The Monsoon Session of the Rajasthan Assembly began on a dramatic note on Thursday, with Congress MLAs, led by Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully, arriving on tractors demanding compensation for farmers and others affected by heavy rain.
They attempted to enter the Assembly premises on tractors, but were stopped at the gates by security personnel and police, who had barricaded the entrance. For nearly half an hour, the MLAs staged a protest outside before entering on foot, holding banners and raising slogans for about 15 minutes.
Inside the Assembly, the proceedings were marked by uproar and sloganeering from the Opposition. Three Bills — the Rajasthan Appropriation (No. 3) Bill, the Rajasthan Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, and the Factories (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill — were introduced and passed by voice vote amid the commotion.
More time in factories
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sumit Godara said the amendment to the Factories Act, 1948, would benefit workers, boost women’s participation, encourage investment, generate large-scale employment, and accelerate industrial development.
The Bill extends weekly working hours, allows workers to be present for up to 10.5 hours daily in factories, and raises quarterly overtime from 75 to 144 hours. Workers can now work six hours without a break, while women may take night shifts with written consent. Godara said the amendments would strengthen competition and promote economic growth.
As soon as the post-lunch proceedings resumed at 2 pm, Opposition MLAs once again raised slogans over crop damage caused by heavy rains. Despite the protests, the ruling party tabled and passed the three Bills before the House was adjourned till 11 am on September 8.
Heated exchanges
The morning session also saw heated exchanges. During Question Hour, MLAs from Kaurali, Jodhpur, Hanumangarh, Sri Ganganagar, and Bhilwara raised concerns about the condition of government buildings, including schools, anganwadis, and hospitals. Their questions came in the wake of the Jhalawar school building collapse, which claimed the lives of 13 students in July. Ministers responded with details of repair budgets and allocations for different areas.
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While Tikaram Jully raised a question regarding the expansion of the Critical Tiger Habitat in the Sariska sanctuary, Speaker Vasudev Devnani ruled that the issue could not be listed as it was sub judice. Jully alleged that illegal mining was continuing in Sariska and accused the government of avoiding accountability.
Rain relief
Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma later released a press note directing MLAs to conduct intensive inspections of their constituencies on September 5, 6, and 7 to provide relief to people suffering due to excessive rain. Ministers in charge and secretaries were also asked to visit their regions for two days to address public grievances.
Sharma said that from June 1 to September 1, the state received 56% more rainfall than average. He urged MLAs to coordinate with district administrations to speed up relief operations, assuring that long-term solutions for recurring flood issues would also be implemented.
