Many skip Parliamentary panel meetings: Naidu

New Delhi, March 14 : Rajy Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday expressed concern over the poor attendance by members in Parliamentary Standing Committee meetings. While he noted that there had been an increase in the average duration of the meetings of the Standing Committees, he added that attendance by members has declined. “Attending meetings should be given priority by the members. Elections are important, I agree. But attending committee meetings need to be given due priority,” he said. The Chairman said the eight Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committees (DRSCs) of Rajya Sabha have held a total of 21 meetings for a total duration of 73 hours and 33 minutes and examined the Demands for Grants of 18 Ministries comprising 32 Departments. “I am happy to share with you all that the average duration of these 21 meetings was 3 hours and 30 minutes per meeting which is the best so far. This marked an increase of one hour 17 minutes per meeting – a rise of 56 per cent over last year,” he said. However, he said that there has been a decline in the average attendance of meetings this year from last year. “I understand that the recent Assembly elections were a major factor that pulled down the attendance. I propose to soon hold another another meeting with the Chairmen of all these eight committees on the functioning of the last five years,” he said. ASU MR