Rajya Sabha goes digital to save paper

The Rajya Sabha is all set to go digital to minimise the massive wastage of paper in the House, thanks to an initiative by Vice President and Chairman Hamid Ansari.

As per the suggested changes, Parliamentarians will receive documents in hard copy only if they request for it and special incentives will be provided to MPs who opt for the digital format.

Ansari, a retired Indian Foreign Service officer, wants Parliament to set an example to reduce the usage of a limited natural resource, in an era when modern technology is accessible to everyone.

On Tuesday, Ansari set up a nine-member committee headed by Rajya Sabha Secretary N C Joshi to undertake a comprehensive and scientific study to evolve a suitable mechanism to ensure that the usage of paper is minimised. The committee has been asked to give its report before Parliament's monsoon session commences in July.

The committee's recommendations will be placed before the Committee on Providing Computer Equipment to Rajya Sabha members for approval and implementation.

The nine-member committee was set up based on a letter from Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Srikant Jena to save paper.

Jena had written to both Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Rajya Sabha Chairman Ansari, urging them to end the practice of providing sheaths of paper to MPs containing replies to members' questions.

The 795 parliamentarians and 800 journalists accredited to the Press Information Bureau receive tones of paper during Parliament sessions.

This is not the first time that Ansari has made a pitch for the optimum use of technology to enhance all-round efficiency. In the winter session of 2009, he started a mega digitisation project to make all Rajya Sabha debates accessible on the internet to people across the world.

The unique feature of the project is the use of open source software for the first time to save the money spent on Microsoft and other copyright software. Already part-operationalised and running smoothly, the project will be useful for those interested in understanding the functioning of the Indian democracy.

Ansari is also responsible for the revamped website of the Rajya Sabha, which won the 'Gold Icon' award instituted by the government to promote noteworthy e-governance initiatives in India.