Delhi Assembly panel to explore possibility of fellowship and internship programmes

With an aim to keep MLAs well-informed on legislative affairs, a Delhi Assembly panel will explore the possibility of introducing fellowship and internship programmes.

The General Purpose Committee (GPC), headed by Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, will submit its report on the same.

The move comes after AAP MLA Somnath Bharti raised the issue of legislators not having any facility to deo research and field works pertaining to legislative affairs.

Asserting that Members of Parliament (MPs) have similar facilities, he said the Delhi Assembly should also have 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 so that we can dictate anything," Bharti said.

As the AAP MLA wrapped up his speech on the issue, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said the Delhi government will provide all possible assistance, including monetary help, 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 Bharti will be "special invitee" to the panel for suggesting other measures.

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