Member sworn

CONCERN OVER NON-UTILISATION OF MPLADS FUNDS IN ODISHA DUE TO POOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SCHEME

IN THE STATE

SHRI RAMA CHANDRA KHUNTIA (ODISHA): My MPLAD fund has not been released as utilisation report has not come from Odisha. I have given a proposal for more than Rs.8 crores. Funds of Rs.6 crores have already been received by the State Government. Project given in 2008 has not been implemented in Jajpur district. In spite of my repeated requests, no review has been done by the State Government at its level. Even work for digging of 84 drinking water tube wells has not been implemented. Odisha State Government circular of digging tube wells and electrification of villages has not been implemented. Without Government orders, there are different rules and differential treatment for different MPs.

I urge upon the Government to direct the State Government for early implementation of such projects and also implement the MPLADS projects through CPSUs.

(Ends)

GSP-9H
DEMAND TO TAKE STEPS TO REMOVE PROCEDURAL IRREGULARITIES SO AS TO RELEASE THE INDIANS LANGUISHING IN JAILS IN GULF COUNTRIES



DR. T. N. SEEMA (KERALA): Sir, I would like to raise the issue of Indians languishing in the jails in Gulf countries for many petty offences. Many Indians have been caught by the authorities in Saudi Arabia and other countries on the charges such as fleeing from their sponsors, possessing illegal work permits or having no work permits. They have been sentenced and are serving terms in prisons. After their prison terms end, they can return to the home country only if the Indian Embassy issues an Out-pass or an Emergency Certificate. The practice is that the foreign embassy officials visit the prisons, and, after speaking to the prisoners, recommend issuance of Out-passes.

Earlier, the Embassy used to issue Out-passes based on proof regarding electoral identity cards or driving licenses. Nowadays, they are insisting on photocopy of the Indian passports of the prisoners. Sir, most of these unfortunate prisoners have lost their passports or deposited them with their former sponsors from where they have fled, due to exploitation and lack of promised facilities. They are languishing in jails much beyond their normal sentence period of four months. They should be allowed to return to their homeland on humanitarian grounds, if they can produce proof of their identity. The Indian Embassy officials should be directed to visit the prisons in Dammam and other places in Saudi Arabia at more frequent intervals, and, help the poor people locked up their, to return to India.

(Ends)

SK/9J

DEMAND FOR SPECIAL CARE AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO WOMEN AND CHILDREN AFFECTED FROM NATURAL DISASTERS
MS. MABEL REBELLO (JHARKHAND): Over the last decade or so, natural disasters have struck India in various forms. Most of these have happened in rural and coastal areas. It has affected the poor, and most specially the women, adversely. Women in rural areas and slums lead a sub-standard life and natural disasters further worsen their living conditions, pushing them almost on the brink of illness and even death.

Calamities are so humungous and so swift that by the time the relief reaches the people, a large number of women and children fall sick and at times even die. With these calamities, poverty gets accentuated, specially among women. They suffer from food inadequacy, lack of clean drinking water, sanitation, medical care, accommodation and other basic infrastructure.

The trauma of a natural disaster exposes the strengths and weaknesses in relationships, and a dramatic rise in violence against women consistently follows the advent of natural disasters.

Natural disasters and the ensuing relocation and reconstruction efforts present unique challenges to women in developing countries. Successful relief and rebuilding strategies must anticipate these obstacles in order to minimize danger to women’s safety and leverage their potential to contribute to the re-development of their communities and countries. In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, threats to women’s physical safety increase exponentially.

Poverty in India has a feminist angle because of historical reasons. India is a patriarchal society. Industrialization and education came to India lately.

If we are able to bring women above poverty level, then we can certainly bring the whole nation, its entire people, above the scourge of poverty. It is vital for the wellbeing of the nation as a whole.

I, therefore, urge that special care and financial assistance must be given to natural disaster relief measures.

(Ends)

Nb/9K

DEMAND TO INCLUDE THE CITIES OF MADHYA PRADESH

IN THE MASTER PLAN FOR AVAILABILITY OF POWER

FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTRY

----
सुश्री अनुसुइया उइके (मध्य प्रदेश) : उपसभापति जी, मैं इस विशेष उल्लेख के माध्यम से भारत सरकार का ध्यान इस ओर आकर्षित करना चाहती हूं कि औद्योगिक विकास के लिए आधारभूत आवश्यकता ऊर्जा की बेहतर उपलब्धता के लिए मास्टर प्लान तैयार किया जा रहा है, जिसमें मध्य प्रदेश के किसी भी शहर को शामिल नहीं किया गया है, जब कि उत्तर प्रदेश व गुजरात के दो-दो शहर और महाराष्ट्र के तीन शहर शामिल किए गए हैं। तो मध्य प्रदेश से एक भी शहर क्यों शामिल नहीं किया गया? Electric Power Survey के लिए ग्रेटर नौएडा, मुंबई, नागपुर, पुणे, कोलकाता, चेन्नई, हैदराबाद, सूरत, जयपुर, कानपुर और लखनऊ को शामिल किया गया है। केन्द्रीय इलेक्ट्रिक पावर कमेटी ने केन्द्रीय विद्युत प्राधिकरण से बिजली तंत्र के सुनियोजित विकास के लिए मास्टर प्लान बनाने की सिफारिश की थी। इसके तहत इस दिशा में कार्यवाही शुरू की गई है।

सर्वे में मध्य प्रदेश को शामिल न करके केन्द्र सरकार ने यह स्पष्ट कर दिया है कि वह ऊर्जा के विकास के लिए मास्टर प्लान में मध्य प्रदेश को कुछ भी देने को तैयार नहीं है। विकास की दिशा में निरंतर नए आयाम तय कर रहे मध्य प्रदेश की उपेक्षा की गई है। दूसरी ओर जिन शहरों को सर्वे में शामिल किया गया है, उनमें से अधिकांश में पहले ही बिजली का तंत्र सुदृढ़ है तथा नए सिरे से सर्वे होने के बाद केन्द्र उन्हें और सुदृढ़ करने हेतु वित्तीय मदद उपलब्ध कराएगा।

अतएव मैं भारत सरकार से अनुरोध करना चाहती हूं कि बिजली तंत्र के सुनियोजित विकास के लिए तैयार किए जा रहे मास्टर प्लान में मध्य प्रदेश के जबलपुर, इंदौर, भोपाल और ग्वालियर शहरों को भी शामिल किया जाए।

(समाप्त)

YSR/9L

DEMAND TO TAKE ACTION TO STRENGTHEN CAPABILITIES OF INDIAN ARMY

SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR (KARNATAKA): Sir, I draw your attention to media reports about the unpreparedness of the Indian Army essentially on account of slow pace of its modernisation, shortage of warfare equipment procurement, delay in replenishment/recruitment of officers and lack of infrastructure.

The Indian Army is crippled with a shortage of 12,000 young officers who actually lead its sections and companies in the battle. Its 400-odd infantry battalions are currently functioning with less than half the sanctioned strength of 40 officers.

It is shocking to note that there is a delay of more than a decade on commissioning two critical projects to equip infantry with modern assault rifles, night vision devices and devices for high speed encrypted communication and another Field Artillery Modernisation Plan.

This issue assumes greater significance in view of the fact that our neighbour China has been aggressively building up along the Leh border and Arunachal Pradesh with connecting roads and rail network, increasing its troops on the border and strengthening capabilities to amass a million troops in a short duration – while we are still grappling with bureaucratic issues.

These deficiencies are extremely worrying, and put the nation at a formidable risk. I urge the Government to take immediate action to strengthen the capabilities of the Indian Army.

(Ends)

9m/kgg

NEED TO INITIATE STEPS TO BRING PPP PROJECTS UNDER

THE PURVIEW OF THE R.T.I. ACT

--
SHRI K.N. BALAGOPAL (KERALA): The PPP Schemes and Projects now continue as a grey area for invoking the Right To Information (RTI) Act. Huge public money and assets are always involved in these projects. Though functioning as Quasi-Government Bodies, the PPP entities are unwilling to divulge facts to the public.

Even though the Central Information Commission (CIC) held PPPs as 'public authority' as defined under the RTI Act, because of lack of clarity of some provisions, the courts had to intervene in this area and stayed some of the decisions of the Information Commission. The role of the Private Sector in the growth of the infrastructural facilities is important. But, in the name of private investment, PPP Projects should not be a platform for looting resources through the unholy political-business-bureaucracy nexus.' There are around 1000 PPPs in various stages and in diverse segments, including roads, ports, education, health and so on. The Department of Economic Affairs puts the estimated costs at above Rs.3,83,300 crores as on July, 2011. And 50 per cent of PPP funding, during the 12th Plan, is expected to come via the private route. Surely, the idea of transparency and accountability cannot be taken lightly.

Private players participating in PPP projects will come under the definition of 'public authority' as per section 2 (h) of the RTI Act. Here, this includes 'Non-Government Organization substantially financed directly or indirectly by funds provided by the appropriate Government’. So, necessary unambiguous clauses should be included in the Act and Rules to bring Projects under the ambit of the RTI Act.

(Ends)
KR/9N/
CONCERN OVER INCIDENCE OF CANCER IN PUNJAB'S MALWA REGION
DR. GYAN PRAKASH PILANIA (RAJASTAN): Mr Deputy Chairman, Sir, it is a matter of graver concern that Punjab's Malwa Region (the State's cotton belt), south of the Sutlej river which has ten districts, namely, Bathinda, Faridkot, Moga, Muktsar,
Ferozepur, Sangrur and Mansa are fighting battles against hydra-headed health issues: cancer to neural canal defects in infants, uterine, breast among women and cancer of oesophagus, lymphoma and leukemia are prevalent. Seven to hundred cancer patients travel to Bikaner every night in "Cancer Train" (Abohar, Jodhpur passenger) for cheap treatment.

The lush fields hide a scary tale. Farmers live in a disturbing cesspool of toxicity, a result of excessive and unregulated use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Punjab farmers' use of pesticides i 923 h/ha, way above the national average of 570 g/ha (grams per hectare).

Malwa is also Punjab's cotton belt; cotton crops are prone to pests. Farmers here use, at least, 15 different pesticide sprays.

Fertilizer use is also sky high: at 380 kg/ha (kilo per hectare). It is the highest in India, almost three times the national average of 131 kg/ha, as per the National Centre for Agricultural Economics and Policy Research. Add to that the contaminated water with high heavy - metal toxicity and you have a lethal cocktail. In view of the above eerie facts, I would urge hon. Minister of Health and Family Welfare to take corrective steps.

(Ends)
(Followed by 9o)

(followed by 1p – sk/nb)

SK-NB/1P/12.10

श्री विक्रम वर्मा : उपसभापति जी, मध्य प्रदेश के ऐसे अनेक लोग हैं, जो गोवा में सत्याग्रह करते हुए मारे गए हैं, उनका उल्लेख भी इसमें होना चाहिए ... (व्यवधान)

श्री उपसभापति : सुबह उल्लेख हो गया है।

श्री रुद्रनारायण पाणि : उपसभापति जी, गोवा मुक्ति आंदोलन में ... (व्यवधान)

SHRI K.N. BALAGOPAL: Sir, I gave a notice to raise an important issue during Zero Hour. ..(Interruptions)..

MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: That can be discussed with the Chairman. ..(Interruptions).. Please ..(Interruptions).. I request you one thing. If you have given a notice to raise some issue during Zero Hour, if it has not been admitted, you please meet the Chairman. Don’t raise it in the House because ..(Interruptions)..

SHRI K.N. BALAGOPAL: In the State of Tamil Nadu ..(Interruptions)..

MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: I agree ..(Interruptions).. I agree but ..(Interruptions).. If the Chairman has not admitted, you cannot comment on it here. ..(Interruptions).. Please sit down. ..(Interruptions)..

SHRI K.N. BALAGOPAL: Sir, the issue was ..(Interruptions)..

MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: You take it up with the Chairman. ..(Interruptions).. You have given a notice. The notice has not been admitted. I cannot discuss it here. ..(Interruptions)..

SHRI P. RAJEEVE: It is a very serious issue, Sir. ..(Interruptions)..

श्री रुद्रनारायण पाणि : उपसभापति जी, गोवा मुक्ति आंदोलन में हमारे उड़ीसा के ऐसे स्वतंत्रता सेनानी हैं, जिनको स्वतंत्रता सेनानी का दर्ज़ा ... (व्यवधान)

श्री उपसभापति : आप नोटिस दीजिए, आप नोटिस देकर उनका मैंशन कीजिए, ... (व्यवधान) मैंशन करेंगे ... (व्यवधान)

SHRI K.N. BALAGOPAL: Sir, the issue I wanted to raise ..(Interruptions)..

MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: No, no, you meet the Chairman. ..(Interruptions).. I request all the hon. Members ..(Interruptions).. Please ..(Interruptions).. Once you give a notice on Zero Hour, that does not mean that it will be automatically admitted. It has to be verified. It has to be examined whether it comes within the Zero Hour. There is a criterion on what should be admitted during Zero Hour and what should not be. We have also issued a bulletin on what comes under the Zero Hour. So, the Chairman decides which notice is to be accepted and which notice is not to be accepted. If you want to impress upon that this issue is very important, kindly meet the Chairman. If you raise it in the House, it will be very difficult, please.

SHRI KUMAR DEEPAK DAS: But, Sir, you gave an assurance in this House itself..(Interruptions)...

SHRI BIRENDRA PRASAD BAISHYA: Sir, you have given an assurance. ..(Interruptions)..

MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: I agree that you have given a notice. ..(Interruptions).. You please meet the Chairman. Let us now take up Special Mentions. Shri Ambeth Rajan, please lay it.

SHRI M. VENKAIAH NAIDU: Sir, the House is not able to know what is happening. You are calling some name. Somebody is saying yes, somebody is laying it. ..(Interruptions)..

MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: They are laying the Special Mentions.

SHRI M. VENKAIAH NAIDU: What are they laying, Sir?

MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: We have permitted. They can say the subject. ..(Interruptions).. They are not doing it. I am not objecting to it. They can say the subject. ..(Interruptions)..

SHRI M. VENKAIAH NAIDU: That I understand, but in such an important House, when you are giving them a chance, they should be allowed to read at least one line, two lines or three lines. ..(Interruptions)..

MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: I have not said not to say the subject. ..(Interruptions)..

SHRI S.S. AHLUWALIA: But, Sir, in the Rule Book, it is written that three minutes will be given for a Special Mention. The Rule Book says this. So, while accepting the Special Mention, you should ..(Interruptions)..

MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: The House also ..(Interruptions)..

SHRI M. VENKAIAH NAIDU: What is the purpose?..(Interruptions)..

SHRI S.S. AHLUWALIA: I would like to submit that ‘Special Mention’ means "विशेष महत्वपूर्ण मुद्दे सरकार का ध्यान आकर्षित करने के लिए"। So, what is the purpose of that? Only laying is not going to serve the purpose, Sir.

(Followed by ysr-1Q)

-SK/YSR-MP/12.15/1Q

MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: Several times the House agreed and I also agreed that it should be read. (Interruptions) We are getting a number of notices. (Interruptions) Because of paucity of time Members themselves said so. (Interruptions) Because in this case they are going to get the reply. The Members are anxious to see that this is ..(Interruptions)..

DR. V. MAITREYAN: I don’t even know what Balagopal has given. (Interruptions)

MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: Dr. Maitreyan, I have not said that you don’t mention the subject. Why are you raising it? (Interruptions) They are free to do it. (Interruptions)

SHRI M. VENKAIAH NAIDU: Sir, I have a humble submission. One purpose is to get the reply from the Minister and second is that the concerned people of the State should know that so-and-so Member has raised so-and-so issue. (Interruptions)

MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: I have no objection if you read it. (Interruptions)

SHRI RUDRA NARAYAN PANY: Sir, why the Members are not..(Interruptions)..

MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: Because you disturbed the House for a number of days. (Interruptions) Okay, we will take note of it. (Interruptions)

SHRI RUDRA NARAYAN PANY: Sir, this puts psychological pressure on Members. (Interruptions)

MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: Panyji, we will take note of your concern. (Interruptions)

श्री रामदास अग्रवाल : उपसभापति महोदय, मैं आपसे एक निवेदन करना चाहता हूं। पिछले कई सत्रों में मैंने देखा है कि स्पेशल मेन्शन को केवल lay किया जाता है। या तो आप यही तय कर दीजिए कि स्पेशल मेन्शन का कोई मतलब नहीं है और अगर मतलब है तो सदस्यों को उसे पढ़ने का मौका दिया जाना चाहिए। केवल lay करने का सिस्टम ठीक नहीं है।

श्री उपसभापति : ठीक है, I agree.

श्री रामदास अग्रवाल : यह बहुत ज्यादा हो चुका है। हर सत्र में यही देखा जाता है।

MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: I agree. We will discuss this.

श्री रामदास अग्रवाल : हर बार यही कहा जाता है, आप lay कर दीजिए, मामला खत्म हो गया। उपसभापति महोदय, lay करने का क्या मतलब है?

MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: We are doing it by consensus.

श्री रामदास अग्रवाल : महोदय, इस सिस्टम को आप बदलिए।

श्री उपसभापति : ठीक है।

श्री रामदास अग्रवाल : यह हमारी आपसे प्रार्थना है। आप इस सिस्टम को बदलिए। आप चाहे पांच स्पेशल मेन्शन लीजिए या दस लीजिए, लेकिन ...(व्यवधान)...

श्री उपसभापति : अब इसके ऊपर discussion हो जाएगा? ...बैठिए...बैठिए।

श्री रामदास अग्रवाल : इसको स्पेशल मेन्शन नाम क्यों दिया गया है?

DR. M.S. GILL: Sir, this issue is beyond party. This is a very important matter of worthwhile and effective functioning of the democratic House. I know that you, in the past, allowed, by consensus, where every Member stands up and says, “I lay” and then sits down. We don’t know the subject. Mr. Naidu is right, the public, the State, and even these gentlemen should know that this is a matter of importance. I would request you to go back on this. (Interruptions)

MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: Rules are there. But, in fact, we had done it a number of times. It is not the intention of the Chair to not allow you to read it. It is done because of paucity of time. Sometimes the Members themselves had said that it should be taken up. (Interruptions) Otherwise, we are taking it up daily.

SHRI BIRENDRA PRASAD BAISHYA: Sir, it is our democratic right.

PROF. P.J. KURIEN: Sir, let the Members read the subject.

MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: We will do one thing. From now onwards, Special Mentions will be taken up before the House rises for the day. You can read it. I have the permission of the Chair to take it up at 5.00 p.m. before the House rises for the day.

Now you lay the Special Mentions.

SPECIAL MENTIONS²

MKS/9O

DEMAND FOR SETTING UP A SECOND STATES REORGANISATION COMMISSION CONSISTING OF

EMINENT PERSONONALITIES TO CREATE

NEW STATES IN THE COUNTRY
DR. JANARDHAN WAGHMARE (MAHARASHTRA): Sir, Telangana is agitating for a separate State. The agitation has, however, taken a violent turn. Innocent people have lost their precious lives. The demand is pretty old.

Formation of Andhra Pradesh on the linguistic basis could not be instrumental either for emotional integration or for development. Reorganisation of States on the linguistic basis did not prove to be panacea. The malady is still festering. Vidarbha has been voicing a discordant note on and off. The demand for Gorkhaland is aggressive enough. The discord of the Bodos is vociferous. The border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka is painful causing annoyance.

The UP Legislative Assembly has recently passed a Resolution splitting the State into four parts. Uttarakhand has already been carved out of UP. Jharkhand has been carved out of Bihar; and Chhattisgarh, out of Madhya Pradesh.

States should not be too large and too small. Their size should be optimal for effective governance and viable for development. Equitable development is the cry of the people in different parts of the country. The fruits of development should go to all the backward regions and weaker sections of society.

The matter of formation of new States should be considered objectively going into the depth with coolness. This requires a Second States Reorganisation Commission consisting of eminent persons of high integrity, keeping in mind that ours is a federal polity.

I would urge upon the Government to consider this proposition positively.

(Ends)

(Followed by 9P)

TMV-9P

DEMAND FOR ISSUING DIRECTIVES TO REGULARIZE FEE STRUCTURE OF CASUAL WORKERS IN THE NEWS SERVICES DIVISION OF ALL INDIA RADIO AND DOORDARSHAN.