Delhi Assembly panel to explore possibility of fellowship, internship

New Delhi : A Delhi Assembly panel will explore the possibility of introducing fellowship and internship programmes, Speaker Ram Niwas Goel informed the House on Thursday.

The decision came after AAP MLA Somnath Bharti raised the issue of legislators not having any facility on research as well as field work pertaining to legislative affairs.

He said that Members of Parliament (MPs) have similar facilities, adding that Delhi Assembly should also have a research wing.

"As of now, MLAs do not have facility to get sound information on a particular issue they want to speak on. Also, we do not have any stenographer," Bharti said.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said the Delhi government will provide all possible assistance, including monetary, to the Assembly Secretariat.

The Speaker said the Assembly's General Purpose Committee (GPC) will look into this matter, including introduction of fellowship and internship programmes, and said that Bharti will be a "special invitee" in the panel to suggest other measures.

Goel informed lawmakers that the Assembly Secretariat has recently sent a proposal to the Delhi government on making proceedings in the House "paperless" at a cost of Rs 20 crore.