US officials discuss Teleprompter for Obama

A US technical team today discussed with Indian officials installation of a teleprompter in the Central Hall of Parliament for use by US President Barack Obama during his address which will also mark the debut of the speaking aid in its hallowed precincts.

The US team deliberated on the Teleprompter issue with officials of Ministry of External Affairs and the Parliament, official sources said today.

Obama will take the help of a teleprompter to deliver on November eight his address to the 780-odd members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on the evening of November 8.

Parliament authorities said this will be the first time that such a facility will be arranged in Parliament.

Obama’s reliance on the teleprompter is unusual--not only because he is famous for his oratory, but because no other president has used one so consistently and at so many events, large and small.

Teleprompters are textbook-sized panes of glass holding the prepared remarks of the speaker and which rests on top of a tall, narrow pole and flank his podium during speeches.

Meanwhile, Parliament authorities are making elaborate arrangements for accommodating media personnel including a large number of scribes accompanying the President in the Parliament House for the address.

Sources said that while the media would get entry on the basis of 'first-come-first' for the address, plans are afoot to create seating arrangements in one of the big rooms where a television would be installed for the convenience for the press.

The programme will feature a welcome speech by Vice President Hamid Ansari and a vote of thanks by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar. The US President would also sign the Golden Book, the visitors’ diary of Parliament.

Besides the visiting dignitary, those who would be on the dais in the historic Central Hall along with Obama, the Vice President and the Speaker would be Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

US security agencies had already reviewed the security arrangements in Parliament with MEA and other security agencies in the country.