Author: admin2

Saugata Roy speaks on Kashmir issue during Zero Hour in Lok Sabha

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Saugata Roy speaks on Kashmir issue during Zero Hour in Lok Sabha

Madam, this is about Kashmir. Another protester succumbed to injuries in Kashmir yesterday, pushing the death toll in the month up to 58, even as curfew and security restrictions continue to remain in place in the Valley. So far there had been 933 pellet cases.

On Monday, 7 civilians including 4 women were hit by pellets in Anantnag district. There are no signs of clashes and protests abetting in the valley. Three BSF persons were also killed in an attack by militants in North Kashmir

The Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister reportedly told the Home Minister while initiating the dialogue process Centre must ensure that the cycle of violence goes down.

Dasarath Tirkey speaks on the occasion of Adivasi Diwas in Lok Sabha

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Dasarath Tirkey speaks on the occasion of Adivasi Diwas in Lok Sabha

Thank you Madam for giving me the opportunity speak on the occasion of Adivasi Diwas. All the members of this House are aware that the apex court has recognised Adivasis as the oldest citizens of the country. But nowadays a lot of atrocities are being committed on Adivasis.

The media and newspapers keep reporting about atrocities committed on Adivasis across the country. However, the Hon. Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee, who is our beloved Didi, is working tirelessly for the welfare of Adivasis and their all-round development.

I wish to know from the Government what measures are they taking for the development of Adivasis. Thank you.

Derek O’Brien’s Question on National Rural Drinking Water Programme

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Derek O’Brien’s Question on National Rural Drinking Water Programme

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) the number of people who have contracted water-borne diseases over the last three years, State-wise and year-wise;

(b) the number of such cases that have been fatal;

(c) the steps Government has taken to provide safe potable water in rural and urban areas; and

(d) the funds allocated and disbursed for these efforts in the last three years?

First Supplementary Question

Budget 2016-17 has been a dampener in its allocation of Rs 5000 crore for the National Rural Drinking Water Programme being only a marginal improvement over the previous year’s allocation of Rs 4373 crores.

This year’s budget for AMRUT and for 100 smart cities is about Rs 7000 crore. The emphasis is on drawing water from exogenous sources instead of developing and managing local water sources.

How is the Centre planning on ensuring that all households – whether rural or urban are receiving clean and potable water?

Second Supplementary Question

Sir, I hate to say this but when it becomes convenient, the matter goes to the State. Anyway, Sir, since the Finance Minister is also here, may be in the answer I will get some assurance and maybe the Minister will also get some assurance from the Finance Minister.

Sir, the question is that given the situation, not only in Delhi but in other places too, Sir this budget for National Rural Drinking Water Programme, Sir, will not solve any of the problems. Sir, the budget should be in the range from 8000 to 9000 crore rupees.

So, to reach the goals of the National Rural Drinking Water Programme does the Union Minister have a specific plan in mind as to what is the overall budget, so that they can resolve the basic issue of providing potable drinking water to people.

Thank you

 

Kalyan Banerjee speaks on external support to insurgent groups during Question Hour

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Kalyan Banerjee speaks on external support to insurgent groups during Question Hour

The Hon’ble minister has given a written reply. I have never seen such a cryptic reply of any Ministry in respect of such an important issue. So cryptic, I cannot imagine. This is not a reply at all.

For more than half a century, the people of North-East India have seen an unending cycle of violent conflicts dominated by insurgents with demands ranging from outright sorority to getting political autonomy.

Insurgency has taken a toll on thousands of lives of both of security forces and citizens. The root of insurgency in the North-Eastern region is imbedded in the geographic history and host of socio-economic factors. Ninety-eight percent of the borders of the region are international borders. While the population share is 3.90 crores (a mere 3 percent) but between 1951-2001 it has gone up by 200 percent.

Madam, there are recommendations of a high level commission regarding the transformation of the North-East.

Eight recommendations were made by this commission, constituted by the Centre:

  • A North-Eastern council should be implemented to fill the gaps in the infrastructure of the region.
  • A comprehensive framework to be involved and put in place to promote the region as a preferred investment destination.
  • A transport development fund to fund construction of important road corridor should be taking a set up.
  • Comprehension implementation of Look-East policy though relevant for the country as a whole is especially important for the long term board of the north east.
  • The agenda for the implementation must be prepared in active association with the State Government.
  • Rail connectivity has to be made.
  • Greater efforts are needed to establish bank branches and other credit disbursement
  • Setting up of Centers of Excellence for professional higher education in North-east.

There is a need to make an in-depth study. In 50 per cent of the border area, there is no fencing till now.

Madam, my question before the Hon’ble Minister is that whether the central government has gone through the recommendations made by the high level commission regarding the transformation of North-East. If so, what steps have been taken?

 

Second supplementary question

It is a fact that this central government has stopped the ‘Operation All Clear’ and ‘Operation Golden Bar’  – a joint military operation on the soil of neighbouring countries along the North-East border to pass out the insurgent militant grants.

If so what are the reasons? What is the cause behind the failure of the government to stop the repeated insurgency in the North-Eastern region of the country?

 

SS Roy speaks in RS on the Kashmir issue

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on SS Roy speaks in RS on the Kashmir issue

Deputy Speaker, Sir. The leader of our party in the House, Shri Derek O’Brien, during a prior discussion on the current situation in Kashmir, had categorically said that it is due to mismanagement on part of government that situation in Kashmir went out of control.

The situation in Kashmir is still alarming. The government had assured us the matter would be discussed today. They said that the government is ready for a discussion. Sir, many parties have given notice under Rule 267 for a discussion on the Kashmir issue.

Sir, it is our humble submission that the discussion be taken up at 2 PM today.

WB CM to felicitate policemen for their gallantry during Hill rescue operation

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on WB CM to felicitate policemen for their gallantry during Hill rescue operation

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will felicitate policemen for their gallantry and bravery during the investiture programme of the State Police force on August 19.

Among those who will be felicitated on the day are the 10 policemen who risked their lives to rescue other colleagues when one of the cars in the convoy escorting the Hon’ble President of India while coming down from Darjeeling to Bagdogra, fell into a crevice. Five policemen were rescued that day as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee supervised the rescue operation.

Among those who will be felicitated that day are two sub inspectors, one assistant sub inspector, four constables, two drivers from the Directorate of security and a constable from the Jalpaiguri Range.

 

পাহাড়ে রাষ্ট্রপতির কনভয় দুর্ঘটনায় উদ্ধারকারীদের পুরস্কৃত করবেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী

পাহাড়ে রাষ্ট্রপতির কনভয়ের দুর্ঘটনায় অসাধারণ তৎপরতা ও অদম্য সাহসিকতার নিয়ে উদ্ধারকাজ করায় উদ্ধারকারীদের সম্মান জানাবেন পশ্চিমবঙ্গের মাননীয়া মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়। আগামী ১৯ আগস্ট কলকাতা পুলিশের সংবর্ধনা অনুষ্ঠানে তাদের হাতে পুরস্কার তুলে দেবেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী।

বাগডোগরা থেকে ফেরার পথে রাষ্ট্রপতির কনভয়ের একটি গাড়ি খাদে পড়ে যাওয়ার পর যে দশ জন পুলিশ সেদিন তাদের জীবনের ঝুঁকি নিয়ে তাদের সহকর্মীদের উদ্ধার করেছিলেন তাদের পুরস্কৃত করা হবে। মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর তত্ত্বাবধানে সেদিন সেই দুর্ঘটনাগ্রস্ত গাড়িতে থাকা পাঁচজন পুলিশকেই উদ্ধার করা হয়েছিল।

যারা সেদিন সংবর্ধিত করা হবে মধ্যে দুজন সাব ইন্সপেক্টর, এক জন সহকারী সাব ইন্সপেক্টর, চার জন কনস্টেবল, নিরাপত্তা অধিদপ্তরের দুই জন ড্রাইভার ও জলপাইগুড়ি রেঞ্জের একজন কনস্টেবল কে এদিন সংবর্ধিত করা হবে।

Time has come for Poriborton in Tripura: Mamata Banerjee

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Time has come for Poriborton in Tripura: Mamata Banerjee

With an aim to expand the base of the party, Trinamool Congress Chairperson Mamata Banerjee today addressed a public rally in Tripura at Vivekananda Stadium, commonly known as Astabal ground, in Agartala.

A huge crowd cheered Mamata Banerjee as she called for ‘Poriborton’ in Tripura. She said that after 34 years of misrule in Bengal, there is a surge of development in the State; time has come for Tripura to say goodbye to the CPI(M).

The Assembly election in Tripura is scheduled for 2018. The All India Trinamool Congress is currently the main Opposition party in the state.

Highlights of Mamata Banerjee’s speech:

On Bengal verdict

In Bengal we have the Government of Maa-Mati-Manush; now let there be a Maa-Mati-Manush Government in Tripura also. During the elections in Bengal, a slander campaign was launched by some leaders. People hit the Opposition for a sixer through their mandate. Trinamool stands development, progress and moving ahead. Trinamool fulfills the promises it makes.

On CPI(M)-Congress alliance

The CPI(M) does not understand anything but torture, and the Congress is in cahoots with them. We came out of the Congress the day they sold their ideology to the CPI(M). We were able to establish Trinamool because we walked out of the Congress. The CPI(M) was responsible for the birth of chit funds.

On BJP

The BJP Government does not do any work; it blows its own trumpets during elections. The BJP only interferes in the business of the State; it is not following the federal structure. BJP wants to scare us but we will keep marching forward fearlessly.

On development in Bengal

We have distributed 40 lakh bicycles under Sabuj Sathi. We get only 10% of Central funds whereas Tripura gets 90%. We have been giving rice at Rs 2 per kg since we came to power. The people of Jangalmahal get these advantages too. We have worked for the welfare of tribal people. We have set up 41 multi super-speciality hospitals in Bengal.

We have started Kanyashree scholarships for girls. We have instituted the Sikshashree Scheme for tribal students. In Bengal we have started Fair Price Medicine Shops, free heart operation for children. We can do the same for you. Fifteen thousand children have got cardiac surgery free of cost in Bengal.

On misrule in Tripura

What have the comrades done for Tripura? Is there any good hospital here? Do the people of Tripura get free healthcare in Government hospitals? People go to Delhi or Assam for treatment. There is only loot and plunder here. FIRs are rejected. The police force is controlled by the CPI(M).

Potatoes cost Rs 35-40 per kg in Tripura but in Bengal, we have set up fair price shops selling potatoes at Rs 14.

Comrades, you can always call me names; work for the people before you criticise me. We have witnessed violence in Netai, Nandigram and Singur. We have witnessed a lot of violence in Udaypur (in Tripura). We cannot be scared by fear tactics. Trinamool cannot be stopped by taking cable TV channels off air.

Slogan for change

The time has come for the CPI(M) to leave Tripura; the time has come for Poriborton. We will launch all the successful Bengal initiatives in Tripura. We will achieve victory; Trinamool will emerge victorious here. Rabindranath Tagore wrote Bisarjan; let today’s meeting be the call for CPM’s ‘bisarjan.’ Trinamool doesn’t want to just come to power in Tripura, it wants to work for the people.

 

ত্রিপুরায় পরিবর্তনের সময় এসেছে: মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়

তৃণমূলকে জাতীয় স্তরে আরও বিস্তার করার লক্ষ্যে ত্রিপুরা সফরে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়। আজ আগরতলার আস্তাবল মাঠে  তিনি একটি জনসভা করেন।

সভামঞ্চ থেকে যখন তিনি ত্রিপুরার পরিবর্তনের ডাক দেন তখন উল্লাসে চিৎকার করে জনতার ভিড়। তিনি বলেন, ৩৪ বছর অপশাসনের পর বাংলায় যেমন উন্নয়নের জোয়ার এসেছে তেমনই ত্রিপুরাতেও সিপিএমের বিদায়ের সময় এসে গেছে।

২০১৮ সালে ত্রিপুরায় বিধানসভা নির্বাচন। বর্তমানে সর্ব ভারতীয় তৃণমূল কংগ্রেসই প্রধান বিরোধী দল।

ত্রিপুরায় জননেত্রীর বক্তব্যের কিছু অংশ

বাংলায় বিপুল জয় সম্বন্ধে

বাংলায় এখন মা-মাটি-মানুষের সরকার, এবার ত্রিপুরাতেও মা-মাটি-মানুষ সরকার গঠন করবে। বাংলায় নির্বাচনের সময় বেশ কিছু নেতারা অপপ্রচার করে বেরিয়েছেন। শেষমেশ মানুষের রায়ে ধরাশায়ী হয়েছে বিরোধীরা। তৃণমূল মানুষের দল, সাধারণ মানুষের জন্য কাজ করে তৃণমূল। তৃণমূল মানে উন্নয়ন, প্রগতি এবং এগিয়ে চলা। তৃণমূল যা প্রতিশ্রুতি দেয় তা পূরণ করে।

সিপিএম-কংগ্রেস আঁতাত সম্বন্ধে

সিপিএম অত্যাচার ছাড়া কিছু জানে না। চিট ফান্ডের জন্মদাতা সিপিএম। এখন বাংলায় সিপিএম-কংগ্রেস বন্ধু হয়েছে। কংগ্রেস সিপিএমের কাছে নিজেদের আদর্শ বিক্রি করে দেওয়ার পর আমি কংগ্রেস ছেড়ে বেরিয়ে এসে তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস প্রতিষ্ঠা করেছিলাম।

বিজেপি সম্বন্ধে

বিজেপির সরকারের কোনও কাজ নেই, নির্বাচন এলেই ঢাক -ঢোল নিয়ে বেরিয়ে পরে। ওদের কাজ যুক্ত রাষ্ট্রীয় পরিকাঠামোয় হস্তক্ষেপ করা। ওরা আমাদের ভয় দেখাতে চায়, কিন্তু আমরা ভয় না পেয়ে আমাদের লক্ষ্যে এগিয়ে যাব।

বাংলার উন্নয়ন সম্বন্ধে

আমরা বাংলায় ৪০ লক্ষ ছাত্রছাত্রীদের সাইকেল দিয়েছি। আমরা কেন্দ্র থেকে মাত্র ১০ শতাংশ টাকা পাই কিন্তু ত্রিপুরা ৯০ শতাংশ টাকা পায়। ক্ষমতায় আসার পর আমরা ২ টাকা কিলো দরে চাল দিয়েছি। জঙ্গলমহলও আজ এই সুবিধা পাচ্ছে। আদিবাসীদের জন্য আমরা অনেক কাজ করেছি। বাংলায় ৪১টি মাল্টি সুপার স্পেশালটি হসপিটাল তৈরি হয়েছে।

মেয়েদের জন্য আমরা কন্যাশ্রী প্রকল্প চালু করেছি। তফসিলি জাতি ও উপজাতির ছাত্রছাত্রীদের জন্য আমরা শিক্ষাশ্রী চালু করেছি। যুবশ্রী, লোক প্রসার প্রকল্পসহ আরও অনেক স্কিম আমরা চালু করেছি। বাংলায় সরকারি হাসপাতালে এখন বিনামূল্যে চিকিৎসা হয়। সরকারি হাসপাতালে ন্যায্য মূল্যের ওষুধের দোকান চালু হয়েছে। ১৫০০০ শিশুদের বিনা পয়সায় হার্ট অপারেশনের ব্যবস্থা করে দিয়েছি আমরা।

ত্রিপুরার অপশাসন সম্বন্ধে

ত্রিপুরার জন্য কি করেছেন কমরেডরা? কোন ভাল হাসপাতাল তৈরি করেছেন? ত্রিপুরার লকেরা সরকারি হাসপাতালে বিনামূল্যে চিকিতসার সুযোগ পায়? তাদের চিকিতসার জন্য আসাম-দিল্লি যেতে হয়। এখানে শুধু লুঠ আর অত্যাচার। এফআইআর নেওয়া হয় না। সিপিএম পুলিশকে কন্ট্রোল করে।

ত্রিপুরায় আলুর দাম ৩৫-৪০ টাকা। আমরা বাংলায় ন্যায্য মূল্যের দোকান থেকে  ১৪ টাকায় আলু বিক্রি করি।

আমার বিরুদ্ধে কথা বলার আগে মানুষের জন্য কাজ করুন। আমি নেতাই, সিঙ্গুর, নন্দীগ্রাম যেমন দেখেছি তেমন উদয়পুরের অত্যাচারের সাক্ষী আমি। আমাদের ভয় দেখিয়ে কোন লাভ নেই। কেবল টিভি বন্ধ করে তৃণমূলকে থামানো যাবে না।

পরিবর্তনের স্লোগান

ত্রিপুরা থেকে সিপিএমের বিদায়ের সময় এসে গেছে। ত্রিপুরায় এখন পরিবর্তনের সময় এসেছে। আমরা বাংলায় যা যা উন্নয়ন করেছি তা ত্রিপুরাতেও করব। আমরাই জয়ী হব, তৃণমূলই জয়লাভ করবে। রবীন্দ্রনাথ  ঠাকুর ‘বিসর্জন’ লিখেছিলেন। আজকের এই সভা থেকে সিপিএমের ‘বিসর্জন’ শুরু হল। শুধু ত্রিপুরায় সরকার গঠন আমাদের লক্ষ্য নয়, আমাদের লক্ষ্য মানুষের জন্য কাজ করা। কাজ করাটাই আমাদের ধর্ম।

Kalyan Banerjee speaks on The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Second Amendment) Bill, 2014

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Kalyan Banerjee speaks on The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Second Amendment) Bill, 2014

Thank you Hon’ble Deputy Speaker, Sir. At the very outset let me make our party’s position very clear that we are supporting the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Second Amendment) Bill, 2014, which along with the amendments, has been brought to our House. After the Constitution Amendment Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha few days back our Hon’ble Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee welcomed the Constitution Amendment Bill. Our party is supporting this Constitution Amendment and GST for the last one decade for the benefit of micro, small and medium enterprises.

These small and medium enterprises are the backbone of the economy in terms of providing employment in our country. Therefore, a single tax imposition through GST will help heavily and our party supports that stand. Our leader who is the most popular leader of Bengal – last election has proved that – The Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee extended hands of co-operation for bringing the present Constitution Amendment Bill.

Let me remind this august House that on 5 May, 2015 in support of this Constitution Bill, I took part in the debate on behalf of my party and supported the Bill but made few suggestions and requests. Sir, the proposed Constitution Amendment and GST would subsume various central taxes – like excise duty, additional excise duty, service tax, countervailing or additional customs duty, special additional duty of customs etc. – as well as state level indirect taxes – VAT, sales tax, purchase tax, entertainment tax, luxury tax, octroi, entry tax etc.

Once the Bill is passed there will be a national-level central GST, state-level GST and I-GST spanning the entire value chain for all goods and services with some exceptions. Mechanism for resolving may be decided by the GST Council itself. No doubt, that it is one of the biggest tax forms creating national market for goods and services.

The GST had been stall for long years because of debate between the two national political parties – the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party. And country has suffered for that. Economic reforms are a continuous process and seamless. The Indian economy felt that it has come of age to try out a unified taxation system such as VAT or GST.

Although we are supporting the Bill. We are having few points which need clarification from the Hon’ble Finance Minister.

Number one. In a meeting of the Empowered Committee of State Finance Minister, all States unanimously voiced their concern about the problem of dual control under GST by Central and State tax authorities on taxpayers, in respect of micro, small and medium enterprises, and the resultant effect of the hardship on the small taxpayers. A discussion took place in the Empowered Committee on 14 June, 2016 in Calcutta in the presence of Hon’ble Union Finance Minister.

The States unanimously voiced that dual control on these classes of taxpayers will increase their cost of compliance and put them under great hardship. It was pointed out by all the States in the presence of the Honourable Finance Minister, ‘as these taxpayers constitute almost 70 per cent of the tax base but have minimum revenue potential, the dual control will make it difficult for the Centre and States to roll out GST.’

Let me give one example. Let us consider the case of a lady who is running a beauty parlour, which is a small enterprise. That beauty parlour will come within the context of dual control. Therefore, I am making a request to the Finance Minister to exclude micro, small and medium enterprises from the purview of dual control when the GST Bill will be brought to Parliament in the future.

My second point. In the case of I-GST, it is expected that State revenue should not be adversely affected.

My third point. The issue of GST compensation was discussed in the last two meetings of the Empowered Committee that were held on June 14 and July 26, 2016. The States had unanimously agreed that the compensation should be paid in full for a period of five years. This sentiment of the State was shared with the Honourable Union Finance Minister, who was appreciative of the concerns of the States; I must say that. He assured the committee that the Centre is committed to give full compensation for a period of five years.

The proposed amendment which was brought today in Lok Sabha has incorporated the suggestion of the Empowered Committee, but there is no mention of payment of full compensation. But the Honourable Finance Minister, on the floor of Rajya Sabha, committed to the full amount of compensation. Sir, I need a clarification through you from the Honourable Finance Minister that what do you mean by full amount of compensation. Kindly clarify that part. That is a very important aspect for which we need an answer from you.

My next issue, number four, is the tax rate under GST. It is often called revenue neutral rate and is something to which the Empowered Committee has applied two principles. The first is that the GST tax should not be so high that it would adversely affect the common people through inflationary pressure. The second principle of the Empowered Committee is that the tax rate should be such that the revenue of the States also does not suffer.

Sir,  let us hope and pray that the GST gets implemented soon and in a swift manner. Let the Centre get its share of GST and the states, their share of SGST. An inter-state GST mechanism should be made to balance the equation between the two and end the tax competition leading to constant inflation in the country. Let GST bring down prices and push up prosperity and living standards of the people of India.

Sir, I have a request to the Hon’ble Prime Minister today. For every work done in the country, the Prime Minister himself claims the credit. While claiming such credit, the Prime Minister forgets that States are the political executives who work hard for the implementation of the legislative and administrative schemes so that Centre sees the face of success. At least today the Hon’ble Prime Minister, in the august House, must say that the because of the Chief ministers and Finance Ministers of all the states of all the parties, this Bill has been brought and it is Bengal’s Finance Minister, as the Chairman of the Empowered Committee, is the successful claimant of bringing the Bill and getting it passed in the House.

see to our today and understand that what the states are cooperating with you. Because the states are cooperating with you; this is the reason that this Bill will be passed today. Therefore, I request the Hon’ble Prime Minister, please extend your hand of cooperation to the States on a need basis.

Hon’ble Finance Minister, we have extended all our cooperation, now we will watch your actions; how much cooperation will you extend to West Bengal to resolve the problem we have repeatedly brought to your notice. The way the Hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal has extended cooperation, the way the Hon’ble Finance Minister Amit Mitra has extended cooperation, I will request to you today, Sir, to give a special package to the state of West Bengal.

Thank you.

Ahamed Hassan Imran speaks on The Mental Health Care Bill, 2013

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Ahamed Hassan Imran speaks on The Mental Health Care Bill, 2013

Sir, on August 6, 2001, a fire broke out in an asylum in Erwadi, Tamil Nadu. More than 25 patients were burnt alive; they could not escape the blaze as they had been chained to poles or beds. The Supreme Court stated that the ‘Mental Health Act, 1987 is not at all implemented by the concerned authorities and there is failure on the part of Central/State Governments to implement the 1987 Act.’ Thus, there is an urgent need to introduce and implement sweeping reforms in the country.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has conducted detailed studies of patients in mental institutions and the conditions they live in. They found numerous instances of cruel treatment and people being chained, being beaten, and being denied any kind of dignity.

There are around 4,000 psychiatrists in India, and many of them are in private practice. Thus there is a massive shortage of psychiatrists in the public sector, which has led to a large number of people requiring mental healthcare remaining undiagnosed.

As per National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, 1,31,666 people committed suicide in India in 2014. Depression is the leading cause of suicide around the world and needs to be treated by healthcare professionals. There is a need to eliminate the social stigma associated with mental disorders.

Access to mental health services in India continues to be a major challenge as up to 40 per cent of patients travel more than 10 km to access District Mental Health Programme services.

Coming to the Mental Health Care Bill, 2013, it has some good provisions. Any person, with or without mental illness, can make an Advance Directive (AD) stating how he/she wishes to be treated for a future mental illness and also how he does not wish to be treated. Such an AD can also be challenged by families, professionals, etc. Decriminalisation of suicide is a much-needed reform. A person attempting suicide shall be considered to be under severe stress and will not be liable to be prosecuted under Section 309 of Indian Penal Code. The Government shall provide care, treatment and rehabilitation to all such persons.

The Bill states that it is the obligation of the Central and State Governments to build halfway homes and community care centres, among others, for the mentally ill. Such services should be affordable, of good quality and available without discrimination.  It also provides protection to patients from cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. Some treatments currently being used will be prohibited, most importantly, electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) given without anaesthesia and the practice of chaining patients to their beds.

However, there are some issues with the Bill which I would like to raise. The provision of appointing a nominee, and then all subsequent decisions being taken by the nominee may lead to the damaging of goodwill and bonding between the members of a family. Furthermore, a person can only be admitted to a mental healthcare facility after being reviewed by a Mental Health Review Commission (MHRC) panel. This might cause undue delay to the treatment, and will make the entire process more complicated. These reasons might discourage families from playing a proactive role in seeking treatment.

The MHRC has six members, but out of which only one is a psychiatrist and another a mental healthcare professional. This will lead to crucial decisions being taken in the field of mental health by of non-experts.

The Bill allows for ECT on minors in case the psychiatrist advises it, with the consent of the guardian and prior permission of the Board. However, due to its extreme side effects and its controversial practice in the treatment of mental illness in minors, a blanket ban on ECT for minors should be implemented, as recommended by the World Health Organisation.

It is surprising that the Bill provides for only one District Board for the eight north-eastern states of India, covering an area of 2,62,230 sq km. This would make it inaccessible to a majority of the people in these States, who face difficulties because of connectivity issues and terrain.

Sir, I would urge the Government to look into these issues and make the necessary changes so that India gets a progressive law on mental healthcare, which would work towards raising awareness and eradicating the stigma attached to mentally ill people.

Thank you, Sir.

Sukhendu Sekhar Roy speaks on recent attack in Kokrajhar

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Sukhendu Sekhar Roy speaks on recent attack in Kokrajhar

We share the agony and anguish with the Hon’ble member and also condemn the brutal attack on the people. But this is not the first time that this has happened. Someone has said that in December, 2014 such incident took place in that particular area of Kokrajhar and more than 70 people were killed and many injured.

There is 21 percent Bengali Muslim population in that district, bordering West Bengal, particularly in Cooch Behar district of West Bengal. During December, 2014 hundreds of villagers had to free to Cooch Behar district of West Bengal and our Hon’ble Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had to arrange for their shelter, foods, medical treatments etc. Now again this has happened and one of the Ministers from Assam is on record saying that it was not a planned attack. That is why Government did not have any information and the security forces reached the spot half an hour or one hour after the incident took place and this is why they could not prevent the incident.

But, Sir, this is not an isolated incident. This Kokrajhar district has suffered since long and the so-called Bodo agitation has going on and after the peace agreement of 2005, when people thought that everything will be improved. But again this is happening.  

The clarification that I would like to seek from the Hon’ble Minister is that whether it is a case of intelligence failure. If that is the case, whether the Government of India is advising the State Government to take appropriate steps for improving the intelligence mechanism together with the Central Government to combat recurrence of such incidents in future in a diligent manner.