Manipur assembly goes digital,all proceedings to be paperless

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh launched the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) in the Manipur Assembly, making legislative activities paperless. NeVA aims to connect legislatures digitally, promoting e-democracy. 

IANS, 27 February 2024, Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Tuesday launched the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) in the Manipur Assembly making the legislative activities paperless.

The Chief Minister said that one main objective for launching NeVA is to help (the Assembly) become more transparent, accessible, accountable, and effective in promoting democracy. Now, legislatures have been transformed into Digital Houses. 

This will be beneficial to the economy and environment,” he said.Singh said that the e-Assembly service is a prerequisite for e-democracy, a stage where ICT (Information and Communication Technology) forms an integral part of democratic expression.

“It would be a big platform for the country’s oneness by linking all legislatures of the country together in one platform,” the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister said that the Centre has identified 44 mission mode projects and that NeVA is one of the projects to facilitate paperless Assembly. Singh also highlighted the Vahan Application of the Transport Department and Digitisation and e-Archiving of Manipur Gazette' which were launched on Monday.

Addressing the function, Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh said that today we are living in a digital world and that NeVA aims at connecting legislatures of the Parliament and all Legislative Assemblies digitally.

The Speaker also spoke at length on the benefits of the House becoming paperless and the benefit it will have on the environment by minimising use of papers in the House.

He added NeVA symbolises the nation's unwavering commitment to leverage technology for the enhancement of democracy and governance.

“It is an end-to-end process-based platform, based on the principle One Nation, One Application,” he said.

Manipur assembly will hold its session from February 28 onwards. The government is expected to present a vote on account for four months.

The Manipur cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Saturday decided to present a Vote on Account for four months of the 2024-25. On August 29 last year a one-day session of the Manipur assembly was held. 

Ten Kuki-Zomi-Hmar MLAs of Manipur including two ministers did not attend the session. Most of the MLAs who did not attend the session cited security concerns in visiting and attending the assembly in Imphal.

Manipur witnessed unprecedented violent clashes, attacks, counter attacks and arsoning of houses, vehicles and government and private properties in more than 10 districts during and after May 3 'Tribal Solidarity March' called by the All-Tribal Students' Union of Manipur (ATSUM) to oppose the demand for inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe category.

At least 210 people have been killed and over 50,000 displaced since ethnic violence between the majority Meitei community and the tribal Kukis began on May 3 last year.