Author: aitc

Thank you, Chairman Sir. I stand here on behalf of All India Trinamool Congress to speak on the budgetary allocation of the Railways. Unfortunately, the Rail Budget has been already scrapped earlier. Our hon. Finance Minister did not even mention about it during her speech, though we have received certain Central Government documents showing an allocation of Rs. 2,62,200 crore. Before I begin, I seek your indulgence to request the hon. Members sitting here to stand for a minute to show respect to all the people who have lost their lives over the last two-three months due to railway accidents. The Chair has to permit. We have to show respect to those who have lost their lives due to railway accidents. It was not their fault that they died. They had bought a ticket and they were going somewhere but in the middle of the way, they lost their lives. Whose fault is it? I am sure it is the fault of the Ministry or the fault of the maintenance of the tracks. These accidents have taken hundreds of lives in the last three months. More than nine accidents have happened. People have died due to the negligence of the Ministry, negligence of this Government, who are more interested to save their chair and not the lives. They are more interested in political appeasement. कुसी बचानेमेंज्यादा और जान बचानेमेंकम शौकीन है। I want to ask when these daily train accidents will stop. I would also request this to the hon. Minister. Have you found out whether the driver put on the flasher when that accident took place yesterday, as he is warned to do and as it is imperative to do to put on the flasher so that the other trains close by come to know? Did he put on the flasher yesterday to alert the other drivers? Is the regular fish plate checking done at night like it used to be? How are the tracks now? Are they checked regularly because they arecosting lives? When my leader, hon. Chief Minister of West Bengal, Shrimati Mamata Banerjee was the Railway Minister, she had introduced the anti-collision device. Now, we have KAVACH. So, the question is this. How far are we progressing towards protecting our passengers through KAVACH? I would also like to bring to the notice of the hon. Minister to give it a thought whether it is possible to have seatbelts also in the seats of the railway coaches, like we have in the aeroplanes. In the last one month, two passengers have lost their lives due to jerk, though it is mentioned in a document that the movement of these coaches are going to be less jerky. One gentleman fell from upper berth and he died due to jerking. Another was sitting on the lower berth, but he fell. These reports are in the media. If it is in the public domain, we take it to be true. Or do we have to find out if it is true or not? My suggestion is you put seatbelts for those lying in the upper berth and also in the lower berth, like we do in the aeroplanes. We know that railway is more of a social responsibility of the Government than an earning proposition. That is why, we had the izzat tickets. Chairman Sir, if you remember, you were also there at that time. We used to have these Rs. 25 izzat tickets for the below-poverty-line travellers, which the hon. Members of Parliament could give out to the constituents, so that they could travel over a month to their place of work and come back. It was also for those people who were doing menial labours. That izzat ticket has been done away with. That was a social responsibility. As‍ि far‍ि as‍ि driver’s‍ि amenities,‍ि junior‍ि engineers’‍ि emoluments,‍ि and‍ि allocation for maintenance of railway schools and hospitals, including B. R. Singh Hospital in Kolkata are concerned, how much allocation is being kept‍ि for‍ि all‍ि that?‍ि Are‍ि the‍ि railway‍ि officers’‍ि training‍ि institutes‍ि functioning‍ि properly? Such frequent railway accidents cannot happen unless the training is lacking somewhere. As I mentioned earlier, whether the driver yesterday put on the flasher or not, only investigation will tell that. The Coach Factory in Chittaranjan in West Bengal gets more orders. Further, the people over there would get more job opportunities. What is the vacancy in the Railways at the moment? I am asking this because people are looking up for jobs in the country and Railways was a social sector employing many people. So, I would request you to look into this particular aspect of it Amongst the new initiatives for fully non-AC segments when you suggest jerk-free semi-permanent automatic couplers with sealed gangways, we would also like that railway travel is made more safetyoriented towards the passengers by providing belts and by checking the fish plates. There are reports where young children playing beside the railway tracks have seen a fish plate missing; removed their shirt; and showed it from very far for the driver to see and the driver stopped the train and avoided an accident. But it is not the responsibility of that little child. It is the responsibility of the Indian Railways to check the tracks at night. They should also check whether the train stops within 1 ½ kms. of application of brakes, which is the standard technique. Is this being followed or not? So many deaths occurring does not give very good vibes internationally for our Railways, especially when we are comparing with the international Railways by making good toilets, ergonomic bodies, etc. All that is very good, but along with it the safety factor should also be taken into account. We require more sub-urban trains mostly because in West Bengal the daily passengers who are job-seekers, teachers, students, etc. are plying all over the State on a daily basis. So, we need more suburban trains and we also need more metro stations and lines. Within my Constituency is the Biman Bandar-Barasat line. In the documents that I have got from the Central Government, I have not seen allocation for the Barasat line. Hence, I would request you to please increase allocation for the Barasat line from Biman Bandar. As far as the work is going on, I can see that in Biman Bandar, that is the airport, work on the Noapara-Biman Bandar sector is progressing; from Biman Bandar up to Barasat it is progressing towards Michael Nagar; and from Michael Nagar to Barasat work is stopped and it is not happening. So, may I request you to please increase the allocation there because it is written that 100-150 kms. speed of Vande Bharat metro will be launched, but the metro that has already started within my Constituency, the work is not going on. The security and surety of the high-speed trains that you promised of more than 700 kms. should be ensured before we start all these trains because life of people should be considered. They are boarding the train leaving their home, maybe there is a wife or there are children at home or a mother is there waiting for him to go and come back. But if a dead body comes back, then it is a big shock for the family and a loss to the nation. The Gross Budgetary Support over the years given in a graph form is increasing, but the number of deaths is also increasing exponentially. Who is accountable for it? The accountable person should be answerable to the nation, to this august House and to the people. Repairing of the old tracks is very essential. You are laying new tracks at a great speed of 14.5 kms. per day, which is very good, but repairing of the old tracks is also necessary. I would also like to draw your attention to the Rail-Road gates which are unmanned. They should all be manned. What is the status with regard to it? Even if they are manned, most of the gates do not work properly. The PWD cannot repair that road because it belongs to the Railways where the gate is there. The deplorable condition of those roads is causing accidents every day and there are deaths in my constituency because that stretch of road belongs to the Railways. There was a proposal to have solar panels alongside the railway tracks to provide electricity, how far has that work progressed? I want to ask the hon. Minister to give us a reply on that. The Station Redevelopment Scheme that the Government has taken up should be taken seriously because whichever station had the mahila waiting room and mahila toilet has been dismantled even in my constituency. As a result, women are facing great difficulty while travelling

Sir, I received an information from my Chief Minister this morning that the Mumbai-Howrah Mail, Train No.12810, has faced a derailed condition, and four persons have died at 3.43 am today. That was too early time. I am keen to know the latest position from the hon. Railway Minister. This is because safety in the Railways has now become a challenge. Everyday, accidents are taking place. I was the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Railways during the last few years. Again and again, we mentioned that the Railways should consider safety first. But now it is happening regularly. Why is the Railway Minister not coming to the House and submitting a report to us?

माननीय अध्यक्ष जी, मझुेएक िी बात किनी िै। जब िम वैस्ट बंगाल असैम्बली मेंथे, विां व्यवस्था थी शक जो एडजनषमेंट मोिन देता िै, उनका नाम बलुाकि एडजनषमेंट मोिन पढ़नेशदया जाता िै। Sir, the Adjournment Motion notice is given under Rule 56. Now, you do not allow it. If you allow, you ask the Member to stand up. मिोदय, आप मेिी बात सशुनए। At least, you announce the name of the Member who has given the Adjournment Motion. Let him read the substance of the Adjournment Motion. If you do not allow, then he will sit down. आप कितेिैंशक मझुेस्थगन प्रस्ताव की सूचना शमली िै, मैंनेशकसी को अनमुशत निीं दी िै। वि कष्ट किके सबुि भेजता िै, आप मौका दीशजए ताशक वि स्थगन प्रस्ताव पढ़ेऔि शफि आप उसको शडसशमस कि दीशजए। मिोदय, आप शकताब देखें। शकताब मेंकिीं भी िून्य काल मेंिन निीं िै। आप अपनी कृपा सेिून्य काल की व्यवस्था देतेिैं। मैंकिता ि ं जब िाउस चलता िै, कोई भी समय िो, कोई भी व्यवस्था का प्रश्न उठा सकता िै। यि क्यों निीं चलेगा, कभी भी चल सकता िै।

Sir, under the MGNREGA, it is the responsibility of the Central Government to provide 100 days’ work. It is not a wish or choice, but it is a mandatory duty of the Central Government to do it. It is not anybody’s choice. It has to be done. Sir, you can see from the chart itself that it has not been provided. It is not correct that whenever the State Government is asking, they are providing it. It is not so. There are facts, and especially for the State of West Bengal, a political bias has been adopted by the Central Government. They have not provided 100 days’ work despite the assurance

वशवराज वसांह चौहान जी, हम लोग 12वीं लोक सभा मेंएक साि चनुकर यहाां आए िे। आज आपको केन्द्रीय मत्रां ी के रूप मेंदखे कर मैंबहुि खशु ह ां। मैंआपसेएक प्रश्न पूछना चाहिा ह ां। आप कोल्ड स्टोरजे केबारेमेंबोल रहेहैं। आप कहिेहैंवक वकसान कोल्ड स्टोरजे जाएगां ेऔर सामान रखेंगे। But there are shortages of cold storage in the whole country. In extreme situations, the farmers have to go for distress sale. वेप्रोडक्शन ज्यादा कर देिेहैं। कोल्ड स्टोरजे मेंउनको जगह न वमलनेके कारण माकेट में वडस्रेस सले करना पड़िा है। वकसी को एक वकलो पोटैटो का उत्पादन करनेके वलए दो रुपयेलगिेहैं, लेवकन उसको कोल्ड स्टोरजे मेंजगहवमलनेसेवहवडस्रेस सेल मेंएक रुपयेमेंबेचनापड़िा है। मैंमाननीय मत्रां ी जी जानना चाहिा ह ां वक कोल्ड स्टोरजे सेट अप को सारेदेश मेंबढ़ानेके वलए वकसानों को वजिना आवश्यक है, उसको वफल अप करनेके वलए भारि सरकार नेक्या कदम उठाए हैं?

माननीय सभापकि जी, मैं ऐसा कवषय उठा रहा ह ं कजससेसत्ता और कवपक्ष, दोनों मेरेसाथ सहमि होंगे। यह कवषय किसानों सेसंबंकिि है, खाद सेसंबंकिि है, इससेमूल्य सस्िा होगा, रोजगार िा सृजन होगा, हम आत्मकनभयर बनेंगेऔर इससेकवदेशी मरुा भी िमा सििेहैं। मेरा प्रश्न शरूु होिा है, मनसखु मांडकवया जी से, जो पहिे कमकनस्टर आफ फटीिाइजसय एडं िैकमिल्स थे, उन्द्होंनेवषय2024 मेंिहा था कि हमारेयहां उवयरि िा उत्पादन 80 प्रकिशि हैऔरवषय2025 मेंहम इसे100 प्रकिशि सेज्जयादा िरना िाहिेहैं। मैंआपिे माध्यम सेसदन िे ध्यान मेंिाना िाहिा ह ं कि फटीिाइजर िॉपोरशे न किकमटेड िा नाम बदििर कहंदस्ुिान फटीिाइजर िॉपोरेशन किकमटेड ऑफ इंकडया िहा गया। इसमेंबरौनी, दगुायपुर और हकल्दया िीन जगह थीं। सरिार नेप्रयास किया और बरौनी म फटीिाइजर प्िांट शरूु किया और बहुि फायदा हुआ। इस फायदेिो देखिेहुए माननीय मंत्री जी नेकपछिी बार िहा था। मेरी मांग हैकि यकद फटीिाइजर िापोरेशन ऑफ इंकडया हकल्दया मेंशुरू किया जाए िो हम किसानों िो ज्जयादा खाद देपाएगं , े क्योंकि पूवय मेंिेवि पांि प्रकिशि फटीिाइजर कमििा ह, ै उनिो सस्िेदाम पर कमिेसिेगा। हम इसेबाहर सेइम्पोटयिर रहेहैंऔर इसिा हमेंअकिि दाम देना पड़ रहा ह, ै हम एक्सपोटय िर पाएगं ेऔर इससेहमेंकवदेशी मरुा भी कमिेगी। मेरी यही मांग हैऔर मुझेपूरा भरोसा हैकि संभवि: सदन िा मझुेसमथयन और साथ कमिेगा।

Sir, I have studied the Minister’s reply in detail. The situation is pathetic. They speak of achievements of ‘10-years of Modi Government’. In 2016, the number of migrating students was 3,69,000. In 2023, it was 8,94,000. It means that the number of students going abroad is increasing. This is called ‘brain drain’. Now, why is this happening? We are producing good students. Most of them are being used as cyber coolies by multinationals abroad. The main reason for this is that our higher education is not of a high standard. In terms of higher education, we have only 11 institutes in the top 500 institutes in the world. Not even a single Indian University figures in terms of global ranking. If the universities do not raise their standard of education, more and more bright students will be going abroad. The hon. Minister speaks so highly of his Government’s achievements with regard to new Education Policy. What have you done to bring in more Indian Universities in the top 100 universities of the world? सि, मैंनेतो शॉटा मेंही बोला है। मैंनेज्यादा नहीं बोला। क्या आपने िाजीव प्रताप रिी जी का क्वैश्चन सनुा ह? ै उन्होंनेपाचँ दमनट तक क्वैश्चन दकया है। … Sir, my question is this. What is the Government doing to improve the standard of higher education and of the Indian Universities so that more universities come within the top 100 universities of the world? There is not even a single one. What is the Minister doing with regard to that in spite of his tall talk about the National Education Policy? Sir, I am not satisfied at all. … Sir, I told you that in 2023, 8,94,783 students went abroad for study. Is it a matter of pride for us? Is this not brain drain? … How will I be satisfied? The hon. Minister has said in the reply: “The Government recognizes the reality of a global workplace, especially in an era of knowledge economy. A successful, prosperous, and influential diaspora is viewed an asset for India. The Government’s efforts are also aimed at harnessing the potential of the diaspora, including the sharing of knowledge and expertise.” In effect, what the Minister’s reply states is that it is good if the Indian students go abroad. It is because then we have a very effective diaspora and they can clap when the Prime Minister goes to visit their country. But the fact is that the multinationals are stealing away our best brains. Sir, what I want to ask is … Sir, I have got a Question after a long time. Please allow me two minutes and do not be impatient. Sir, what I want to know from the hon. Minister is this. The reply he has given is not satisfactory at all. He has avoided the main question. सि, क्वेश्चन पूछनेदीदजए।… Sir, if you interfere so much, how can I ask? My question is this. Do you know that foreign universities are setting up centres in India? The British Universities are holding fairs to invite Indian students to study there. Will the Government of India take any steps to stop the foreign universities from setting up centres here to take away our students and to earn money? Both the British and Australian universities are doing this. What are you doing to stop them? You have opened campuses abroad. …

Thank you, Sir, for giving me an opportunity to ask a supplementary question. Sir, I would like to know from the hon. Minister of Education through you about the steps taken by the Government to counter rising cases of students’ suicides in Kota amidst the current scenario of anxiety faced by the students due to the ongoing NEET scam saga as the deserving students who put in efforts and families’ resources lost seats and will be in mental stress of such reoccurrences.

Hon. Speaker, Sir, the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in India is having an impact on employment in various ways. It is a very big concern, as according to the available records, in the near future, about 69 per cent of the people in the country will lose employment during the tenure of this Government. In term of job displacement, a lot of arenas are there. And importantly, AI-powered task automation may replace jobs in sectors like manufacturing, customer service, and data entry. AI-driven efficiency improvements might lead to reduced workforce requirement in certain industries. AI might make some jobs redundant, especially those involved in repetitive or routine tasks. So, through you, I would like to ask the hon. Minister whether the Central Government has a plan to address the problem which is going to be faced. Nearly 69 million people will be displaced. What is the plan of the Central Government to address this issue? In addition, I have a request to you. This is such a burning issue. So, I would like to request you kindly to allow a discussion under Rule 55 on this issue. This is not an answer that you have given. Anyway, we have to tolerate these things. This is an answer to avoid the answer. You did not reply to the question. Sir, anyway, my second supplementary is this. It is nice to see from the reports of the Central Government regarding State-wise estimated unemployment during 2022-23 that so far as West Bengal is concerned, the unemployment rate is only 2.2 per cent, whereas in Kerala, in such a literate State, it is seven per cent and in Rajasthan, it is four per cent. In the Answer, it has been given that the various Ministries/Departments of the Government of India like the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, etc. are implementing different employment generation schemes. You have mentioned about different schemes. I do not want to repeat them. What is employment? Regarding employment, there should be a relationship of an employee and an employer. It consists of posts. Some jobs can be created because of introduction of certain schemes. But it does not create an employer and employee relationship. Employment is completely a different thing. Earlier, in our country, the concept of employment was employment in the Central Government, State Government, private sector, etc. Laws were made applicable before termination. Like in the Central Government, laws are there, in the private sector, the Industrial Disputes Act was made applicable so that labour should not remain unemployed because of the hire and fire policy of any employer. Now, whereas the Central Government is having a scheme today, in the private sector you do not have any control. The hire and fire policy is being applied and so many workers are being thrown out. My question, therefore, is this. How will you save the workers, how will you give the security of employment in the minds of the workers who are working in a private establishment? I would also like to know whether you are seriously thinking to bring a legislation to control the private sector so that the hire and fire policy is not applied and the workers are not thrown out of employment.