Abir Ranjan Biswas raised during Zero Hour the issue of the need for revoking 20% customs duty on gobindobhog rice

Sir, Gobindobhog is a short grain, rice variety cultivated in West Bengal. It has been given a Geographical Indication tag in 2017, and is known for its distinctive taste and cultural significance. : There are many distinctive dishes made from it, and it is offered to the Govindaji deity as well.This rice is exported to Europe and the gulf countries and fetches its growers a high price. The Government of West Bengal had encouraged farmers in suitable areas to replace cultivation of coarse grain rice with this premium variety, so as to enhance their incomes. In September, 2022 the Government of India imposed a 20 per cent customs duty on the export of this rice variety.Sir, this has greatly affected its sales abroad, and dampened the Government’s efforts to improve the farmers’ livelihoods.Sir, another premium aromatic rice variety, the basmati rice, has been exempted from the 20 per cent customs duty on its export. It is only fair that other niche aromatic rice varieties get the same benefit. I urge the Government of India to exempt Gobindobhog rice from the 20 per cent customs duty and encourage its export.

Abu Taher Khan raised during Zero Hour the urgent need for the BSF to repair fences on the international border in Bengal

ধন্যবাদ স্যার।

মাননীয় অধ্যক্ষ মহাশয়, আমার নির্বাচনী এলাকা মুর্শিদাবাদ, পশ্চিমবঙ্গের, এবং বিএডিপির যে এলাকা পড়ে, বর্ডার এরিয়া ডেভেলপমেন্ট প্রজেক্টের কাজ, সেন্ট্রাল গভর্নমেন্ট যেটা করে, সেই উন্নয়নের কাজ দীর্ঘদিন – বছর, কোনোরকম কোনো ফান্ড সেন্ট্রাল গভর্নমেন্ট দেয়নি, এবং সেই এলাকার রাস্তাঘাট অত্যন্ত খারাপ। দীর্ঘ তিন বছর যাবৎ, বিএডিপি এলাকার যেহেতু প্রজেক্টের কোনো কাজ হয়নি, তাই সেই এলাকায় যাতায়াতের জন্য বিএসএফের এবং সাধারণ মানুষের যাতায়াতের কোনো রাস্তাঘাট হয়নি। স্যার, দুর্ভাগ্য যে দীর্ঘ তিন বছর যাবৎ কোনো ফান্ড নেই, অথচ মালদা-মুর্শিদাবাদের বিস্তীর্ণ এলাকায়, নদীয়া, একটার পর একটা গ্রাম ভেঙে যাচ্ছে। এবং সেখানে যে বিএসএফের বেড়া দেওয়া আছে, তারকাঁটা দেওয়া আছে, সেগুলো দিনের পর দিন ভেঙে যাচ্ছে, এবং সেই কাজগুলো কিছুতেই হচ্ছেনা।

প্রক্রান্তরে, স্যার এক মিনিট, প্রক্রান্তরে বিএসএফ পাঁচ কিলোমিটারের জায়গায় পঞ্চাশ কিলোমিটার এলাকা করার পরিকল্পনা নিয়ে কাজ করছে। কিন্তু দুর্ভাগ্য যে পাঁচ কিলোমিটার….

Prasun Banerjee raised the issue of improving football infrastructure in the country

Thank you Sir, for giving me a chance to talk on matters. My topic is about  sports. I am a sportsman. Main sportsman the, abhi sportsman hai, thoda do minute ki baat hai.  Hum poore duniya ko batana chahte hai ki aap log kya kar rahein hai? Football player hai. Abhi world cup chal raha hai Sir, aap jaante hai football worldcup chal raha hai, aaj semifinal bhi hai toh humara 130 crore aadmi ke bheetar hum log kis liye team bana nahi sakte hai? Kitni dukh ki baat hai yeh. Yeh baat hum hamesha bolte hai. Hum aap se vinti karte hai. Minister hai jo ache kaam karte hai. Hum vinti karte hai ki humara government, humara Prime Minister football ke upar chaliye, sab district mein sab match hai. 

Saugata Roy spoke under Rule 193 on the efforts by the government to rewrite and distort history

To speak on a matter of public importance. In recent times there has been an effort  by the government and the ruling party at the centre to change and distort the history of the country. The Home Minister has said that history should be re-written anew and he is referring to the Mughal age. He says that the Mughals are invaders forgetting that the Mughals gave a stable government to India for 200 years. The Taj Mahal, The Lal Qila and the Jama Masjid were all constructed during their times. Sir, we strongly believe that the culture of India is not a Hindu culture. It’s a composite culture. We strongly believe that there should not be a ‘Hindu history’ or ‘Muslim history’ or ‘British history’. There should be an Indian history. This distortion of history is not only in the change of names of cities, Allahabad suddenly becomes Prayagraj. Aurangabad suddenly becomes Shambhaji Nagar. This re-writing of history was during the communist people’s time. The most important thing to mention is that during the Amrit Kaal of our independence is to write the history of our freedom struggle properly. You should write clearly that Savarkar asked clemency from the British. It is the truth. It should be mentioned that Guru Golwalkar refused to participate in the 1942 Quit India movement. This constant effort to distort history of India, to make us forget that the hindutvawalas did not participate in the freedom struggle to belittle Jawaharlal Nehru’s contribution. Nehru spent nine years in the British jail. None of these hindutvawalas  including Shyamaprasad Mukherjee , they did not spend time. Golwalkar positively refused to participate.

 

এসো হে আর্য, এসো অনার্য, হিন্দু-মুসলমান।

এসো এসো আজ তুমি ইংরাজ, এসো এসো খৃস্টান।

এসো ব্রাহ্মণ, শুচি করি মন ধরো হাত সবাকার।

এসো হে পতিত, হোক অপনীত সব অপমানভার।

মার অভিষেকে এসো এসো ত্বরা, মঙ্গলঘট হয় নি যে ভরা

সবার-পরশে-পবিত্র-করা তীর্থনীরে—

আজি ভারতের মহামানবের সাগরতীরে ।।

Sudip Bandyopadhyay’s speech on The Supplementary Demands for Grants – First Batch for 2022-2023

Sir, many issues have been discussed and debated on the floor of this House regarding Supplementary Demands for Grants. Normally, the discussion on Supplementary Demands for Grants is limited to a very short time. It is not such an enormous subject to be discussed. But the hon. Speaker is kind enough that he decided in the Business Advisory Committee meeting that twelve hours will be allotted for this discussion. The Appropriation Bill is nothing but a consent that we give to the Government and we say “do not misappropriate the money”. The Appropriation Bill is passed because without appropriation, money cannot be spent. So, we are aware of a few issues but, today, many issues have been discussed. I thought it better to place only two-three issues of my State in front of our hon. Finance Minister.Sir, I want to know how far this Government believes in the principle of cooperative federalism. What appears to me is that cooperative federalism is now under threat. I am carrying with me five letters of the hon. Chief Minister of West Bengal addressed to the
Prime Minister of India, all concerned with the State affairs but certainly connected with the economic affairs of the country.
Sir, MGNREGA has been discontinued. For the last eight months, MGNREGA funds have been blocked for the State of West Bengal. I along with ten MPs, including Prof. Sougata Ray, interacted with Shri Giriraj Singh ji and officials for one long hour. In that meeting, it was decided that a few proposals and ideas of the Central Government would be accepted by the State, and for that the Minister from the State would be sent. Our State Minister came three weeks back and had a discussion with Shri Giriraj Singh ji. Yet, MGNREGA
funds of more than Rs.6,500 crore have been kept blocked, and this is most unwarranted. Sir, the West Bengal Government has accepted all the proposals. The Minister came and met the Central Minister. I want to draw the attention of the hon. Finance Minister to this. I will hand over the letters to her. Our Chief Minister had written that we have funds due from the Government of India to the tune of Rs.1,00,968 crore, and the details were attached. This is a letter addressed to the hon. Prime Minister by the Chief Minister of West Bengal. The date of the letter is August 5, 2022, and I authenticate the letter. Sir, when we are raising our voice here for MGNREGA, the Chief Minister is writing to the Prime Minister saying that she is anguished by the statement made yesterday in Kolkata by … the President of BJP, that the funds had not been released to the State Government, he admitted it, on account of non-submission of Utilisation Certificate for the funds received under MGNREGA in the last three years. That was the complaint he made publicly. But what the Chief Minister is writing to the Prime Minister is that this is nothing but a blatant lie intended to gain political mileage at the cost of lakhs and lakhs of rural poor in the State who are passing through most distressing times due to non-payment of wages for their work; this is most unfortunate and sad. The Chief Minister wrote this to the Prime Minister. I will hand over this letter to the hon. Finance Minister. Sir, in addition to the release of total dues to the Government of West Bengal, we have another proposal to the Government of India. Everybody knows about basmati rice which is very famous throughout the world. Basmati rice is exempted from 20 per cent customs duty. There is one variety of rice called Gobindobhog which is produced in West Bengal, which is famous throughout the world and it is of no less quality than basmati rice. We would urge that the customs duty on Gobindobhog rice, as is done in the case of basmati rice, be withdrawn. If this decision is taken, thousands and lakhs of farmers will bebenefited.जी सर। आपनेग्ाूंट पर सबको सनु धिया। यह12 घूंटेका सबजेक्ट नहीं हैऔर न ही यह र्चार घूंटेका है। आपनेइसको 12 घूंटेका कर धदया है, इसधिए मैंभी इसका मौका उठा िेताह ूं। I am here since 12th Lok Sabha. So, I know what you want. Sir, I told you that I will place only a few letters from the Chief Minister addressed to the Prime Minister. I will give these letters which are all connected with the State issue.Sir, I come to the issue regarding Ganga erosion. I raised it in the All-Party meeting. You said that you are trying to provide Half-an-Hour Discussion to the Opposition. This is a very important
issue. Ganga erosion is कटाई, नदी की जो कटाई होती है। There is extremely worst situation in our State in Malda, Murshidabad and Nadia. If any BJP MP is here, Nishikant ji is here, he will also admit that this erosion is seriously and devastatingly ruining the area. Adhir ji represents Baharampur constituency which also falls in Murshidabad district. Sir, in Murshidabad, there is the Farakka Barrage Project. This is a Government of India’s project. After setting up of this huge project, this erosion has started taking place. I would request the
Government to direct the Farakka Barrage Project to take positive steps by which we can be saved from this erosion and from this कटाई problem. This is a very positive issue which I want to mention. Cooperative federalism is a part of our Constitution. What we feel is that the Eastern Region, after Independence, is now the worst sufferer of regional imbalances, and West Bengal is also there. Why does the Government not take efforts to develop the Eastern Region vis-à-visour State of West Bengal as a priority sector? West Bengal should not be made a target because we are in power. We are for the interest of the country. We want to stand by the Government. But at every
step and every moment, if attempts are made to create economic blockade of the whole State, it is not tolerable. So, our allegation is that the Government of India is trying to create economic blockade of the State of West Bengal and from that they should withdraw their vision
and withdraw their ideas. Let them extend the hands of cooperation. The letters which I have mentioned here, I will hand them over to the hon. Finance Minister by which she can have a look and can send a reply. There is nothing wrong in this… Sir, I am reading a letter only.
It is a letter …अध्यक्ष महोदय, हम धमधनस्ट्टर को तो देसकतेहैं? I can hand it over to the Minister …

Aparupa Poddar spoke on The Supplementary Demands for Grants – First Batch for 2022-2023

माननीय सभापित जी, मैंआपका धन्यवाद करती ह�ं और अपनीपाटीर् ऑल इं िडया तणमृ ू ल कां ग्रेस को भी धन्यवाद दे तीह�ं िक मझुेसप्लीमें टरी िडमां
ड्स फॉर ग्रां ट्स पर बोलने का मौका िदया। Including the First Budget of Supplementary Demands of Grants. The Finance Ministry has submitted a revised gross expenditure plan worth almost Rs. 4.36 lakh crore for the approval of Parliament. The revised net cash expenditure is estimated to be Rs. 3.26 lakh crore, with higher receipts and savings from existing outlays adding up to Rs. 1.1 lakh crore.
महोदया, मैंिजस िडिस्ट्रक्ट सेआती ह�ं , वह टोटली कृिष प्रधान इलाका है। वषर्2021 मेंएक ही साल मेंतीन बार बाढ़ आई थी। दगा ुर्पू जा से15 िदन पहलेभी बाढ़ आई थी। एक साल मेंतीन बार का मतलब आप समझ सकतेहैंिक वहां के िकसानों को क्या समस्याएंह�ई होंगी और वेिकन समस्याओंसेजू झेहोंगे। हमारे�े
त्र मेंऔर उस िडिस्ट्रक्ट मेंचावल और आलूक� पै दावार सबसे ज्यादा होती है। इस िहसाब सेराज्य सरकार नेनवं बर महीनेमेंकेंद्र सरकार को ढाई लाख मीिट्रक
टन खाद क� ज�रत केबारेमेंकहा था, लेिकन आलूक� खे ती करनेवालेिकसानों को ढाई लाख मीिट्रक टन क� जगहपर िसफर् 70,000 टन खाद दीगई जो िक सिफिशएटं नहीं थी।इस कारण यहां के िकसानों को काफ� समस्याएंह�ई और ं कुछ िकसानों नेदो-तीन गना ु ज्यादा दाम पर खाद खरीदी। मैंचाहती ह�ं िक माननीय िव� मं त्री जी इस तरफ ध्यान दें। महोदया, हमारेइलाके मेंएससी, एसटी और ओबीसी क� पापलुेशन ज्यादा है। िदसं बर, 2021 सेआज तक लोगों का मनरगा े के100 िदन के काम कापैसाबाक�है।ग्रामीण इकोनामी इसी चीज पर िनभर्र है। आज आम लोग बह�त समस्याओंसेगजर ु रहेहैं। माननीय िव� मं त्री जी एक मिहला हैंऔर वह महसू स कर सकती हैं। मैंचाहती ह�ं िक इस चीज को वह समझेंिक िकस पीड़ा में येलोग अपनेिदन काट रहेहैं। एजकुेशन के िलए िजतनी भी स्कॉलरिशप्स हैं, उनक� कटौती हो रही है। मौलाना आजाद फैलोिशप प्रोग्राम मेंभी कटौतीह�ईहै।वषर्2014 में6722 लोगों मेंसे700 लोगों कोहीस्कॉलरिशप दी गई है। माइनो�रटीज़ के स्टूडें ट्स क� स्कॉलरिशप मेंकटौती हो रही है, इस पर भी ध्यान दे ना चािहए। वषर्2014 मेंदो करोड़ नौक�रयां दे
नेका वादा िकया गया था, आज क� तारीख मेंसबसे बड़ी समस्या यह हैिक ऐसा नहीं ह�आ। क्यों नहीं ह�आ, इसका जवाब तो मत्री ं जी ही दें गे। आज
एम्पलायमें ट के नाम पर कां ट्रेक्चअलु लोगों को िलया जा रहा है। इससेठेकेदारों को लाभ हो रहा है जो कां ट्रेक्चअलु बेस पर नौकरी देरहेहैं। जो लोग नौकरी कर रहेहैं, न उनका पीएफ और न ही मेिडकल फेिसिलटी है। वेअपनेप�रवार को कैसेपालें गे, इसकेबारेमेंसोचना पड़े गा। It is high time the Government thought about it. महोदया, रले िवभाग मेंभी वैकेंिसयां खाली पड़ी ह�ई हैं। एम्पलाई प्रोिवडें ट फं ड मेंसे90 करोड़ �पयेऔर िदएगए, इसमें50,000 करोड़ काइन्टरस्ट हैऔर इसमेंसे11,000 करोड़ �पये दे नेमेंयूिटलाइज होतेहैंऔरबाक� जोपैसाबचाहै, वहपैसा ईपीएस-95 पेंशन स्क�म में65 लाख बेिनफशरीज़ को क्यों नहीं िदया जा सकता? एफडी का इन्टरस्ट रटे िदन-ब-िदन कम होता जा रहा है। सीिनयर िसिटजन्स, सारी िजं दगी जॉब करनेकेबाद कुछ पैसा एफडी के िलए रखना चाहतेहैं, लेिकन एफडी इन्टरस्ट रटे भी कम होता जा रहा है। आप या तो एक एमाउं ट रख दीिजए, क्योंिक इसके कम होनेसेउनको िदक्कत हो रही है। मै डम, मैंआपसेएक िमनट और लूं गी। हमारा आरामबाग जो �े त्र है, उसकेबारेमेंमैं नेपहले ही कहा िक हम लोगों नेवषर्2021 मेंतीन बार बाढ़ को फेस िकया है। पीएमजे एसवाई के जो रास्ते हैं, वेभी पानी मेंडूबेह�ए रहतेहैं। वेतो खराब होनेही हैं। खानाकुल जो पानी मेंडूबा ह�आ रहता है, वहांपरगणेशपर ु टूने तीपर ुफेरीघाट, जहां250 मीटर लकड़ी का िब्रज है, वहांपर कंक्र�ट िब्रज बनाने क� मैंिव� मं त्री जी सेमां ग करती ह�ं।मे री रले सेसं बं िधत चार मां गेंहैं। चन्दनपर ु सबवे, जयरामबाटी टूकामारपकुुर, इसकेबारेमें हमारेबीजे पी के सांसद सौिमत्र खान नेभी कहा है, यह बह�त ही ज�री है।

Mausam Noor’s Special Mention on the need for revoking the population criteria for building Eklavya Model Residential Schools for tribal children

Sir, the Government has planned to set up 740 tribal schools called Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS). Conceptualised in 1997-98, similar to the Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas, the EMRS have endeavoured to make high quality education accessible to tribal children while also retaining their cultural traditions. Earlier the scheme provided for the Union Government to sanction a certain number of schools and the States and Union Territories would seek more as required. The only requirement was a land area of 20
acres, and the funds would come from the grants under Article 275(1). We have 384 of these schools across the country presently. The new guidelines require 15 acres, and for the school to be set up in sub-districts where more than 20,000 Scheduled Tribe people reside comprising at least 50 per cent of the population. However, this is likely to significantly disadvantage scattered populations of tribal people who will have to travel far distances to access education.The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment had also recommended that the criteria be reviewed, pointing out that many forest and hill districts
would have trouble finding 15 contiguous acres of land for setting up of the school. I urge the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the National Education Society for Tribal Students to review the guidelines urgently.

Abir Ranjan Biswas’s Special Mention on the concerns over write-offs worth Rs 10 lakh crore to banks by the government

Sir, a Right to Information reply from the Reserve Bank of India to a newspaper has unearthed that there has been a huge amount of write-offs, of over Rs. 10 lakh crores in the last five years, to banks by the Government and an increase in nonperforming assets. The sum of write-offs amounts to 61 per cent of India’s gross fiscal deficit. According to data, 2,700 wilful defaulters were recorded in 2021-22. This number was 2,840 in 2020-21. The Non Performing Assets have reduced considerably for banks. State Bank of India saw a Rs. 2.04 lakh crore reduction, Punjab National Bank saw a reduction of Rs. 67,000 crores and Bank of Baroda saw a reduction of Rs. 66,000 crores in the last five years. However, after receiving such write-offs repeatedly, the banks have no incentive to recover the said loans. This is evident in the fact that only 13 per cent of these loans have been recovered so far. Public sector banks account for 73 per cent of the
write-offs reported. There is no policy on recovery of such loans and manner of recovery, leaving the process of collection of loans entirely to the discretion of banks. Hence, there is a need to form a uniform policy for recovery of loans. In this light, I urge the Government to find a solution to the concern of write-offs to the banks and their recovery henceforth.

Santanu Sen’s Special Mention on the need to regulate foods high in fats, salt and sugar

Sir, as per the National Family Health Survey 2019-20, the proportion of obese women in India has gone up to 24 per cent from 20.6 per cent in 2015-16 and that of obese men has increased to 22.9 per cent from 18.9 per cent in 2015-16. The relationship between obesity in adulthood and consumption of High Fat Sugar and Salt (HFSS) products has been examined and substantiated. A Centre for Science and
Environment survey with over 13,000 children (9-17 years) shows that high screen time and the related exposure to advertisements is linked with frequent consumption of packaged food, beverages and fast food. Among the children who had screen time of over two hours per day, 73 per cent consumed such foods at least once a day; this percentage was 44 per cent for those with less than two hours. Kids consuming content online or on TV along with parents makes it easier for them to influence household consumers choices. The health costs of obesity in the long term, in terms of cardio-vascular diseases, diabetes etc., can be mitigated to a great extent by regulating High Fat Salt and Sugar ads in the short term. There should be a comprehensive legally binding framework for regulation of High Fat Salt
and Sugar ads. The advertising of High Fat Salt and Sugar products needs to be regulated across various media, TV, Radio, online and even outdoors. A timeslot in the evening when children viewership is small should be reserved for High Fat Salt and Sugar advertisements and these advertisementsshould not be permitted to air during children’s programmes like cartoons and games.

Santanu Sen’s speech on The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Second Amendment) Bill, 2022

Thank you, respected Chair, for giving me this opportunity. Sir, we are here to discuss about “Gond” Community. The Gond Community is to be recognised as ST in four Districts of U.P. The Bill amends the SC Order to exclude Gond Community as ST in four Districts of U.P. and it amends SC Order to recognise Gond Community as ST. Sir, I appreciate this approach. At the same time, I encourage some important issues which I am going to highlight upon. Instead of bringing separate Bills, the Government should have taken some comprehensive measures to include some other communities in different other States. We have seen the Government has clubbed non-money Bills with money Bills several times in order to get it passed properly or smoothly. Sir, combining multiple SC/ST Order Amendment Bills into one Bill would have been less dangerous than this. We have seen the parliamentary mockery in last few years. So far as the scrutiny of Bills is concerned, in 15th Lok Sabha, the percentage of scrutiny was 71 per cent and now, it has come down in 17th
Lok Sabha to 13 per cent only. What can be a more mockery of Parliament than this? Sir, we are talking about Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Let me draw your attention to the Budgetary allocation for employment generation of SC. It was Rs. 170.96 crores last time and it has come down to Rs.22.97 crores. It has been slashed down by 86.5 per cent. So far as the Scheduled Tribes is concerned, the Budget allocation for employment generation was Rs.89.5 crore earlier and it has come down to Rs.11.3 crores. So, it has been slashed down by 87 per cent. According to Dalit Arthik Adhikar Andolan, there are gaps of Rs.40,634 crores for Scheduled Castes and Rs.9,399 crores for Scheduled Tribes in the Budget. The problem is, nowadays NDA does not stand for National Democratic Alliance. Nowadays, it stands for No Data Available. Where is the will to conduct 2021 Census? We have enough fortitude to conduct elections despite Covid, despite everything. But, at the same time, we don’t have any proper intention to go for the Census. No socio-economic caste census
data is available. The Government doesn’t want to release the decade old data from 2011 socio-economic caste census. What are you afraid of discovering of? Let me talk about the SC/STs literacy rate in our country. In India, the Scheduled Castes male literacy rate is 75 per cent whereas in our State of West Bengal, it is 84 per cent. In India, the female Scheduled Castes literacy rate is 68 per cent whereas in our State of West Bengal, it is 74 per cent. As far as Scheduled Tribes is concerned, male literacy rate in India is 56 per cent whereas that in our State of West Bengal is 65 per cent. Why don’t you take the good part of West Bengal? What is the harm in taking the data part of West Bengal? Let me talk about some West Bengal’s schemes which benefit the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in reality. Let me talk about Aikyashree. It was scholarship scheme. Let me talk about Post Matric Scholarship. Let me talk about Oasis Scholarship.
Sir, there is a SC/ST Pension Scheme for vulnerable elderly. Various lending programmes to grow entrepreneurship are there. The actual problem is, what the love and affection of this B.J.P. Government, for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is! * That is the love and concern for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes community. Sir, the problem is West Bengal is the only State where we are having a specific Scheduled Caste Advisory Council. But this Government is so egoistic that they would not talk to the West Bengal Government, because, there, Mamata Didi is ruling the State. I am talking about the Centre’s vision. There was one National Overseas Scholarship for Scheduled Castes. The students who wanted to study Indian culture and history abroad used to be benefited by that. What did this Government do? This Government totally discontinued this scheme! The Central Government has a project called SHREYAS. It is
an umbrella programme comprising four highly important higher education programmes–National Fellowship for Scheduled Castes, National Overseas Scholarship for Scheduled Castes, Top Class Education for Scheduled Castes and Free Coaching for Scheduled Castes & OBCs. Can you ever imagine the budgetary allocation for this important project, Sir? You will be surprised to know that the entire budgetary allocation is a paltry amount of only Rs.364 crore! You can just imagine, by going through this data, how much concerned this Government is so far as the Scheduled Castes &Scheduled Tribes are concerned. Sir, the Government of India announced in 2021 Budget that 750 Ekalavya residential schools will be formed. But, only 367 are functional till date. There is now a new population criterion for sub-district Ekalavya schools. So, again some restrictions have been imposed upon so that the number will be even less in the coming days. Sir, only 36,000 land titles were distributed under the Forest Rights Act between 2019 and 2020. The poorest performers are the BJP-ruled States– earlier it was Bihar, Uttarakhand and Goa. It does not serve any one to offer mere lip service to the cause of Scheduled Tribes while selling their lands and resources to corporates. What does the NCRB report say? The National Crime Records Bureau says that atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have been increased by 6.4 per cent in 2021, and Uttar Pradesh is leading the least with 13,146 cases, the highest against the Scheduled Castes total percentage of 26 per cent. Violence incidents against Dalit and Adivasi women are increasing day by day. Rape numbers so far as the Scheduled Caste women and minors are concerned, it is 7.64
per cent and against the Scheduled Tribe women, it is 15 per cent. Sir, I would conclude with one last shocking statistics. We saw in the
last Session how the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022 was bulldozed through the Lok Sabha. I don’t need to tell this House what a draconian Bill that was. Three in four, that is, 75 per cent of prisoners in India are under-trials, one of the highest proportions in the world. Worse than this, two in three prison inmates or 66 per cent belong to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and OBCs. These communities have historically been discriminated against and profiled through legislations like the Habitual Offenders Act, and your new law opens them up to further violation of human rights. Sir, I support this Bill but I oppose the tokenism. The problem is, the
love for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is shown when the BJP leaders from the Centre are going to visit some SC/ST houses. Before going to their places, they are taking the food from a Seven Star hotel; they will enter the SC/ST house; they use only their utensils while eating the Seven Star food which is kept on the utensils of the ST community. They eat like that and come out forgetting them. This is the love and affection towards SCs/STs. I support this Bill, but I oppose this tokenism. This is what this Government does in the name of welfare for the SCs and STs. Let me paraphrase our hon. Prime Minister’s slogan to reflect this Government’s attitude towards disadvantaged communities–sab ka saath, par sirf kuch ka vikaas.So, my humble suggestion would be that instead of shedding crocodile tears for the SCs/STs, really try to think positive for the betterment of these backward communities of the country. Thank you very much, Sir.