AI cameras to record genuine attendance of MLAs during Assembly sessions in A.P.

Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Speaker Chintakayala Ayyanna Patrudu sounds relieved over the new AI-based camera attendance system that was introduced in the House from February 11, the first day of the Budget session.

Going forward, there could be decisions on steep pay cuts in the annual salaries of the members if they fail to attend the Assembly sessions, according to him.

Speaking to The Hindu in his chamber in the A.P. Assembly in Amaravati on Wednesday, Mr. Ayyanna Patrudu said, “It is a great relief. Now, the nine AI-based cameras deployed in the House will scan through and take attendance of the members with precision. The system starts recording the attendance for a few seconds from the moment a member sits in the designated seat. The system has been apparently introduced in a couple of State Assemblies and the Parliament.”

A bulletin was circulated among the members of the A.P. Legislative Assembly on February 10, informing them about the ‘recording of attendance through digital means’ and doing away with the system of signing in the attendance register.

The Budget session of the Assembly began on Wednesday with Governor S.A. Nazeer’s address and will continue till March 7.

Gross indiscipline

Detailing the necessity of introducing AI cameras for recording attendance, the Speaker said that there were some legislators who took the signature-based system for granted and it was a gross indiscipline on their part.

“For some members, there was no accountability. Some legislators used to randomly sign the register kept at the entrance, even for days they were not present. We wanted to check that,” the Speaker sums up.

‘11 YSRCP MLAs present for 11 minutes’

The Speaker cited instances when the members remained absent in the House.

“Even on the first day of this Budget session (February 11), the 11 YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) MLAs came to the Assembly and stayed exactly for 11 minutes and protested before leaving the House. The members should realise that people want them to raise public issues in the House,” Mr. Ayyanna Patrudu said.

There is a proposal under discussion, which may lead to a pay cut if the members remain absent during the Assembly sessions.

Quoting the general rule of employment, which denies payment for the absence of duty, Mr. Ayyanna Patrudu said, “In any system, employees don’t get paid in case of absenteeism. The same rule applies to the legislators. We are thinking on the lines of making a significant cut in the annual salary of the legislators who remain absent frequently during the Assembly Sessions,” the Speaker added.