Budget Session to be held, all Covid protocols to be followed: LS Speaker

New Delhi, The forthcoming budget session of Parliament will be held from January 29 with adherence to all Covid-19 guidelines, said Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla here on Tuesday after presiding over a meeting of senior officials from security agencies, top medical institutes and health ministry.
The meeting discussed arrangements related to the budget session of Parliament, to be held from January 29 to February 15 in the first phase and from March 8 to April 8 in the second phase.
During the course of the meeting, Mr Birla was apprised that all COVID related Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) that were evolved during the last Session held amidst the pandemic in September 2020, shall continue to remain in place, with suitable modifications as per the requirements.
Mr Birla was informed that RT-PCR tests for all Members of Parliament shall be performed on January 27 and 28 in Parliament House Complex. Tests shall also be conducted at other locations near the residences of Members; including North Avenue, South Avenue, BD Marg. Emergency wards for urgent COVID care with dedicated medical teams shall also be deployed at RML hospital to fulfill the health needs of MPs.
The Speaker instructed the agencies concerned to regularly undertake fumigation/sanitization of the entire complex during the ensuing session.
Mr Birla told the media that during the first phase of the session, Lok Sabha shall hold 12 sittings and during the second phase of the session, there will be 21 sittings of the House. Question Hour, Zero Hour will be held during the budget session. He said that all applicable COVID guidelines shall continue to remain in force during the proceedings of the House and the session will be held with by following all COVID-19 protocols.
Responding to queries regarding COVID vaccination, Mr Birla said that the vaccination process shall proceed as per the government policy.