States and State LegislaturesRajasthan Government’s Response to COVID-19 (till April 26)Anoop Ramakrishnan- April 26, 2020As of April 26, Rajasthan has 2,083confirmed casesof COVID-19 (fifth highest in the country), of which 493 have recovered and 33 have died.  On March 18, the Rajasthan government had declared astate-wide curfewtill March 31, to check the spread of the disease.  A nation-wide lockdown has also been in placesince March 25and is currently,extended up to May 3.  The state has announced several policy decisions to prevent the spread of the virus and provide relief for those affected by it.  This blog summarises the key policy measures taken by the Government of Rajasthan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.Early measures for containmentBetween late January and early February, Rajasthan Government’s measures were aimed towardsidentification, screening and testing, andconstant monitoringof passenger arrivals from China.  Instructions were also issued to district health officials for variousprevention, treatment, & controlrelated activities, such as (i) mandatory 28-day home isolation for all travellers from China, (ii) running awareness campaigns, and (iii) ensuring adequate supplies of Personal Protection Equipments (PPEs).  Some of the other measures, taken prior to the state-wide lockdown, are summarised below:Administrative measuresThe government announced the formation of Rapid Response Teams (RRTs), at themedical college-leveland atdistrict-levelon March 3 and 5, respectively.The District Collector was appointed as theNodal Officerfor all COVID-19 containment activities.Control Roomswere to be opened at all Sub-divisional offices.  The concerned officers were also directed to strengthen information dissemination mechanisms and tackle the menace of fake news.Directives were issued on March 11 to rural health workers/officials to report forduty on Gazetted holidays.  Further, government departments wereshut downbetween March 22 and March 31.  Only essential departments such as Health Services were allowed to function on a rotation basis at 50% capacity and special / emergency leaves were permitted.Travel and MovementAir travellers were to undergo14-day home isolationand were also required to provide an undertaking for the same.  Besides, those violating the mandated isolation/quarantine were liable to bepunished under Section. 188of the Indian Penal Code.  Penalties are imposed under this section on persons for the willful violation of orders that have been duly passed by a public servant.All institutions and establishments, such as (i)educational institutions, theatres, and gyms, (ii)anganwadis, (iii)bars, discos, libraries, restaurantsetc, (iv)museums and tourist places, were directed to be shut down till March 31.The dailyJan Sunwaiat the Chief Minister’s residence was cancelled until further notice.  Various government offices were directed toshut downand exams of schools and colleges were postponed.On March 24, the government issued astate-wide banon the movement of private vehicles till March 31.Health MeasuresAdvisories regarding prevention and control measures were issued to: (i)District Collectors, regarding sample collection and transportation, hotels, and preparedness of hospitals, (ii)Police department, to stop using breath analysers, (iii)Private hospitals, regarding preparedness and monitoring activities, and (iv)Temple trusts, to disinfect their premises with chemicals.The government issued Standard Operating Procedures for conductingmock drillsin emergency response handling of COVID-19 cases.  Training and capacity building measures were also initiated for (i)Railways, Army personnel etcand (ii)ASHA workers, through video conferencing.A modelmicro-plan for containing local transmissionof COVID was released.  Key features of the plan include: (i) identification and mapping of affected areas, (ii) activities for prevention control, surveillance, and contact tracing, (iii) human resource management, including roles and responsibilities, (iv) various infrastructural and logistical support, such as hospitals, labs etc, and (v) communication and data management.Resource Management: Private hospitals and medical colleges were instructed toreserve 25 % of bedsfor COVID-19 patients.  They were also instructed toutilise facultyfrom the departments of Preventive and Social Medicine to conduct health education and awareness activities.Over 6000 Students ofnursing schoolswere employed in assisting the health department to conduct screening activities being conducted at public places, railways stations, bus stands etc.Further, the government issued guidelines to ensure therational use of PPEs.Welfare MeasuresThe government announced financial assistance, in the form ofencouragement grants, to health professionals engaged in treating COVID-19 patients.Steps were also taken by the government to ensurespeedy disbursal of pensionsfor February and March.The government also initiated the replacement of the biometric authentication with anOTP process for distribution of rationvia the Public Distribution System (PDS).During the lockdownState-wide curfew announced on March 18 has been followed by a nation-wide lockdown between March 25 and May 3. However, certainrelaxationshave been recommended by the state government from April 21 onwards.  Some of the key measures undertaken during the lockdown period are:Administrative MeasuresAdvisory groups and task forces were set up on – (i)COVID-19 prevention, (ii)Health and Economy, and (iii)Higher education.  These groups will provide advice on the way forward for (i) prevention and containment activities, (ii) post-lockdown strategies and strategies to revive the economy, and (iii) to address the challenges facing the higher education sector respectively.Servicesof retiring medical and paramedical professionals retiring between March and August have been extended till September 2020.Essential Goods and ServicesADrug Supply Control Roomwas set up at the Rajasthan Pharmacy Council.  This is to ensure uninterrupted supply of medicines during the lockdown and will also assist in facilitating home delivery of medicines.The government permittedFair Price Shopsto sell products such as masalas, sanitisers, and hygiene products, in addition to food grains.Village service cooperativeswere declared as secondary markets to facilitate farmers to sell their produce near their own fields/villages during the lockdown.AWhatsapp helplinewas also set up for complaints regarding hoarding, black marketing, and overpricing.Travel and MovementOnce lockdown was in place, the government issued instructions to identify, screen, and categorisepeople from other stateswho have travelled to Rajasthan.  They were to be categorised into: (i) people displaying symptoms to be put in isolation wards, (ii) people over 60 years of age with symptoms and co-morbidities to be put in quarantine centres, and (iii) asymptomatic people to be home quarantined.On March 28, the government announced theavailability of busesto transport people during the lockdown.  Further,stranded students in Kotawere allowed to return to their respective states.On April 2, aportaland ahelplinewere launched to help stranded foreign tourists and NRIs.On April 11, ane-pass facilitywas launched for movement of people and vehicles.Health MeasuresTo identify COVID-19 patients, district officials were instructed to monitorpeople with ARI/URI/Pneumoniaor other breathing difficulties coming into hospital OPDs.  Pharmacists were also instructedto not issue medicinesfor cold/cough without prescriptions.A mobile app –Raj COVID Info– was developed by the government for tracking of quarantined people.  Quarantined persons are required to send their selfie clicks at regular intervals, failing which a notification would be sent by the app.  The app also provides a lot of information on COVID-19, such as the number of cases, and press releases by the government.Due to the lockdown, people had restricted access to hospitals and treatment.  Thus, instructions were issued to utilise Mobile Medical Vans fortreatment/screeningand also asmobile OPDs.On April 20, adetailed action planfor prevention and control of COVID-19 was released.  The report recommended: (i) preparation of a containment plan, (ii) formation of RRTs, (iii) testing protocols, (iv) setting up of control room and helpline, (v) designated quarantine centres and COVID-19 hospitals, (vi) roles and responsibilities, and (vii) other logistics.Welfare MeasuresThe government issued instructions to make medicines available free of cost to senior citizens and other patients with chronic illnesses through the Chief Minister’sFree Medicine Scheme.Rs 60 crore was allotted toPanchayati Raj Institutionsto purchase PPEs and for other prevention activities.A one-timecash transfer of Rs 1000to over 15 lakh construction workers was announced.  Similar cash transfer of Rs 1000 was announced forpoor people who were deprived of livelihoodduring the lockdown, particularly those people with no social security benefits.  Eligible families would be selected through the Aadhaar database.  Further, an additionalcash transfer of Rs 1500to needy eligible families from different categories was announced.The state also announced an aid of Rs 50 lakh to the families offrontline workerswho lose their lives due to COVID-19.To maintain social distancing, the government will conduct adoor-to-door distributionof ration to select beneficiaries in rural areas of the state.  The government also announced the distribution offree wheatfor April, May, and June, under the National Food Security Act, 2013.  Ration will also be distributed to strandedmigrant families from Pakistan, living in the state.The government announcedfree tractor & farming equipment on rentin tie-up with farming equipment manufacturers to assist economically weak small & marginal farmers.Other MeasuresEducation:Project SMILEwas launched to connect students and teachers online during the lockdown.  Study material would be sent through specially formed Whatsapp groups.  For each subject, 30-40 minute content videos have been prepared by the Education Department.Industry:On April 18,new guidelineswere issued for industries and enterprises to resume operations from April 20 onwards.  Industries located in rural areas or export units / SEZs in municipal areas where accommodation facilities for workers are present, are allowed to function.  Factories have been permitted toincrease the working hoursfrom 8 hours to 12 hours per day, to reduce the requirement of workers in factories.  This exemption has been allowed for the next three months for factories operating at 60% to 65% of manpower capacity.For more information on the spread of COVID-19 and the central and state government response to the pandemic, please seehere.ParliamentFirst no-confidence motion of the 17th Lok Sabha discussed todayNiranjana Menon- August 8, 2023Discussion on the first no-confidence motion of the 17thLok Sabha began today.  No-confidence motions and confidence motions are trust votes, used to test or demonstrate the support of Lok Sabha for the government in power.  Article 75(3) of the Constitution states that the government is collectively responsible to Lok Sabha.  This means that the government must always enjoy the support of a majority of the members of Lok Sabha.  Trust votes are used to examine this support.  The government resigns if a majority of members support a no-confidence motion, or reject a confidence motion.So far, 28 no-confidence motions (including the one being discussed today) and 11 confidence motions have beendiscussed.  Over the years, the number of such motions has reduced.  The mid-1960s and mid-1970s saw more no-confidence motions, whereas the 1990s saw more confidence motions.Figure1: Trust votes in ParliamentNote: *Term shorter than 5 years; **6-year term.Source: Statistical Handbook 2021, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs; PRS.The no-confidence motion being discussed today wasmovedon July 26, 2023.  A motion of no-confidence is moved with the support of at least 50 members.   The Speaker has the discretion to allot time for discussion of the motion.  TheRules of Procedurestate that the motion must be discussed within 10 days of being introduced.  This year, the no-confidence motion wasdiscussed13 calendar days after introduction.  Since the introduction of the no-confidence motion on July 26, 12 Bills have been introduced and 18 Bills have been passed by Lok Sabha.  In the past, on four occasions, the discussion on no-confidence motions began seven days after their introduction.  On these occasions, Bills and other important issues were debated before the discussion on the no-confidence motion began.Figure2: Members rise in support of the motion of no-confidence in Lok SabhaSource: Sansad TV, Lok Sabha, July 26, 2023; PRS.Figure3: Number of days from introduction to discussion on no-confidence motionsNote: Number of days implies calendar days.Source: Statistical Handbook 2021, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs; PRS.On average, no-confidence motions (excluding the one being discussed today) have been discussed for 13 hours over three days.  Discussions have lasted longer than 20 hours on four instances, most recently in 2003.  Today’s no-confidence motion was allotted 12 hours discussion time by theBusiness Advisory Committee.Following the discussion, the motion is put to vote.  26 out of 27 no-confidence motions (excluding the one being discussed today) have been voted upon and rejected.  This means that no government has ever had to resign following a vote of no-confidence.   On one occasion, in 1979, the discussion on a no-confidence motion against the Morarji Desai government remained inconclusive.  He resigned before the motion was put to vote.  50% of all no-confidence motions (14 out of 28) were discussed between 1965 and 1975.  Of these, 12 were against governments headed by Indira Gandhi.Figure4: Duration of discussion on no-confidence motionsNote: This graph excludes the no confidence motion moved on July 26, 2023.Source: Statistical Handbook 2021, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs; PRS.In comparison, confidence motions have a more varied history.  The first motion, brought in 1979 to demonstrate confidence in Charan Singh’s government, was not discussed at all.  The Prime Minister resigned before the discussion could take place.  Since then, 11 confidence motions have been discussed in Lok Sabha, with nine occurring in the 1990s.  During this period, several coalition governments were formed, and Prime Ministers sought to prove their majority throughconfidence motions.   These motions have been discussed, on average, for 12 hours over two days.Figure5: Duration of discussion of confidence motionsSource: Statistical Handbook 2021, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs; PRS.Of the 11 confidence motions discussed in Lok Sabha, seven were accepted.  On three instances, governments had to resign as they could not prove that they had the support of the majority.  On one instance in 1996, the motion was not put to vote.  Following an eleven-hour discussion on this confidence motion, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee announced his intention to resign on the floor of the House.  He resigned 16 days into his term.Vajpayee became Prime Minister again in 1999, and faced another confidence motion.   This time, it was put to vote.   The motion was defeated by a margin of one vote.  This has been the closest result on a trust vote in the history of Lok Sabha.  The next closest result was when a motion of no-confidence against P V Narasimha Rao’s government was defeated by 14 votes in 1993.  In most cases, results have been in favour of the government by a large margin.«12345678910»
States and State LegislaturesRajasthan Government’s Response to COVID-19 (till April 26)Anoop Ramakrishnan- April 26, 2020