SPECIAL REPORT: PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY IN THE TIMES OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: EXPERIENCES IN THE PARLIAMENT OF INDIA The challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic have no parallel in the history of mankind. It is more than two years that the world is grappling with the multiple crises the pandemic has caused with almost no respite. With the looming threat of a reversal of the decades-old developmental efforts in all spheres of human endeavours, it needs all our focus for a resolute global response in tackling the pandemic. The key for this is solidarity and effective collaboration within the comity of nations. India has always been at the forefront in the call for joint global action for any crisis in the world. Even during the ongoing pandemic, India immediately offered support in the form of vaccines, medical equipment and medicines to the affected countries. India’s call for ‘One Earth One Health’ approach underlines our continuing commitment to bring succour in these trying times for the greater cause of humanity. We have all witnessed that the pandemic has also brought challenges to the functioning of our democratic institutions, including our Parliaments. This crisis, taken as an opportunity, has brought various Parliaments together in close co-operation to address the challenges and devise appropriate strategies. During this turbulent time, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association has commendably brought out the ‘COVID-19 Delivering Parliamentary Democracy: CPA Toolkit for Commonwealth Parliament’. The IPU also conducted a study on ‘Parliaments in a time of Pandemic’ and offers practical information and parliamentary responses to the global pandemic. These initiatives have been extremely useful and appreciated all over the world. Fighting the COVID-19 pandemic in India: Major initiatives of the Government of India In India, the first case of COVID-19 infection was reported on 30 January 2020. Soon afterwards, the Government of India took
preventive measures starting with progressive tightening of international travel, the issuing of advisories, quarantine facilities, contact tracing, social distancing, etc. After the countrywide ‘Janata Curfew’ on 22 March 2020, the Prime Minister of India announced a nationwide lockdown on 24 March for 21 days. The lockdowns were periodically extended till 31 May 2020 and thereafter, restrictions were lifted in phases, until the later part of the year. The Government of India announced a relief package to the tune of Rs.1700 billion for the poor. The Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation of Certain Provisions) Ordinance, 2020 was promulgated on 31 March 2020 to provide an extension of time limits and waivers of penalties. Steps like relief to borrowers in repayment of loans and short-term credit to Indian States were also taken by the Reserve Bank of India. The Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund) was instituted. The Government decided to put the ‘Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme’ on hold for two years, from 2020-21 to 2021-22. On 12 May 2020, the Prime Minister announced a massive economic package, amounting to Rs.20,000 billion - about 10% of India’s GDP. He gave a clarion call for Aatma Nirbhar Bharat or Self-Reliant India Movement outlining five pillars – economy, infrastructure, system, vibrant demography and demand. The total stimulus by the Government and Reserve Bank of India till November 2020 to tide over the COVID-19 pandemic was Rs.29,870 billion. In the fight against COVID-19, ICT tools were widely used, including the Aarogya Setu App for contact tracing; Geofencing technology for enforcing strict vigilance on COVID-19 suspects in quarantine; MyGov Portal and National Health Portal of India for providing updates and authentic information. Later, during the second COVID-19 wave, the Government adopted a five-point strategy - test, trace, treat, public compliance
Hon. Shri Om Birla was elected as the Speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha in the Parliament of India on 19 June 2019. He is the President of the CPA India Union Branch and the Regional Chairperson of the CPA India Region. He has been a Member of Parliament for Kota-Bundi parliamentary constituency since 2014. He was previously a Member of the Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha (Provincial Assembly) from 2003 to 2014. Prior to entering Parliament, he held positions with the youth wing of his party, Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha, and he completed his Master of Commerce at Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati University.
26 | The Parliamentarian | 2022: Issue One | 100 years of publishing
