Those entering the Jharkhand Assembly during monsoon session will have to furnish their Covid-19 negative certificate issued by the health department. The Jharkhand Assembly has issued various Covid 19 safety measures during the monsoon session starting from September 18.

As per Assembly secretariat directives, Covid test will be mandatory for lawmakers and media persons entering the House. Lawmakers have been asked to carry out their Covid 19 test, 72 hours before the session starts. Moreover, if a lawmaker is tested Covid 19 positive, he or she can assign any other MLA to ask questions in the House on his or her behalf.

The MLA who has been tested Covid 19 positive can inform the Assembly secretariat 24 hours before the Assembly proceedings about this giving the name of MLAs, who can ask questions on his or her behalf.

The Assembly Secretary Mahendra Prasad on Tuesday held a meeting with his staff members issuing various safety measures ahead of the monsoon session. Prasad said, “We have issued a letter to all MLAs to get their Covid test and furnish the test report to the Assembly secretariat 72 hours before the Assembly proceedings. Also, the Covid test is also mandatory for media persons entering the Assembly for covering House proceedings.”

The Assembly secretariat has decided to issue such safety measures as in the past several lawmakers have been found Covid infected.

Four MLAs were found with Covid infection last Monday. The lawmakers found infected on Monday are former cabinet minister Nilkanth Singh Munda (Khunti), Shashi Bhushan Singh Mehta (Panki). Congress MLA from Barkagaon Amba Prasad and lone CPI-ML MLA from Bagodar Vinod Singh also tested positive for the virus.

Earlier, health minister Banna Gupta, drinking water and sanitation minister Mithilesh Thakur, BJP MLA and former minister CP Singh, former deputy chief minister and Silli MLA Sudesh Mahto too have been found with Covid infection. However, all these MLAs have recovered from infection.

Directions have also been issued to media persons covering the House proceedings. Media persons entering the House too have to furnish Covid negative certificate at Assembly secretariat 72 hours before the proceedings.

As the House proceedings are being held during corona pandemic time, the sitting arrangement of MLAs too has been arranged keeping social distance in mind. Use of masks, sanitizers and gloves has been made mandatory for lawmakers, media persons and other staff of Assembly. 

At Assembly entrance gates thermal screening of all MLAs will be done.