2nd day of NeVA: From paper to iPad, Gujarat MLAs taking it slow but steady

Now, with a stylus, he draws on the Apple Notes application on his iPad before delivering a speech in the ongoing monsoon session of the House that began Wednesday.

“I am an illiterate person. I cannot read or write. Before delivering a speech in the House, I used to make pointers for my speech by making drawings of my thoughts on a piece of paper. I have specific drawings in my mind for my thoughts. And through small drawings, I make pointers on paper that I refer to while delivering a speech,” Jadeja told The Indian Express.

He said that with the Assembly going digital, he is trying to adapt himself to the new system. “When this system was being implemented, I was told that I can make my drawings on the tablet. So, I have started doing it on the tablet. It is taking more time to draw on the tablet, but with practice, I will pick up pace,” he added on the second day of the paperless session of the Gujarat Assembly.

NeVA, which enables MLAs to function from the iPads attached to their desks and another one given to them for feeding issues they need to highlight, was inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu in the Gujarat Assembly Wednesday.

As the Assembly is going through a transition phase when people have to convert to the digital form of procedure from the physical form, Jadeja’s case is being cited as an example by authorities, including Speaker Shankar Chaudhary, to highlight that the system is quite easy, effective and anyone can adapt to it.

A senior officer of the Gujarat Assembly associated with the digital transformation of the House, preferring anonymity, said, “The MLAs have been responding very well to the new system. We have been helping them with various features of the system to be explored and to highlight how helpful the new system is. And all of them have been very quick in adapting to the digital form of functioning. Some of them have even come for more than once to our training centre to learn various things. They are showing immense development in terms of working electronically. We have not received any complaints from them.”

Jadeja was among those who sought assistance from the officials. “We explained to him that the same thing (making drawings) can be done on the Notes feature of the iPad. And, he has started doing it,” the officer added.

For the transition from physical to digital, the Assembly authorities have hired 20 IT professionals as assistants in the project through outsourcing. All of them will be in the House to provide technical support to the MLAs in case they require any help in dealing with the iPad during the session.

To ensure smooth functioning of the digital Assembly, the authorities have got a special dedicated line under the GSWAN (Gujarat State Wide Area Network) for high-speed internet.

Applauding the digital system, tech-savvy BJP MLA Pravin Mali (38) said, “This system is very good. It has made the availability of documents easy. Also, we get full answers of the ministers to our questions in PDF. So, we can access it whenever we wish. It is also saving our time since our presence is getting registered through the digital system with our login. Also, we can access any old speech very easily on the platform. The (digital) experience is just different; it has increased our efficiency (in the House).”

“Unlike the common perception that this system will be very difficult for MLAs to adapt, all the MLAs have got used to it easily. The e-book software (on which the system runs) is easy to use. Whenever any MLA faces any problem in operating it, the IT professionals are always there to help immediately,” Mali added.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) working president and Dediapada MLA Chaitar Vasava said, “Earlier I would have to carry bulky papers to the Assembly. Now, I can feed it all on the iPad.”

Jamalpur Congress MLA Imran Khedawala (54) said, “I like the system very much. It is very useful. It is necessary also as everything is going high-tech these days. We can access our questions and answers anytime on the iPad. I am using it and my experience is good.”

However, he pointed out that currently most of the MLAs are not fully utilising the facility. “Many MLAs are coming with their speeches on a paper. Even during Question Hour, we get (top 30 priority questions) in a hard booklet. Most MLAs refer to it during the discussion in the Question Hour. I think it is because of its novelty. I am sure that all will learn it fast as the system is not difficult. Young MLAs will adapt fast. The older ones may take some time to adapt,” Khedawala added.