Parliament HIGHLIGHTS: Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha adjourned till 11 am Monday

The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019, introduced by Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot, provides a mechanism for their social, economic and educational empowerment.

The Delhi government should cooperate in implementing the newly launched central scheme Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) under which Rs 6,000 is paid in three equal instalments annually to each farmer who owns land, Minister of State for Agriculture Parshottam Rupala said in the Rajya Sabha.

The Centre had launched the PM-KISAN scheme just before the Lok Sabha elections. Most states are implementing the scheme barring few states especially Delhi and West Bengal. Replying to supplementaries in the Question Hour, the Minister said, "Farmers in Delhi have not been able to benefit from the PM-KISAN because the state government has not yet submitted the required data of registered farmers."

The Centre is ready to release funds once the data is submitted to the Union Agriculture Ministry, he said. "There are some issues related to land.... The state government should cooperate in implementing the scheme," the Minister said in the Upper House. (PTI)

BJP MP Satya Pal Singh said the government is committed to protecting the human rights. "Human rights for 'right people' and should be protected - not the 'terrorists' and 'rapists," he added.

The  Upper House has been adjourned  till 2:30 pm

As Lok Sabha on Friday began discussing a bill to amend the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, the government said, will make the National Human Rights Commission and state human rights commission more representative and powerful. The amendment reduces the tenure of chairpersons of national and state human rights bodies to three years from the current five years. It also stipulates that besides a former chief justice of India, as is the current requirement, a former Supreme Court judge can also become NHRC chairperson.

Similarly, a former high court judge can also become a state human rights commission chairperson besides a high court chief, according to the bill. The new bill provides for including the chairpersons of the National Commission for Backward Classes, the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights and the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities as members of the NHRC.

Meanwhile, in the Karnataka assembly, there seems to be no end in sight to the Karnataka political crisis as Speaker Ramesh Kumar said that the Governor’s order to complete the floor test by 1.30 pm should be decided by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy since the letter was sent to him. The assembly has been adjourned till 3 pm.

Meanwhile, in Rajya Sabha, members Friday voiced concern over incidents of buildings collapse and the resultant casualties and suggested cheaper loans to people for repair of their old buildings.

Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, senior Congress member Viplove Thakur cited several incidents of building collapse including the recent one in Mumbai which led to several fatalities.

"This matter is becoming serious," she said and demanded that a law should be framed to address such issues including
fire safety.

Lok Sabha discusses The Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2019. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor calls the legislation 'piecemeal and cosmetics' and brought up the NRC and questions the government's concern of human rights.

Shashi Tharoor, Congress in Lok Sabha: 57 people in Assam have committed suicide because the National Register of Citizens (NRC) has excluded them, ironically, the majority of these people are Hindus. pic.twitter.com/U0ifac5A4F

— ANI (@ANI) July 19, 2019

Lok Sabha resumed. Leader of Opposition Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the bill is not being introduced according to the rules. He claims that the amendments to the legislation can prove to be dangerous to the fundamental rights of the citizens. He quotes a standing commission report that said that it will undermine and pressurise the Information Commission.

Lok Sabha adjourned following uproar in the house over the RTI amendment bill, 2019.

MoS Jitendra Singh moved to introduce to amend the Right to Information Act, 2005. Leader of Opposition, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary opposed the introduction of the bill.  AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi opposed the bill saying that it lacks competency. 

Minister of Parliament Shashi Tharoor shares concerns regarding drop-out rate of girls from school. He asks for a bill that ensures mensuration-workshop for girls in school. Vardhan responded saying that through the HRD ministry many projects regarding mensuration and sanitation are being conducted in different schools. Vending machines have been installed in school toilets.

The government is considering extending the ongoing session of Parliament by at least two to three days to complete its legislative business, sources said Friday to PTI.

At the BJP's parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said the session can be extended, if required. The ongoing session of the 17th Lok Sabha has been the most productive in the last 20 years, with the Lower House registering 128 per cent productivity till Tuesday, according to think tank PRS Legislative Research. The first session of the 17th Lok Sabha began on June 17 and is scheduled to conclude on July 26.

Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said the government is aiming to Tuberculosis by 2025 and for which the govt will provide help with medicines for free.

Lok Sabha proceedings begin.  Minister of Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan presents paper regarding malnutrition.  He also responded to questions regarding the immunisation of children and various vaccinations available. 

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP,  Sougata Ray also gave Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha over "kidnapping of Karnataka MLAs".   The ruling coalition strength is 117— Congress 78, JD(S) 37, BSP 1, and nominated 1, besides the Speaker. With the support of the two independents, the Opposition BJP has 107 MLAs in the 225-member House. If the resignations of the 15 MLAs — 12 from Congress and 3 from JD(S) — are accepted, the ruling coalition’s tally will come down to 101 (excluding the Speaker), reducing the 14 month-old Kumaraswamy government to a minority. Follow | Karnataka floor test LIVE 

The future of the shaky Congress-JD(S) coalition in Karnataka is likely to be decided today as Governor Vajubhai Vala has directed Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who has been battling dissidence to save his government, to prove its majority on the floor of the House by 1.30 pm.

Congress gives Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha over "current political situation in Karnataka". pic.twitter.com/XX9X8IUFF4

— ANI (@ANI) July 19, 2019

Both the houses of parliament will commence at 11 am today. 

Welcome to our Live blog. A number of bills will be introduced in the Lok Sabha today. The Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2019, The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2019, The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill and The Right to Information (Amendment)Bill, 2019 will be taken up for consideration.