Himachal Pradesh Leads the Way in Legislative Digitization with NeVA Launch

Himachal Pradesh is set to make another pioneering move in legislative digitization by adopting the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) during the upcoming Assembly session. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu will officially launch NeVA on December 18 at 11:00 AM, transitioning from the state’s existing e-Vidhan system to a unified national platform.

Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Pathania praised Himachal Pradesh’s trailblazing role in introducing the e-Vidhan Sabha system under former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and then-Speaker Brij Bihari Lal Butail. As the first state to implement the e-Vidhan system, Himachal Pradesh set a national standard for legislative digitization.

“The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs aims to unify the proceedings of all legislative bodies, including Vidhan Sabhas, Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha, under one platform,” said Pathania. NeVA 2.0 will make legislative discussions and proceedings accessible to the public through a single application.

Pathania emphasized that NeVA will bring Assembly proceedings to citizens’ fingertips, allowing anyone to access information on House discussions, questions raised by members, and responses provided.

The central government has allocated ₹8 crore for NeVA’s implementation in Himachal Pradesh. While the e-Vidhan model was originally Himachal’s creation, adapting to NeVA will require a complete system overhaul. Pathania acknowledged some initial shortcomings in the new platform but assured they would be addressed.

This transition to NeVA marks a significant step in enhancing transparency and accessibility in legislative proceedings. Once again, Himachal Pradesh is leading the way in e-governance reforms, solidifying its position as a forerunner in digitized legislative practices.