States and State LegislaturesUP Government’s Response to COVID-19 (till April 22)Suyash Tiwari- April 23, 2020As of April 22, Uttar Pradesh has seen1,449cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and accounts for 6.8% of the total cases in India.  Of the 1,449 persons infected of the disease, 173 have recovered and 21 have died (3.1% of the total deaths in India due to the disease).  These proportions are quite lower as compared to the state’s share in the country’s population (16.5% as per Census 2011).  However, the same holds for the number of persons tested for COVID-19 as well, as of the4.85 lakhpersons tested in India,37,490persons (7.7%) have been tested in Uttar Pradesh.To mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the state, the state government has taken various measures over the past 2-3 months, spanning across areas such as health, law and order, and social welfare.  This includes imposition oflockdown in 16 districts starting March 23, which wasextended to the entire stateon March 24, before the nation-wide lockdown came into effect.   This blog post looks at the key measures taken by the state government in response to COVID-19 and the lockdown.Before the lockdownOne of the earliest steps the state government took in response to COVID-19 was on January 27, when it planned toset up a 10-bed isolation ward in every district hospital and medical college, and increased vigilance on the Indo-Nepal border and airports.  Subsequently, on March 15, it ordered all travellers coming from foreign countriesto be kept under surveillance and quarantinefor a period of 14 days.  Between March 13 and March 17, the government ordered the closure ofeducational institutions,cinema halls, museums, and tourist spotsto prevent public gatherings.   On March 20, this was extended to includemalls, and all religious, social, and cultural activities.  Further, to prevent unnecessary crowding, government hospitals were ordered to provide emergency services only.Welfare measures:The state government also undertook certain relief measures to provide aid to the persons affected due to COVID-19 and the consequent loss of economic activities.  These include: (i)free treatment for all persons infected with COVID-19, (ii) order to all employers to provide28-days paid leave to infected or quarantined personsunder the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, (iii) another order under the Act to all shops and factories to provide paid leave to all workers if the government orders temporary closure of their business, (iv)free one-month ration to 1.65 crore registered construction workers and daily wage labourersfor April, and (v) Rs 1,000 per month of direct cash support to 20.4 lakh registered construction workers, and to 15 lakh street vendors and other unregistered workers.During the lockdownDuring the lockdown, the state government’s measures have been aimed towards: (i) strengthening the medical response in the state, (ii) providing relief to various sections of the society from issues being faced during the lockdown, including UP migrants in other states, and (iii) addressing difficulties being faced in the supply of essential goods and services.For implementation of these measures, the government constituted 11 committeeson March 26 for the work related to various departments.  On April 13, similarcommittees were constituted under the respective Ministers.HealthcareMedical facilities:On March 23,committees were constituted in each district to determine the process for purchase of emergency medical equipment.   On March 25, the government orderedeach of the 51 government and private medical colleges in the state to set up isolation wards of 200-300 beds.   It also proposed to conduct training programmes at district-level forAYUSH doctors, nursing staff, retired health workers, and officers of army medical corps.   This was subsequently made more comprehensive by includinglab technicians, ward boys, and sweepers.Testing:On April 3, the government ordered setting up onetesting lab in every medical college, orin a district hospital, in case there is no medical collegein the district.   On April 20, the government decided to encourage the use ofpool testing within the stateto contain the spread of COVID-19.   It also approvedconsideration of plasma therapy as a treatment optionfor COVID-19.Funding:On April 3,the UP COVID Care Fund was set upfor strengthening treatment facilities in medical colleges, and for expenditure on personal protection equipment, test kits, ventilators, isolation and quarantine wards, and telemedicine.  Subsequently,two Ordinances were promulgatedon April 8 to deduct the salaries and allowances of Ministers, MLAs, and MLCs for 2020-21 by 30% to donate Rs 20 crore to the UP COVID Care Fund.   Further, Rs 1,509 crore was made available for the Fund by suspending the Local Area Development scheme for legislators for a period of one year.  In addition, the government increased the limit of the Contingency Fund from Rs 600 crore to Rs 1,200 crore through an Ordinance to allow for extra-budgetary expenditure on COVID-19 related measures.Hotspots:On April 8, the government sealed the hotspot areas across the state by prohibiting any movement in the area.Only medical, sanitisation, and doorstep delivery teams are allowed to enter and exit the hotspot areas, and all enterprises are required to be completely closed.  The government has also ordered fordoor-to-door checking of the residents living in hotspot areas.Essential goods and servicesOther than the distribution of ration, the state government is providing food to persons staying in night shelters, with community kitchens being set up for persons who are unable to cook.  On April 17, the government madeaccess to the Public Distribution System (PDS) universaltill June 30, irrespective of the availability of ration card and Aadhaar card.  In case of death of a person,his ration card, maintenance allowance, and other benefits will be provided to his familyas per their eligibility.To prevent profiteering from sale of essential goods, on March 28, the government ordered the shopkeepers todisplay the price list in their shops.   On March 29, the government decided that the supply of electricity and water will be ensured and theseconnections will not be cut for one month.  Subsequently, it also ordered thatfixed charges for electricity will not be levied for industriesduring the period of lockdown.  On April 3, the government orderedbanks to remain open on holidaysso that government relief assistance is available to the beneficiaries.MigrantsFrom other states:On March 26, the state government decided that migrant workers travelling through the state to other states such as Biharwill be provided food and shelter, and sent safely to their destination.  Subsequently, on March 28, the government decided toprepare the list of migrants who came to the state, provide them food, and keep them under surveillance and quarantine.  On April 22, the governmentallowed migrants from other states to go back to their home state if the respective state government decides to take them back.From UP:The state government requested other states to provide food and shelter to the migrants from UP present in their states, and requested the migrants to stay where they are.  To provide further support to migrants, the state government appointed senior administrative and police officials asnodal officers for each state where migrants from UP might be present.  These nodal officers are the main points of contact for migrants living in the respective states.  They are also responsible for coordinating with the respective state government and local administration to ensure the essential needs of migrants such as food and shelter are met, and alleviate their difficulties, if any.On April 19, the government brought nearly8,000 students who were studying in Kota back to the state.  The government allowed them to be kept inquarantine in their homes provided they download the Aarogya Setu app.EconomyThe state government is encouraging thepurchase of produce by Farmer Producer Organisations directly from farms as an alternate option to mandis.   On April 13, the government formed a committee of officials to prepare aworkplan for attracting investment made by countries such as USA and Japan, which is moving out of China, to the state.  In this regard, the government is planning tocontact the embassiesof various countries.  On April 19, it constituted anothercommittee to work towards providing employment to about 5 lakh migrant workers who have returned to the state in the last 45 days.  On April 20, the government alsoallowed construction work on expressway projects to beginafter preparation of an action plan.  In line with the advisories issued by the central government, the state government decided to providerelaxations from the lockdown in districts with less than 10 casesstarting April 20.  The district administrations are preparing action plans for opening up industries in these districts, excluding the ones situated in the hotspot areas.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 LegislaturesUP Government’s Response to COVID-19 (till April 22)Suyash Tiwari- April 23, 2020