States and State LegislaturesGovernment of West Bengal’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic (till April 18, 2020)Roshni Sinha- April 19, 2020With the spread of COVID-19, along with the central government, state governments have also announced several policy decisions to contain and prevent the spread of the virus.  In this blog post, we summarise some of the key measures taken by the government of West Bengal in this regard as of April 18, 2020.As of April 18, 2020, therehave been287 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in West Bengal. Of these, 55 have been discharged and 10 have died.  To manage patients, there are 66 COVID hospitals, eight testing laboratories, and 582 institutional quarantine centres in the state.Early response: Leading up to lockdownBetween January and February, the state government's efforts were aimed at raising awareness among citizens on COVID-19.  These include advisories on observing precautionary measures, and informing citizens on travel restrictions, home isolation, and screening protocols for foreign returnees.On March 2, the state government responded to the growing number of suspected cases byissuingguidelines for preparedness by government medical colleges and hospitals.   These covered admission, isolation and management of suspected COVID-19 cases.  These instructions wereextendedto private medical colleges and hospitals on March 7.  A week later, the governmentissuedprotocols for monitoring travellers at various state checkposts by joint teams of state police and paramedical staff, and for reference of symptomatic patients to isolation facilities in the district.  All cases had to be reported on a daily basis to district surveillance teams.  The government also announced theclosureof all educational institutions in the state (government and private) till March 31.On March 16, the governmentnotifiedthe West Bengal Epidemic Disease COVID-19 Regulations, 2020.These regulations specify screening and treatment protocol for COVID-19 patients, and empower the district administration to take containment measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.The next day, the statereportedits first confirmed case of COVID-19.  The government proceeded to issueorders: (i) for segregating isolation wards for suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases, (ii) specifying treatment protocols for confirmed cases, (iii) establishing medical boards in all COVID-19 hospitals with representation from different medical disciplines, and (iv) establishing fever clinics for suspected patients.Anganwadi centresandcrecheswere also closed, with provisions to ensure supply of two kilograms of rice and potatoes to each beneficiary.On March 21, the governmentorderedthe closure of certain establishments to restrict non-essential social gatherings till March 31, 2020.  This included closure of restaurants, clubs, amusement parks, and museums.  Further, alltrainsentering the state andinter-state buseswere banned till March 31, 2020.Subsequently, the government announced a lockdown.  In addition to steps for physical containment, the government also undertook various health and welfare measures.  These are detailed below.Measures taken post-lockdownOn March 22, a lockdown wasannouncedin 23 areas of the state until March 27.  Restrictions during the lockdown included: (i) prohibition on public gatherings of over seven people, (ii) suspension of public transport, and (iii) closure of shops, commercial establishments, offices and factories.  Establishments providing essential goods and services such as health services, print media, banks, groceries, and e-commerce delivery of food and groceries, were excluded from the restrictions.  Over the next few weeks, steps were taken to expand these exemptions, and to regulate the movement of goods and services.List of essential goods and services:  On March 24, the lockdown wasextendedtill March 31 in the entire state, and the exemptions were expanded to include industries producing coal, power, steel, or fertilisers.   After the centre notified a 21-day lockdown, the list of exemptions in the state was gradually expanded to include agricultural operations, fish production, tea garden operations, and operations in krishak bazars for marketing agricultural produce.  At the same time, restrictions wereplacedon hoarding of masks and hand sanitisers.Last week, after the central government extended the lockdown till May 3,orders were passed forresumptionof government offices from April 20 onwards at a strength of 25% of workforce.  Similar permission was also granted for restricted operations injute mills, andIT/IT enabled services.Regulating movement of goods and services:  A pass system wasintroducedon March 25 to regulate the movement of persons supplying essential goods and services.  Transportation of non-essential cargo wasprohibitedtill March 31, 2020.  However, as a one-time measure,permissionwas granted on March 26 to such vehicles to reach their destination.  Two days later, the governmentorderedfor the seamless movement of commodities in all district borders and interstate areas.Health MeasuresOn March 26, a Committee of Experts wasconstitutedto advise on strategies for isolation, quarantine, testing, health infrastructure, and disease prevention.  The Committee has beenissuingprotocols on clinical management of COVID-19 cases.  The government also established various monitoring committees on setting upisolation hospitals, managingcritical care, and toauditthe cause of deaths related to COVID-19 patients.To respond to the increasing number of patients, the governmentacquiredprivate healthcare facilities in April.  Further, to expand its testing capacity, the governmentrecommendedsample pooling for COVID-19 testing yesterday.In addition to these measures, the government also issued several guidelines, advisories and orders on containment of the virus, patient handling and protecting healthcare workers.  Some of these are detailed below:For healthcare facilities:Advisoryfor setting up of isolation facilities, orders forestablishmentof fever clinics to segregate patients with severe symptoms,separation zonesfor suspected cases to protect healthcare personnel, anduse ofhydroxychloroquine for asymptomatic healthcare workers.For government:Guidelinesfor cluster containment and treatment strategies to contain COVID-19 in hi-risk spots, directions forawareness generationamong rural population for containment, andarrangingfor counselling sessions for quarantined patients.Welfare/Austerity MeasuresCreation of relief fund:  The “West Bengal State Emergency Relief Fund” wascreatedon March 23 to mobilise additional resources to cope with the emergency.  On April 2, austerity measures wereannouncedby the government.   These include prohibition on announcement of new schemes, unless required in urgent public interest.Distribution of food:  Free entitlement of wheat and rice wasannouncedon March 26 to beneficiaries under some food subsidy schemes (including the Antyodaya Anna Yojana) until September, 2020.Measures for workers:   Directions werenotifiedin March for provisions on shelter, food, quarantine, wage payment, and continued tenancy for workers.Free insurance cover wasannouncedon April 1 for treatment of certain categories of persons, including heathcare workers, and police.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 LegislaturesGovernment of West Bengal’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic (till April 18, 2020)Roshni Sinha- April 19, 2020