Author: aitc

But when I, as an old man, look at the health sector of the country, I feel utter shock and desperation. Why has this feeling crept in my mind? Madam, according to Global Cancer Observatory estimates, there were 19.3 million cancer cases worldwide in 2020, and India ranked third after China and USA. GLOBOCON, 2022 Report also predicted that cancer cases in India would increase to 2.08 million, accounting for a rise of 57.5 per cent in 2040 from 2020. Madam, apart from cancer, the major diseases which cause deaths in India are ischemic heart diseases, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, tuberculosis, diabetes, liver, kidney and asthma diseases, indicated by World Health Organization data published in May, 2024. Even the hon. Prime Minister, on the other day, expressed his serious concern about the steep rise in obesity. Madam, with the mushroom growth of private nursing homes and clinics, the sale of spurious and substandard medicines is skyrocketing. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation also found more than 50 products as ‘not of standard quality.’ This finding of CDSCO came even after banning of 344 drugs in 2016 and 156 FDC drugs last year by the Government. please consider setting up a Combined Combat Force with personnel from the Central and State Governments to initiate a nationwide crackdown on the units and agents engaged in manufacturing and sale of spurious and banned medicines. They are the real enemies within the country who are destroying people’s health. Government is greasing the oily heads. Madam, the Government has allocated Rs. 95,957 crores to the health sector for Fiscal Year, 2026, that is, 9.46 per cent increase from the 2025 Budget. But it does little to address the long-standing resource gap in public health infrastructure because the healthcare sector accounts for 1.94 per cent of the total Budget reflecting a declining trend compared to previous years. Madam, despite the rising cost of medicines and treatment, there was a legitimate expectation among the people across the nation, particularly, the senior citizens, missing middle class families and the workers from the informal sector that there would be reduction of GST on health insurance premiums from 18 per cent to 5 per cent and the TDS limit under Section 80 of the IT Act will increase from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 50,000 but in vain. Now, let me talk about my State, West Bengal, for a while. The hon. Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Didi, had introduced Swasthya Sathi in December, 2016, long before the introduction of Ayushman Bharat by the Government of India. The Swasthya Sathi was acclaimed worldwide like many other welfare schemes undertaken under the aegis of didi. Today, 2914 hospitals in Bengal are empanelled in Swasthya Sathi. In 2021-22, the spending on account of Swasthya Sathi was Rs. 2,263 crore, which went up to Rs. 2,694 crore in 2023-24, immensely benefiting over 8.72 crore people till February this year. We are happy that the Government of India and some other States are following the innovative healthcare measures of didi. Let there be healthy competition to ensure welfare of the common people, the marginalised and the backward classes who have been suffering for centuries in the absence of proper nutrition and healthcare. Madam, at the same time, I am putting a question to myself as to why there should be a step-motherly attitude by the Centre towards Bengal. West Bengal is an integral part of India, that is, Bharat, which is a Union of States, as envisaged in the first Article of the Constitution of India. It was never and can never be a unitary state. The history of 190-year British rule is witness to the valiant liberation war launched by the people of Bengal, from the Battle of Plassey in 1757 by Nawab Siraj-ud-daula to the Sepoy Mutiny in 1857 at Barrackpore, led by Mangal Pandey, from the revolutionary upsurge organized by Shri Autobindo, Khudiram, Bagha Jatin, Master Da Surja Sen, Rash Behari Bose and many others, which culminated into ‘war’ declared by the Supreme Commander of Indian National Army, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose against the British on October 21, 1943 and unfurled the National Flag on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as well as in Mairang, now in Meghalaya. More than three million Bengalis died of manmade famine in 1943. To add salt to our injuries, Bengal was partitioned and millions of people became refugees overnight. It continued and it took three generations to settle down and to live with human dignity. Why should we be discriminated against even after 75 years of Independence? Let me quickly refer to the funding under the National Health Mission and PMMYV of the Central Government. No fund under NHM has been released by the Government of India since August, 2023 in spite of fulfilment of all conditions. Similarly, no fund has been released by the Ministry of Women and Child Development since November, 2022 under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, not to speak of Rs. two lakh crore, which is due and payable by the Government of India on account of MNREGA, Awas Yojana and other Centrally-sponsored schemes compelling the Bengal Government to continue with the schemes out of its own fund. I had never witnessed such an inimical attitude by the Centre towards the poor people of Bengal in the 58 years of my political life. This is going too far. DEFG HIF JKLMNO PQEIF RO SN TUVI WH SXYR ZG[ZI\ RG ]^FI_ N`aहNIaEI T\IP [GEOc Before I conclude, I would urge upon the Government to take care of the increasing environmental hazards, rampant use of dangerous chemical components in fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides used in farming. Organic farming continues to be a myth.

May the winds blow sweetly, May the rivers flow sweetly, May the herbs be to us sweet and beneficial, May there be sweetness during the day and night, May the heaven be sweet to us, May the fruit bearing trees be sweet to us, May the sun be sweet and benevolent to us.

Sir, roughly, loans worth around Rs. 12 lakh crore have been written off by the nationalized banks. From the answer, we gather that the amount of recovered loans is Rs. 1,26,000- plus, that is, roughly ten per cent. Through you, Sir, I would like to know if the hon. Minister could provide the House with the details of the top 20 wilful defaulters in India as on date and state specifically what action has been taken to recover the outstanding amounts from these wilful defaulters. It will be greatly appreciated if the hon. Minister could furnish a written response on this with details. Sir, my specific question was about the nationalised banks. Overall, Rs.16.35 lakh crores have been written off. Out of this amount, Rs.12 lakh crores were of nationalised banks. The answer given by the Government shows that the recovery is of Rs.1,26,000 crore, that is, merely 10 per cent. So, 90 per cent of the loans is not recovered. Now, my second supplementary, through you, is this. Could the Minister state the details of the cases where the Government has taken recapitalisation measures for public sector banks facing a high volume of Non-Performing Assets? Please also state the details of the funds for recapitalisation released to these banks in the last five years. I will urge, through you, that I need a specific answer. The earlier answer was not at all specific.

Thank you, Sir, for the opportunity. I have gone through the list of sanctioned posts and the vacancies. There are three units in Silcher, but the figure against sanctioned posts is zero. Therefore, they have not been able to fill it. My question to the hon. Minister is this: A posting in the North East is seen in the country as a hardship posting sometimes. So, does the Health Minister have any provision to, maybe, hire doctors, paramedics on a contractual basis rather than filling up these permanent posts, which may help in better human resource?

Sir, you are most welcome back. Hope you are in good health and spirit! Somehow, nowadays, the price of the general medicines needed for the pregnant women, general medicines needed for the newborn children, which is very much related for Janani Shishu Suraksha, the life saving drugs for the mother and child, for the cancer patients, for the high blood pressure diabetes patients also are increasing day by day. Crores of common, downtrodden people, mothers and children are suffering always for this reason. Through you, Sir, I want to know what measure is being taken by the Union Government to address these people’s issues so that the price of medicines may be reduced.

Sir, firstly, I would like to commend the hon. Minister for greatly reducing our maternal and infant mortality rates. I would, definitely, like to congratulate the Ministry for that. Sir, in the answer that is given, it is true that the Government does provide hot meals under the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram. The thing is that these are provided in the main, general health centers and the ones which are accessible. But the problem is in the peripheral health centers. In a number of States, allowance is given for, maybe, milk and biscuits, and that has been the tradition. But it is not possible to provide them the hot meals. So, in that particular area, I want to ask the hon. Minister whether there is any plan by the Ministry to provide allowance or maybe extend it in places where hot meals cannot be provided to women. Sir, unfortunately, my question was not answered because I said there are peripheral health centers where it is not possible for the Government to provide hot meals. What do we do in areas like those? But, nevertheless, the other issue that people are facing is again in peripheral areas. A lot of times, there is a shortage of ambulances and they cannot reach. So, they have to take referral transport. Or, in a lot of peripheral health areas, advanced ultrasound facilities are not available. So, these are the areas where out of pocket expenses do happen. I mean, the Government does not reimburse, but women do end up paying from their pockets. So, I am talking specifically about these remote areas, be it in terms of diet or be it terms of ultrasound. Is the Government considering providing reimbursement in areas where the Government is not able to, for logistical reasons, provide those services? Thank you.

Sir, it is great to have you back. The hon. Minister has already given an elaborate answer but my question, if he can kindly reply, is this. Is the Ministry considering expanding telemedicine services and mobile cancer screening units to improve early detection and treatment accessibility in rural areas? If yes, please provide the details.

Sir, Shri T.N. Seshan was the 10th Chief Election Commissioner of India and he redefined the way in which the Election Commissioner of India functions. Mr. Seshan was a fiercely independent Election Commissioner. His famous quote, ‘I eat politicians for breakfast,’ showed that he worked without fear or favour and upheld the independence and dignity of the Election Commission. Sir, I will state a few reasons as to why it is extremely important that our country honour Shri T.N. Seshan with the Bharat Ratna. First reason is: Shri T.N. Seshan’s independence gave a strong image to the ECI, which is the constitutional body. Sir, today, Election Commissioners are appointed directly by the Government with a majority vote of P.M. Shri Modi and hon. Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah on the selection panel. Neither the Chief Justice of India, which is the judiciary, nor the Leader of the Opposition, which is the legislature, have any say in the appointments. The ECI has now become a Government-appointed body. Shri T.N. Seshan would not approve of this. Second reason is, Shri T.N. Seshan strictly enforced the Model Code of Conduct and made it a powerful tool for free and fair elections. Sir, the third reason and this is the most important reason. Sir, Shri T.N. Seshan — this is important for everyone to know, in the Government especially, Shri T.N. Seshan created the EPI Cards. The voter ID Cards were envisaged by Shri T.N. Seshan. He envisaged them as being a unique electoral ID for every Indian. The unique voter ID envisaged by Shri T.N. Seshan is no longer unique. Under Shri T.N. Seshan, the EC was independent and we need to give him Bharat Ratna to remind … And, Sir,…

Sir, I would like to say something. Sir, I am on Rule 29 with a request to you. Sir, during the period you were unwell – we are happy to see you back – there was a broad consensus, even at the BAC, that a Short Duration Discussion would be taken up and one of the subjects, as my colleague had said, was the EPIC duplication of Voters Cards I will say that; let me finish speaking. It is on the duplication of EPIC Cards and the Election Commission. Sir, it is not anyone’s intention to disrupt this House. There was no disruption even when the hon. Minister was replying to the Working of the Ministry of Railways. So, we want the House to run. Members have very important issues to raise during the Zero Hour. So, your kind consideration is needed for Short Duration Discussion on this issue. Thank you.

Sir, I have a point of order, under calmer circumstances, just to set on record as to what was going wrong. Please allow me. The rules are very clear. Please, humbly look at Rules 258 and 259. The basic point here is today, all of us know we are discussing the Ministry of Railways. What happened today is that the Minister, at the end of his speech used the expression ‘Railway Budget’. We were not discussing the Railway Budget. That practice stopped in 2016. What happened today has to be removed from the records. This is the point we were trying to make. There were other points also. It is Rule 259. Please allow me to say this. It relates to Rule 258 also. It is the right of a Member, any Member, irrespective of the Party, this side or that side, and, it is the guaranteed right of a Member to raise a point of order. These are the two very serious issues which happened today. It needs to be corrected in the records, otherwise, it gives a bad impression. Thank you, Sir.

Sir, I have a point of order. Sir, there are two very important issues. Please answer. Sir, we listened to the hon. Minister for one hour. My point of order is under Rule We listened to the Minister for one hour. One minute. This was not a discussion on the Railway Budget. There are two points. Please listen to me. We have listened to him for one hour. This was not a discussion… Sir, it is under Rule. This was not a discussion on the Railway Budget. I am giving you the rule. Rule 239 is there. It has A, B and C. I have got two points to make on it. One minute. For one hour, we listened to the Minister. This is not done. Sir, I beseech you for one minute. Sir, please understand the rule.