Kolkata, 03 July (H.S.) : Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday announced that the Centre will provide 100 per cent financial assistance for the complete digitisation of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly under the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) project. He said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Centre and the West Bengal Assembly has already been signed for the initiative.

Addressing the inaugural session of a two-day orientation programme for newly elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) at New Town, Rijiju said the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs is providing the entire financial support for the project under the One Nation, One Application initiative. He added that upon completion, the West Bengal Assembly would become a fully digital and technologically advanced legislature.

The Union Minister said the NeVA platform would enable legislators to access Assembly proceedings, business papers, legislative documents and other official records digitally, making legislative work more efficient, transparent and accessible. He noted that MLAs would be able to retrieve all relevant information with a single click, eliminating the need for time-consuming searches.

Highlighting the significance of the orientation programme, Rijiju said a large number of first-time legislators had entered the Assembly following the recent elections, making such training essential to familiarise them with parliamentary practices and legislative procedures. He expressed confidence that the programme would prove highly beneficial, particularly for newly elected members.

Praising the rich legacy of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Rijiju said he holds the institution in high regard and hoped that the House would witness meaningful debates and informed discussions leading to the enactment of quality legislation for the welfare of the people and the development of the state.

He also said he had promised Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and the Speaker that he would attend the programme, adding that the initiative would greatly benefit the new legislators.

The two-day orientation programme was inaugurated jointly by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, and other dignitaries. The event has been organised by the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE) under the Lok Sabha Secretariat in collaboration with the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh