25. MEMBERS AMENITIES SECTION

Transcription

1 25. MEMBERS AMENITIES SECTION 25.1 Main Functions: M.A. Section which is basically a service-oriented Section, has been dealing with accommodation and other amenities for Members of Rajya Sabha. During the year 2009, this Section dealt with the following items of work : - i) Meetings of the House Committee and meetings convened by the Chairman, House Committee with the officers of the agencies providing services to the Members. ii) Allotment of transit/regular accommodation to Members on their election to Rajya Sabha. iii) Allotment of guest accommodation to Members on request. iv) Allotment of accommodation to Members and their guests in State Guest Houses/Circuit Houses in various States for temporary stay. v) Maintenance of bungalows, flats, suites, servant quarters & motor garages constituting the Rajya Sabha Housing Pool. vi) Allotment of electrical gadgets to the Members. vii) Mooting proposals for construction of sufficient number of type-v to type VII flats for Members of Rajya Sabha in order to augment the residential units under Rajya Sabha Pool. viii) Liaisoning with MTNL for providing Telephone, Mobile Phone, Internet and Broadband facilities in Delhi and Permanent/Usual Place of Residence of Members. x) Transport arrangements for Members of Rajya Sabha to and from Parliament House/Annexe to Members residential localities. vii) Issue of individual plastic laminated CGHS Cards to sitting Members of Rajya Sabha and their dependent family members and referral letters for treatment in private recognized hospitals/diagnostic centres. viii) Facilitating allotment of defence discarded jeeps, jongas, motorcycles and ambassador cars to Members by the Minsitry of Defence. ix) Organising cultural events for Members of Rajya Sabha and their family members. x) Refreshment bills in respect of Deputy Chairman s Office and House Committee House Committee: The House Committee was re-constituted on under the Chairmanship of Shri Bhubaneswar Kalita, M.P. During the year, the Committee held 4 meetings during which, in addition to considering estimates for additions/alterations at the residences of Members, it also discussed matters as per details given below:- Date of Meeting Main agenda 3 rd August, 2009 Allotment of accommodation to Members of Rajya Sabha Guidelines for retention of accommodation by ex-mps. Ratification of estimates approved by Chairman, House Committee. Administrative approval and expenditures sanction for estimate of Rs.3,21,419/- for provision of rain water harvesting at 10, GRG Road, residence of Shri S.S. Ahluwalia, MP Revision of guidelines regarding allotment of guest accommodation. Lack of adequate security arrangements in MPs residential areas. 19 th November, 2009 Allotment of accommodation to Members of Rajya Sabha. Guidelines for retention of accommodation by ex-mps. Revision of guidelines regarding allotment of guest accommodation. Allotment of MS Flats at BKS Marg Type VI to First Time Members. Eviction of accommodation of sitting Members of Rajya Sabha. E-Awas Software for M.A. Section. Ratification of estimates approved by Chairman, 142

2 House Committee. Interpool transfer of bugalows/flats. 02 nd December, 2009 Allotment of accommodation to Members of Rajya Sabha. Allotment of MS flats at B.K.S. Marg (type VI) to First Term Members. Eviction of accommodation of sitting Members. Reversion of flats no. 19 and 41, South Avenue to Rajya Sabha Pool. Allotment of six additional suites in V.P. House from newly constructed suites. 16 th December, 2009 E-Awas Software for M.A. Section. Rajya Sabha TV Channel. Suggestion to revise the existing guidelines regarding allotment of accommodation Chairman, House Committee convened meetings with various authorities as per details given below:- Date of Meeting Subject Meeting with the Officers of Directorate of Estates, CPWD and NDMC to discuss the following:- i.) Settlement of outstanding rent dues on account of period of overstay of Dr. A.R. Kidwai, ex-mp in bungalow no.ab-15, Pandara Road and ii.) Allotment of an additional servant quarter on payment of normal rent to Dr. V. Maitreyan, MP Meeting with the Officers of Ministry of Urban Development, NDMC and Delhi Development Authority to discuss the following:- i) Progress in the construction of MS flats at the site of bungalow no.2, Talkatora Road. ii) Proposed construction of type-vii and VIII flats at Ferozeshah Road. iii) Delay in eviction cases. iv) Reversion of flats no.19 and 41 South Avenue to Rajya Sabha Pool Meeting with the Officers of CPWD and IGL. i) Issue of taking No Dues Certificate by Members in respect of IGL dues at the time of vacating of official residence. ii) Quarterly statement of outstanding PNG dues of Members Meeting with the Officers of Delhi Police and CPWD to discuss the issue of lack of adequate security arrangements in MPs residential areas and to provide remedial measures Μeeting with the officials of CPWD (Elect.) in respect of functioning of Reverse Osmosis System and Solar Water Heating System installed at Members flats Allotment of flats/bungalows/servant quarters and motor garages as well as accommodation for guests and other purposes: During the year, 22 Bungalows, 23 Flats and 04 Suites in V.P. House, 33 Servant Quarters and 16 Motor Garages were allotted to the Members of Rajya Sabha. 143

3 During the year, 56 requests received from the Members of Rajya Sabha for providing accommodation to them/their guests in the State Guest Houses and Circuit Houses in the various States were forwarded to the respective State Guest House/Circuit House. During the year, 1121 applications were received from Members of Rajya Sabha for allotment of temporary guest accommodation in Western Court Hostel requests of Members could be entertained and their guests were provided temporary guest accommodation in Western Court Hostel. M.A. Section continued to look after the maintenance of residential units for Members of the Rajya Sabha in coordination with the CPWD authorities. As many as 14 requests for electrical and 06 requests for civil works in the residences of Members of Rajya Sabha amounting to an estimated expenditure of Rs. 28,99,786/- were received and were placed before the House Committee. After approval of the Committee, the CPWD authorities were requested to take necessary action on these requests. A number of requests were also received from the Members for the maintenance of lawns in their bungalows and flats and nearby area of MPs residential localities, which were taken up with the Directorate of Horticulture, CPWD for necessary action Telephones, Mobile Phones and Internet facilities in Delhi and permanent/usual place of residence of Members: All requests received for installation/shifting of new telephone connections at Delhi/ Usual Place of Residences by the Members of Rajya Sabha were attended to promptly by this Section, under the Housing and Telephone Facilities (Members of Parliament) Rules, 1956, as amended from time to time and were forwarded to the Liaison Officer (Telephones), Parliament House Annexe, New Delhi for necessary action. 47 telephones were installed at Delhi/Usual Place of Residence of Members. 14 telephones were shifted to newly allotted residences. 31 telephones for Internet connectivity purposes were also installed at Delhi/Usual Place of Residence of Members. Pursuant to the amendment in the Housing and Telephone Facilities (Members of Parliament) Rules, 1956,w.e.f , second mobile phone connection is also to be provided to Members of Parliament. During the year 2009, 87 mobile connections were provided to Members of Rajya Sabha as per their requests. A Member can avail of 1,50,000 free local telephone calls during a year on any and/or all the three telephone and two mobile phone connections provided by MTNL/BSNL. 48 requests for broadband connection were also received during the year, which were duly forwarded to MTNL/BSNL for necessary action. time. The quality of services provided by MTNL/BSNL were monitored/ reviewed from time to 25.6 Allotment of electrical gadgets to Members: During the year, 200 window type airconditioners/split air-conditioners, 51 refrigerators, 76 room coolers, 37 ceiling fans, 11water coolers, 17 geysers, 27 heaters, 18 aquaguard units were arranged to be provided at the Members residences by the CPWD Transport arrangements for Members of Rajya Sabha to and from Parliament House/Annexe to Members residential localities: A fleet of 8 Toyota vehicles and 9 drivers are available with the Rajya Sabha Secretariat for providing Transport facilities to Members of Parliament. The drivers of the vehicles have been provided with mobile phones which are recharged every month. Efforts were made to provide quality transport facilities to Members of Parliament Medical facilities for Members of Rajya Sabha and issue of CGHS Cards to sitting Members of Rajya Sabha and their family members: The Members of Rajya Sabha are entitled to Medical facilities under the CGHS. The Members continue to avail of these facilities from the CGHS Dispensaries at Parliament House/Parliament House Annexe, North Avenue, South Avenue, Telegraph Lane, Constitution House, Pandara Road, etc. and also from Ayurvedic Dispensary in North Avenue set up under the Scheme. The Members residing in V.P. House make use of the First Aid Post set up in V.P House. A number of requests for referral treatment in the private recognized /Government/Referral hospitals are also received from Members of Rajya Sabha. During the year, 144

4 164 referral letters were issued to Members of Rajya Sabha for treatment / investigation in private CGHS recognized hospitals/diagnostic centers. Members and their dependent family members have also been provided with individual plastic laminated CGHS Cards. During the year 130 CGHS cards were issued to the sitting Members of Rajya Sabha and their family members. According to standing instructions issued to the various Government Hospitals in Delhi, the hospital authorities were requested to intimate about the admission of Members of Rajya Sabha to the concerned Officers in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat. During the year, 11 ailing Members were visited. A report on the illness of each MP, alongwith his/her condition on the day of the visit, was sent for the information of Secretary General/Hon ble Chairman, Rajya Sabha Allotment of Defence discarded vehicles: During the year, 13 requests were received from Members of Rajya Sabha regarding release of discarded Defence Jeeps, Jonga, Motor Cycles and Ambassador Cars and all such requests were forwarded to the Ministry of Defence for necessary action Catering arrangements in Western Court Hostel, North and South Avenues, Parliament House and Parliament House Annexe: During the year, bulletins were issued before the commencement of each Session informing the Members about the functioning of the Canteens in the Parliament House and Annexe Refreshment bills in respect of Deputy Chairman s Office and House Committee: During the year 2009 this Section received bills amounting to Rs.7,11,885/- from the office of Hon ble Deputy Chairman on account of the refreshment served in the official meetings and to foreign dignitaries. With regard to meetings of the House Committee, bills amounting to Rs. 37,062/- were received during the year. After scrutiny of the bills, the necessary sanction was obtained and forwarded to the M.S. & A. Section for arranging payment Liaison with NDMC in connection with various amenities/facilities for Members of Rajya Sabha: This Section informs the Liaison Officer, NDMC posted in Room No.314, Parliament House Annexe about the allotment/cancellation of Government accommodation to Members for the purpose of connection/disconnection of the electricity and water supply. The Secretariat forwarded several requests of Members to NDMC for installation of electricity/water meter at their residences in New Delhi. Complaints pertaining to inflated electricity/water bills at the residences of Members were also pursued with NDMC Security Deposits to NDMC: The House Committee considered the issue of security deposits to NDMC by Members for installation of electricity and water meters at their official residences and expressed the view that the existing practice should be discontinued; instead, the security deposit should be made on the Members behalf by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat. Accordingly, a proposal to suitably amend Rule 2 of the Housing and Telephone Facilities (Members of Parliament) Rules, 1956 was sent for the consideration of Joint Parliamentary Committee on Salaries and Allowances of Members of Parliament. The Joint Committee has agreed to the proposal. The matter is now pending with the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs Budget allocation: This Section was allocated the following budget during the year for meeting the expenditure under different heads:- Sub-head Amount Sanctioned (Rs.) Expenditure incurred till (Rs.) Purpose 0013-Office expense 500 -Nil- Binding of Reports, Minutes, Bulletins, etc. 145

5 Members Office Expenses 25,00,000 11,74,504 For meeting cost of fuel and repairs/maintenance of eight vehicles for MPs Members Other Administrative Expenses 50,000/- 32,354 Refreshment Bills pertaining to House Committee Members Other Administrative Expenses 8,00,000/- 6,56,662/- Refreshment bills pertaining to Hon ble Deputy Chairman. Major achievements during the year The following are the highlights of the work done during the year 2009:- Statements/records of residential units allotted in the name of newly elected Members of Rajya Sabha, their telephone numbers, CGHS card number and other relevant information pertaining to this Section were updated during the year. The E-file Software developed by NIC for the Section was launched on by the Hon ble Chairman, Rajya Sabha. It has become operational w.e.f All files pertaining to Members elected in are being processed electronically through the e-file system. Files of this Section are being sent through e-file system. However, manual filing system will be continued in the following cases: (i) Financial matters, wherein written orders of the competent authority are required; and (ii) Where noting/ correspondence is to be carried out with officers/offices / Sections which are not on e-file network or detailed examination of cases are required. Security measures with the help of Delhi Police continued to be strengthened in MPs residential localities. The measures included round-the-clock working of control room and special cell in the office of DCP, New Delhi District. Τhe initiative regarding construction of new MS flats for the Members of Rajya Sabha was vigorously pursued and a site at Bungalow No. 2 Talkatora Road was identified for the purpose and the tentative target for completion of construction work of the project is September,