Jallianwala Bagh to surrogacy: Here are the issues that will be discussed in Parliament today

New Delhi: The 250th session of Rajya Sabha started on Monday and Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the House. He said the Upper House has made historic decision in the past, and must not be made secondary.

The first day of the Winter Session witnessed massive protests by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) when they marched towards the Parliament and had fights with the police.

Several crucial and controversial bills are going to be tabled in the parliament between November 18 and December 13.

On day one, Minister of State for Finance, Anurag Thakur, moved the Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill, 2019 for consideration in the Lok Sabha. The Chit Funds Amendment Bill (2019) amends the 1982 Act to substitute the names of certain terms in the Act, and to allow subscribers to join via teleconferencing when the chit is drawn.

The issues to be put forth, today are:

1) The Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2019.

The Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2019, that was passed in the Lok Sabha in August, seeks to remove the Congress president as a permanent member of a trust that runs the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial. The Congress staged a walk out during this. The bill seeks to 'delete' the mention of 'President of the Indian National Congress' as a trustee. The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha by a voice vote. Previously, amendments moved by opposition parties were defeated by a division of votes.

2) The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019

The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019, that was passed in the Lok Sabha in August, seeks to ban commercial surrogacy in the country. The bill also provides for setting up of surrogacy boards at national and state levels. It seeks that the intending couples should not abandon such the child in any circumstance.

Bills for withdrawal to be discussed in the Parliament, are:

1) The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 1987

Union Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on day two of the 250th Session of the Rajya Sabha will move for leave to withdraw a Bill further to amend the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956. The Indian Medical Council Amendment Bill 1987, is aimed at improving the functioning of Medical Council of India.

2) The National Commission for Human Resources for Health Bill, 2011

Introduced in the Rajya Sabha by then Minister of Health and Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad on December 22, 2011, The National Commission for Human Resources for Health Bill seeks to establish a mechanism to determine and regulate the standard of health education in the country.

The Bill also seeks to set up the National Commission for Human Resources for Health (NCHRH), National Board for Health Education (NBHE), and the National Evaluation and Assessment Council (NEAC). It also establishes various professional councils at the national and state level and a NCHRH Fund to meet expenses.