New Delhi [India], March 8 (ANI): The second part of the Budget session of Parliament will commence from Monday with all COVID-19 precautionary measures in place.
The Rajya Sabha will function from 9 am to 2 pm while Lok Sabha will function between 4 pm to 10 pm. The second part of the session will conclude April 8, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had informed.
The Budget Session of Parliament, which commenced with the address of President Ram Nath Kovind on January 29, concluded on February 29. The Union budget was tabled in the Parliament by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1.
The Lok Sabha clocked 99.5 per cent productivity during the first phase of the two-part Budget session of Parliament, Lok Sabha Secretariat said. Birla informed that during the first part of the Budget Session 2021, Lok Sabha sat for 49 hours and 17 minutes against the stipulated time of 50 hours.
“The Discussion on the Motion of Thanks on President’s Address took place for 16 hours and 39 minutes and 130 Members participated in the Discussion. Whereas 10 hours was allocated for General Discussion on Union Budget 2021-2022, the House debated for 14 hours and 40 minutes.
As many as 117 Members took part in the General Discussion on Union Budget 2021-2022. 173 Members participated in Zero Hour discussions. Several matters of urgent public importance were raised by the Members during Zero Hour. House lost an effective time of 43 minutes due to disruptions,” he said.
A total of 49 women MPs participated in the discussion on Motion of Thanks on President’s Address and Budget, said the Lok Sabha Speaker, and appreciated their enthusiasm and participation in House proceedings.
A vaccination centre for MPs has also been set up inside the Parliament complex.
“For the welfare of Members of Parliament, a COVID-19 vaccination centre has been set up at the Parliament House Medical Centre from Tuesday, March 9,” said a Lok Sabha bulletin said, adding that vaccination is voluntary.
In accordance with the prioritisation guidelines by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGAVAC), Members of Parliament above 60 years of age are eligible to get vaccinated in the current phase of the nationwide vaccination campaign.
Persons aged above 45 years, who have comorbidities, are also eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
According to parliamentary data, 36 per cent of Lok Sabha MPs and 62 per cent of Rajya Sabha MPs are above 60 years of age.
The vaccine will be administered on all working days by trained health care workers. Family members of the MPs too will get vaccines.
“Two vaccination centres have also been set up for the family members of MPs, one at CGHS Dispensary North Avenue and the other at CGHS Dispensary South Avenue. Members can undertake vaccination in their respective constituency also,” the bulletin said. (ANI)

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], March 8 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Hitesh Chandra Awasthi has expressed displeasure for not receiving information about the exact number of policemen who had succumbed to the coronavirus pandemic in the state.
In a letter to all the UP superintendents of police and police commissioners, Awasthi said, “It seems that the district in-charges are not taking any personal interest in the matter, due to which the families of the deceased policemen are not getting the funds.”
“Strict action will be taken if there will be any variation in the information,” he added. (ANI)

Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], March 8 (ANI): Bhagyashree, an Indore-based social worker, who looks after rehabilitation of homeless and helpless elderly suffering from serious diseases and cremation of the dead lying on the road, is an example not only for women but for the whole society.
She is currently pursuing a PhD in Archaeology.
“I was inspired by the works of Amarjit Singh Sudan, also called ‘Father Teresa’ of Indore,” said Bhagyashree Kharkhadia speaking to ANI.
“I worked with him for five years. Sudan helped such helpless and destitute people for years. He died last year. I am only taking forward the work done by him. After the lockdown eased up, I am now helping the hapless people living on the streets. Along with their rehabilitation and treatment, I also take care of funerals upon their deaths,” Bhagyashree added.
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She calls her father, Brajmohan Lodetiya, and husband, Naveen Kharkhadia, as two pillars of her strength.
Bhagyashree has been working all through COVID-19 pandemic. She, however, remains worried about her two-year-old son.
“Many people contact me on the phone. Among these were the elderly who I found in front of state’s largest government MY hospital. They had insects all over their bodies. I took them to Jyoti Niwas Ashram,” she said.
She wants to give a message to society to assist her in helping the destitute.
Naveen Kharkhadia, Bhagyashree’s husband, is a railway employee. He not only chips in with his salary in his wife’s work but also helps in her work after returning from his job.
“Bhagyashree’s intentions inspire me. I help her in her work. On holidays, I join them and I also incur expenses from my salary. We leave our child with his grandmother,” Naveen said.
Sohan Kalyane, a worker at the crematorium, said, “When an unclaimed or damaged mutilated body comes, we call Bhagyashree and she performs the last rites. We are proud of her.”
Another employee, Bablu Kuril, said, “Ma’am herself brings them in an ambulance and cremates them with the entire legal procedure, including the expenses incurred in the funeral. Sometimes, three to four dead bodies come in a day.” (ANI)

Solan (Himachal Pradesh) [India], March 8 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Sunday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of projects worth Rs 34 crore in Solan.
He inaugurated the augmentation of Lift Water Supply Scheme Badron, Gram Panchayat Satrol, tehsil Kandaghat constructed by spending an amount of Rs 1.41 crore and Rs 93 lakh COVID ICU at Regional Hospital Solan, according to a press release.
Speaking at Abhinandan Samaroh at Thodo ground here the Chief Minister said that the formation of Municipal Corporation in Solan would ensure proper planning and systematic development of the town would ensure proper planning and systematic development of the town so that the town maintains its old glory and fame.
“Solan is one of the most centrally located and lively town of Himachal which is attracting people from all parts of the state to settle here due to its pleasant environment,” he said.
He further said that with this the need has been felt to ensure planned, systemic and proper development of the town. He said that it was thus decided by the present State Government to upgrade the Municipal Council of Solan into Municipal Corporation.
The Chief Minister said that the present State Government constituted 412 new gram panchayats, seven Nagar Panchayats and three Municipal Corporations in the state to ensure active participation of the people in the grassroots institutions of democracy.
The constitution of three new Municipal Corporations at Solan, Palampur and Mandi was also vital to ensure that all these towns could be developed in a planned and systemic manner, he added.
He said that this decision of the State Government has fulfilled the long pending demand of the people of all these three towns of the state.
Thakur urged the people of Solan to ensure the victory of BJP candidates in the Municipal Corporation elections so that the pace of development goes uninterrupted.
He said that people of the state had given their massive support to the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections, in which BJP not only won all four seats but created a record by winning all the seats with a record margin.
The Chief Minister further said that several schemes such as Jan Manch, Chief Minister’s Helpline 1100, Sahara Yojna, Gharini Suvidha Yojana, Him Care etc have immensely benefited the people of the state. The annual budget presented on Saturday was aimed at the welfare of all sections of the society, he added.
On the occasion, he announced Rs 2 crore for Transport Nagar Solan, Rs 2 crore for three new parking at Solan, Rs 2 crore for planned development of seventeen wards of the Municipal Corporation, Solan.
He said that a CT Scan and Digital X-Ray plant would be established in Civil Hospital Solan. Adequate posts of doctors would be filled in Solan and Kandaghat hospitals.
Apart from this, work on Kandaghat stadium and indoor stadium Solan would be taken in hand soon, he added, the press release said. (ANI)

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], March 8 (ANI): Activist Dinesh Kallahalli on Sunday wrote to the police seeking withdrawal of his complaint against Ramesh Jarkiholi in which he alleged that the water resources minister was sexually exploiting a woman in return for a government job.
Kallahalli on Sunday claimed that he will withdraw the police complaint against BJP MLA Jarkiholi, who has resigned as minister amid the alleged sex-for-job scandal.
Kallahalli’s advocate submitted the petition at the Cubbon Park police station. seeking to withdraw Jarkiholi’s complaint on March 2.
In his statement Kallahalli said that he decided to take back the complaint against the BJP MLA after many people alleged that he received money to release the CD and raised questions on the credibility of his social services.
A purported sex tape showed the Major and Medium water Resources Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi in a compromising position with a woman.
“We have seen treachery, vendetta, honey trap, blackmailing as the motive behind such videos. I don’t know the truth, time will decide everything. The truth will come out after an investigation,” Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, Ashwathnarayan had earlier told reporters here when asked about Jarkiholi’s alleged involvement in the sex tape case.
Karnataka Home Minister B Bommai had said that an inquiry is being conducted as per law adding that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will make a decision on taking action against him.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi had on Tuesday said that the BJP will take action after checking the authenticity of the alleged sex videotape in which Jarkiholi is said to be involved. (ANI)

Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], March 8 (ANI): Union Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy on Sunday threw down the gauntlet at Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) stating that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will win both the two Legislative Council seats under the Graduates constituency quota.
‘The Graduate MLC election is going to be held on March 14 in Telangana. I am confident that in the coming days the people of Telangana will trust the BJP and the party will win in both seats. TRS party government will not be in Telangana for long now,” he added.
The Minister made the statement after addressing Hyderabad- Mahabubnagar- Rangareddy District’s Graduate MLC Constituency Election Meeting at Vikarabad, Telangana.
He emphasised the need to elect the BJP’s Candidate N Ramchander Rao for the upcoming MLC graduates constituency elections.
The election for the two Legislative Council seats under the Graduates constituency quota will be held on March 14. (ANI)