Amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, the customary ‘Halwa ceremony’ before the commencement of the Budget Session of the Parliament on February 1, will not take place for the first time keeping the health and safety concerns of people and instead sweets will be provided to the core staff due to undergoing “lock-in” at their workplaces.
“To mark the final stage of the Union Budget making process, sweets were provided to the core staff due to undergo “lock-in” at their workplaces, instead of a customary Halwa ceremony every year in view of the prevailing pandemic situation and the need to observe health safety protocols,” the Finance Ministry said in an official statement.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2022-23 in a paperless form for the second time on February 1. Earlier, the Union Budget of 2021-22 was delivered in paperless form for the first time.
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It is worth mentioning that more than 400 staff of Parliament were tested COVID-19 positive in the first week of January. Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, who has also tested Covid positive, had reviewed the situation and directed that necessary measures be taken to contain the spread of the virus among the Secretariat officials and staff.
(With ANI inputs)