Digitisation of Tamil Nadu Assembly proceedings since 1952 is on: Speaker Appavu

Digitisation of Tamil Nadu Assembly proceedings since 1952 underway, with plans to digitise proceedings from 1921 to 1952.

People would soon have access to the historic proceedings of Tamil Nadu Assembly as digitisation of the House proceedings since the year 1952 is going on, Speaker M. Appavu said in Tirunelveli on Tuesday (May 27, 2025).

In an informal chat with journalists after participating in the foundation stone laying ceremony for the senior citizens’ home coming up in Palayamkottai, Mr. Appavu said active steps had been initiated for digitising the Assembly proceedings since 1952 so that the people could access the historic speeches made in the Assembly by legendary leaders on different topics. Besides, efforts are on to digitise the Assembly proceedings between 1921 and 1952 too.

“I can assure you that the ongoing digitisation exercise will be completed before the tenure of the current Assembly,” Mr. Appavu said.

On the live telecast of the Assembly proceedings, the Speaker said the Assembly had formulated norms for streaming live the question hour and discussions were on for live telecasting other sessions too. The legislators were being sensitised on using parliamentary words to maintain the dignity and decorum of the House even during heated debates, he said.

“We are keen that there should be no politicising of any issue taken-up for debates in the Assembly and hence we are contemplating the possibilities of live telecasting all proceedings of the Assembly. We will never say ‘no’ like the previous (AIADMK) regime,” Mr. Appavu said.

Adverting to other issues, he said the locals living around the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project should be given priority in the recruitment of the personnel for ‘C’ category posts in KKNPP. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), the proponent of KKNPP, was giving preference for the locals and the land-losers who had given their lands for the project, till 2011 and the situation changed after 2011. Hence, the locals protested against KKNPP, which was forced to call off the written exam.

“Hence, we are holding talks with the KKNPP and the NPCIL for giving priority for locals in recruitment,” the Speaker said.