STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF RAJYA SABHA SECRETARIAT

(iii)
(iv)
To examine cases concerning the alleged breach of the Code of Conduct
by Members and also cases concerning allegation of any other ethical
misconduct of Members; and
To tender advice to Members from time to time on questions involving
ethical standards either suo motu or on receiving specific requests.
COMMITTEE ON PROVISION OF COMPUTERS TO MEMBERS
One of the perennial problems of modern day democratic legislatures has been
maintaining the continuity of linkage between the elected representatives and the people
for effective articulation of their concerns. Given the highly demanding job of the
people’s representatives, it becomes imperative for them to remain ever updated and
connected with the people.
Computer and Internet play a key role in both exploring the vast knowledge
reservoir as also in connecting the people’s representatives with the public. It helps in
effective and expeditious completion of a whole lot of work besides being in constant
touch with their constituents and other clientele. To harness Information Communication
Technology (ICT), computerization of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat has been undertaken
under the supervision of the Committee on Provision of Computers to Members.
This Committee was constituted on 18 March 1997 in order to put the entire
efforts of computerization in a structured framework. It however, does not form part of
the Rules of Procedure and is serviced by the Secretariat’s IT Sections – Hardware &
Software.
The broad functions of the Committee are as under:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
Formulation of policy regarding use of Information Technology in the
functioning of Rajya Sabha;
Matters relating to computer-aided dissemination of information to
Members including internet applications, video, text material, etc.; and
Formulation of norms for provision of Computer equipment to Members.
COMMITTEE SECTION (MPLADS)
With a view to meet the demand of general public for provision of certain basic
facilities including community infrastructure Government of India decided to launch the
scheme “Member of Parliament Local Area Development” (MPLAD) during October
1994. The objective of the scheme is to enable MPs to recommend works of development
nature with emphasis on the creation of durable community assets based on locally felt
needs to be taken up in their Constituencies. When the scheme was launched in 1993-94,
an amount of Rs.5 lakh per MP was allotted which became Rs.1 crore per annum from
1994-95 and later stepped up to Rs.2 crore from 1998-99.