Likely soon, dedicated TV channel to beam Kerala assembly proceedings

Likely soon, dedicated TV channel to beam Kerala assembly proceedings

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala will soon get a dedicated TV channel, tentatively named 'Sabha TV’, to take proceedings of the legislative assembly to the people.

Initially, it will be aired as a special programme on several existing TV channels. If found successful, and after evaluating its financial viability, Kerala could get its own assembly television on the lines of Rajya Sabha TV and Lok Sabha TV.

Initially, a two-hour programme is being planned. For this, the government has invited expression of interest from television channels. Sabha TV won't be confined to the period when the assembly is in session.

The programme will also feature the history of the assembly, discussions on the bills cleared by the assembly and their positive impacts, and the works being carried out in their respective constituencies by the MLAs.

The government will also try to explain to the viewers how the discussions and decisions taken in the assembly will benefit them. It will also take advantage of the online platform.

"The decision to launch Sabha TV was aimed at taking the serious and constructive sides of the assembly to the people," speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan told Onmanorama. "We also took into account how assembly debates tend to influence entertainment programmes these days," he added. As of now, it will be named 'Sabha TV', he said.

At present, TV channels have the right to telecast the question and answer session from 9 am to 10 am. However, the channels are not allowed during other sessions. An advisory committee consisting of MLAs and journalists has been set up for the launch of Sabha TV.

Paperless assembly

The Kerala assembly is set to turn fully digital soon. MLAs will have a computer at their seats. Instead of ministers giving answers based on notes prepared on paper, computers will be used for the purpose. About Rs 50 crore is spent annually for printing assembly documents. The speaker has proposed a 'paperless Kerala assembly'. Uralungal Society has begun work on the digital transformation.

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