INDIA: India's parliament has installed defibrillators in the event of proceedings proving too stressful for MPs who have heart ailments. In addition to the 14 machines, which cost Rs 190,000 (€3,635) each, a fleet of specially-equipped ambulances was standing by when the winter session of parliament opened yesterday.
About 210 of the 543 Indian MPs elected during the summer are over 56 years of age and 35 are septuagenarians. Many of them reportedly suffer from cardiac-related ailments, which specialists fear could be aggravated by the bruising filibustering and aggression Indian parliamentary sessions are noted for. The defibrillators are being located in key places such as the parliamentary library and the inner lobbies of both houses of parliament.
India's bicameral parliament, modelled along British lines after independence 57 years ago, has a medical centre with 15 specialists standing by when both houses are in session.
Parliament's three-week-long winter deliberations are expected to be tempestuous due to deteriorating relations between the Congress Party-led federal coalition which defeated the Hindu nationalist government in a surprise outcome to the general election in May.