Author: Himanshi Dhawan, TNN
Publication: The Times of India
Date: May 11, 2016
URL:   http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Lok-Sabha-records-120-productivity-Rajya-Sabha-84/articleshow/52214660.cms

Despite deep fissures emerging between BJP and Congress over the AgustaWestland defence deal, Parliament suffered limited damage with Lok Sabha working overtime recording 120% productivity, while Rajya Sabha recorded 84%. LS had an unblemished record in conducting question hour so far with 100% productivity while question hour functioned 63% of the time in RS.

This is just a shade lower than the budget session 2016 when LS functioned 121% of the time and RS for 96%, according to analysis by PRS Legislative Research.

The Lower House worked for 79.10 hours, though it had allocated 66 hours for this session. RS lost 16% of its time working for 54.58 hours instead of the 65 hours allocated. Members listed 220 questions for a response in Lok Sabha of which 63 that is 29% were answered while in Rajya Sabha 46 of the 165 listed questions were answered orally.

While both Houses have had similar productivity figures, in recent times disruptions and adjournments have been more frequently seen in the Upper House where the ruling party has lower numbers.

Among the significant issues that were taken up were the AgustaWestland case which was taken up by known Gandhi family baiter Subramanian Swamy in his debut speech. This was followed by a fractious debate and defence minister Manohar Parikkar's reply in which he assured that action will be taken and Bofors would not be repeated.

Lok Sabha members discussed the water crisis and drought affecting large parts of the country and both Houses held discussions on the working of ministries of finance, human resource development, civil aviation and tourism.

Among the important legislations that have been passed by both Houses include the Anti-hijacking (Amendment) Bill, Sikh Gurdwara (Amendment) Bill and Constitution (Scheduled Caste) Amendment Bill, Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill and Appropriation Bill 2016.