view that in this digital era — with the modern technologies being accessible to all the stakeholders — Parliament should try to set an example before the nation by reducing the stress on limited available natural resources in whatever possible ways.
Accordingly, Rajya Sabha secretary-general Vivek Agnihotri has constituted a committee to study the subject in detail and make suitable recommendations.
The terms of reference of the committee are: To compile a list of the printed documents presently being supplied to MPs by the Rajya Sabha secretariat and the ministries. To identify the printed documents, the supply of which could be dispensed with since they are available digitally.; to work out the arrangements for supplying printed documents to MPs alternatively in CD/DVD format, to examine the feasibility of sending the list of business, parliamentary bulletins and synopsis through e-mail to all the members as soon as they get uploaded on the websites; to examine as to how to reduce the number of copies required of the various documents presently being submitted by the different departments of the government to the Rajya Sabha secretariat in printed/cyclostyled/photocopied form for circulation to the members or for laying on the table of the House.