Author: admin2

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Sir, jo aap ne bola sunne mein bahut accha laga, bura mat manyega, lekin humko laga ki subjective wish ki saath objective reality ka bahut antar hain. Ek reference hum aapko denge, aap bol chuke hain ki Rs 10,000 crore ki corpus fund hain aapke paas, budget crunch ke bare me bolne ka time, lekin hum PF aur ESI Boards ke andar hain.

Aur humko pata hain ki PF Board aur ESI Board ka Rs 1 lakh aur Rs 1,000 crore ka corpus fund hain. Lekin jo closed and sick industries hain unka workers mar jate agar management nahi rahta to. Woh corpus fund se usko nahi diya jata hain, iska policy ke bare mein hum Labour Department mein charcha karte hain ki woh corpus fund kyun share bazaar mein khatayenge aur kyun, jo closed, sick industries ka workers hain, jiska paisa woh hain, unko kyun nahi milega. 

To iss tarha corpus fund agar aap ka paas hoga, toh aap bataiye ki budget crunch — jo MSME ka problem hain, aur jiska do Honourable Members ne bhi zikr kiya — bank ka problem hain aur tin mahina mein sab tankha milega. MSME ke liye bahut saare concerns hain jisko solve karne ke liye teen mahina se zyada lagega. 

Toh corpus fund ke baare mein aap kya policy banana chahta hain, agar Rs 10,000 bhi hain, yeh agar spasht roop se aap bataye dete to accha rehta. 

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Honourable Chairman Madam, today, you have allowed a discussion on the working of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. A few days ago, you were very kind, Sir. You allowed a discussion on the Railway Ministry as well. That discussion was initiated by my party the All India Trinamool Congress.

We asked 7 questions to the Railway Minister. We got a speech but no answers. So today, Sir, I request the Minister, in his reply to please answer the questions which the MPs are asking.  And from the last July session 2019, till date, almost in every sessions several times our party, the All India Trinamool Congress was asking definete questions regarding disinvestment of Public Sector Undertakings, Public Enterprises, Corporatisation of Defence Sector, 100%FDI of Coal Sector and non-payment of wages and salaries for the last 10 months towards the contractual employees of BSNL and the permanent employees of Hindustan Copper Corporation, too. In these cases also no answer . Today again, Sir, I request the Ministers and the policy makers of the Central Government please answer our questions so that the people of India may get their answers. 

To understand the working of the Ministry of MSME, we have to understand what action hurt the MSME sector so much. Who is responsible and why is it so? It is the Prime Minister himself who is responsible. Sorry to say, but it is the truth because it was he who announced demonetisation in November 2016. That was a big blunder.

Now come to the second blunder which has hurt the MSMEs.

In July 2017, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was introduced in the country. We had supported the move, but strongly opposed on how it was implemented.

The faulty implementation of the GST and the faulty policy of demonetisation resulted in a loss of Rs 4.75 lakh crore to the country’s economy.

But you don’t want to take advice. You think you can do it all. You do not need anybody’s advice. And you are insulting the Parliament. Sorry Sir, but the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are in session, and instead of addressing the Parliament and the nation, you are avoiding Parliament and doing a TV address.

Now, let me not give you a theoretical lecture on how progress has been made, and come to the practical scenario.

1. The MSME sector in Bengal is flourishing

West Bengal is a leading State in the MSME sector. As per the NSS report of the Central Government, the State has 89 lakh MSME establishments. During the last 8 years, the number of MSME Clusters in operation in Bengal has grown. How has it grown? From 49 to 539. Wow, 49 TO 539!

That is why we say, ‘Banglar Gorbo Mamata’. Which means ‘Bengal’s Pride is Mamata’. And Bengal’s pride is also MSME, also the agriculture, the organic farming, social security for the kishan, khetmajur, bargadar. Bengal’s pride is also the ‘Samajik Mukti Prakalpa’ for the unorganised workers. Bengal’s pride is also the ‘Joy Bangla’ for the SC/ST senior citizens. Bengal’s pride is also Kanyashree, Bengal’s pride is also ‘Utkarsha Bangla’ and obviously Bengal’s pride is Mamata, ‘Banglar Gorbo Mamata’.

Rs 2.4 lakh crore have been invested in SMEs through co-operative and commercial banks in my State.

The infrastructure for small industries has also seen tremendous growth. At present, 52 MSME Parks are operating. 39 more such MSME Parks are under construction in my State.

To further attract MSME investment in the State, 100 new MSME Parks are being established in the next 3 years.

The quantum of bank credit is a good parameter to judge how a State is doing in the MSME sector. The more the banks give to MSMEs, the better the State is doing.

In the last 2 years, the growth of bank credit has been unprecedented. In 2018-19, it was Rs 57,000 crore.This is almost 30% higher than the credit in 2017-18.

Yes, West Bengal is India’s number one state in MSME. In 2019-20, the credit flow to this sector already reached Rs 35,000 crore during the first two quarters of 2019. This meant a huge jump of 75% on a year-on-year basis for the same period last year.

We are proud of this achievement. The Bengal Government has also introduced a new incentive scheme for the MSME sector, named ‘Banglashree’ which starts next month.

The State Government is taking all these initiatives even though the Centre owes the State of West Bengal about Rs 50,000 crore. The Centre also owes the States thousands of crores on GST. And the Centre also owes the state of West Bengal thousands of crores on every other public scheme and Government scheme.

This Government has got MSMEs into trouble. Madam, allow me one minute to tell you about this Government’s ‘Becho India’ programme. They are selling everything, including LIC, BPCL, Shipping Corporation of India, Container Corporation of India, Indian Railways,Air India, ECL, Bridge and Roof, Bengal Chemical, Indian Oil Corporation, Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, Alloy Steel Plant and etc. At least after this coronavirus, and the great job done by Air India, I appeal to them to not sell the pride of the nation, Air India. Air India has stood by the nation in this crisis, Madam. We salute the Air India family and we must not sell this national treasure and the other Public Sector also, those who are national treasures and we must not sell them.

2. Financial crisis in the MSME sector

Sir, only 15% of the MSMEs in India receive formal credit. More than 80% of them are under-financed or financed through informal sources.

The World Bank estimates the credit gap for India’s MSMEs to be at around Rs 25 lakh crore.

If the sector is not financed effectively, how will it empower the industry to grow? We need to bridge the credit gap urgently to ensure that the MSMEs are well funded and their operations are not at stake due to a lack of funds.

3. Delay in repayments

A low demand, non-payment by customers, and banks not restructuring loans of MSMEs is affecting the sector.

It is to be noted that repayments have been delayed by more than a month, sometimes up to 4 months. Banks are tagging such loans as Non-Performing Assets as mandated.

If this happens, then it becomes difficult for the MSMEs to access further funds. The Government has to consider this and ensure that proper checks are in place which empower the MSMEs to grow and not remain in the red.

Again, financials are the key fuel which allows the nourishment of the MSMEs. There has to be no impediments to access finance, as also policy intervention is required to make sure that the MSMEs are paid by their customers on time for them to service their loans as well.

Also, leeway provisions have to be strengthened for MSMEs to not suffer should they fail to pay their loans back in time. 

4. Negative credit growth

The credit growth for the MSME sector is muted.

According to data from the Reserve Bank of India, for the micro and small segment, the credit growth has been negative at -3.4%, between April-November 2019. For medium enterprises it was negative at -3.6%.

On a year-on-year basis too, credit growth till November 2019 in both micro and small, as well as medium enterprises has been negative at -0.1% and -2.4% respectively.

5. Huge quantity of loans being restructured

In January 2019, the RBI had allowed a one-time restructuring of existing MSME loans that have defaulted, but weren’t non-performing as on January 1.

The original deadline of 31 March 2020 was extended by a year to 31 March 2021 in the recent Union Budget.

According to banks, MSME loans of about Rs 2 trillion were identified to be restructured by 31 March 2020. Banks hope to meet at least 70% of this target.

Why is the MSME sector suffering that a majority of the loans have to be restructured? The Government has to find the root cause of this and ensure that such organisations are not grappling with issues that are making it difficult for them to run.

6. The budgetary allocation is not enough

The budgetary allocation for the MSME sector increased from Rs 7,011 crore in 2019-20 to Rs 7,572.20 crore in 2020-21. Only by around Rs 500 crore!

The Ministry had reportedly sought Rs 12,000 crore. In such a scenario, has the Government assessed the lag in funding for the sector as a whole? Is the budgetary allocation of the sector enough or is the Government going bankrupt to not be able to provide the needed funds for the sector?

7. There is a policy gap regarding agro-based industries in MSME sector on behalf of the Central Government

India is an agrarian country. So India has an ample scope in agro based industries and agro-based industries are obviously in MSME sector. We have lot’s to produce like potato chips, food-processing, jute, cotton, tea etc and can flourish MSME sector by developing such agro-based industries. But unfortunately Central Government has no definite and constructive policy for the development of agro-based industries in our country as well the MSME sector 

The importance of the MSME sector

Now let me come to the importance of the MSME sector to the country, which is already flourishing in Bengal.

The MSME sector in India is key to the growth of the country’s economy. Around 75 million MSMEs contribute to about a third of the GDP and 45% of the manufacturing output of the country. These companies also provide employment to more than 110 million people of our country. 

But the sector has been facing issues that need correction and holistic policy intervention. 

Let’s follow at least a bit from Bengal’s model of MSME and let us work together for India.  

Now with the outbreak of coronavirus, the industry is set to make further losses and see job losses as well.Considering the impact of the virus on the economy of the country, consumption and demand will decrease, hampering the economy as a whole. 

Overall, I would urge the Government to pay heed to the demands of the MSME sector and ensure that it is well-funded, its operations are streamlined, it has proper access to finance, its payments are made on time, and it functions in an environment of economic progress and not lag.

Bengal is number one in the nation in MSME. And let us work together to make India the number one MSME country in the world.

At the end, Honourable Mr Prime Minister you are addressing the nation at 8 PM tonight on coronavirus. Good, we are looking forward to it. But please do come to the Parliament and address the Parliament regarding everything, regarding coronavirus, regarding MSME, regarding our development of the country. Do come to our House also, do come to Parliament, do come to Rajya Sabha. 

Thank you, Madam.   

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Hon’ble Deputy Chairman Sir, I was listening to the beautiful speech of the previous speaker. He elaborated on Indian history, ethos, culture and the sequence of development in this present context. What to receive, what not to receive? What to express, what not to express? Yes, I agree.

The National Commission for Homeopathy Bill, 2019, is very specific. The other Bill has the word ‘Indian’ connected with it –, The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill, 2019. Yes, they are Indian systems. Being a doctor of modern medicine, it is crucial for me to talk about the Indian system of medicine, and homoeopathic medicine.

One of my professors once told me that our country has had a long history; we have achieved freedom, the country has progressed in many aspects — scientific development, history, technology as well as medicine. He then asked me, where do you reside? When I told him that I live in a village surrounded by tribal people,  he asked, have you gone to their houses? And I told him, yes. He continued, what is their living condition? I told him that they live on their daily income and were the poorest to poor.

Now, let me tell you, Sir, that I have visited Bihar, I have visited Jharkhand, in fact, most of the States in my country. I was a member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly for seven terms. So, I have also visited the far corners of my State with the committee, and personally also.  

My professor, who was accompanying me on a train journey from Sealdah to a place in north Bengal, then told me, have you noticed whether the medicines you prescribe are always taken as per the recommended dosage? I told him, no, the poor people often cannot afford to buy those medicines, or do not have full faith in them. 

So then he told me, why are you not encouraging those people to access the medicines available to the branches of traditional Indian medicine? To a patient of alternative medicine, to a sufferer, belief is the main thing, not necessarily the system of medicine. 

This discussion struck me as a very relevant and practical one. From that day onwards, I started mingling with ayurvedic and homoeopathic doctors. I must tell you, Sir, that despite being a doctor practicing modern medicine, no modern medicine could cure my sinus problem. I had to take the help of homeopathy to cure it. No ENT specialist could cure it. Instead, a young, talented homoeopathy doctor from the DM Dey Medical College of Homoeopathy in Howrah district cured me. This is a fact. 

The type of medicinal system is not always important for bacterial and viral infections. However, if a patient needs surgical interference to save his or her life, it has to be done. If a patient is infected by a known, identified bacteria, it has to be cured by antibiotics. 

But, you know Sir, till date only 65 per cent of the ailments affecting the human body have been identified and can be cured. The rest 35 per cent of the human body’s problems have not been solved, by not even the best scientists, researchers and doctors in advanced countries like USA, the UK, Germany, France, Austria, and even of China and India.

 With respect to the brain, the doctors of the modern age have been able to identify only 55 per cent of the problems. A lot of research is going on. For that reason, when a surgeon enters an operation theatre, they take the name of uparwala. Someone says Allah raksha kijiye, someone says Bhagwan raksha kijiye, and then cures the patient.

So to me this is a good Bill. The Honourable Minister and the Government have recognised and given recognition to a system which is our country’s own — the Indian medical system, ayurveda. It has been neglected till now. I am not accusing any Government of the past, but it is the reality.

The British destroyed Indian medicine. The history which was told by the previous speaker is a confirmed historical episode. The British destroyed the Indian medical system in our country and they forced us to adopt modern medicine. It was not all bad. However, even after independence, ayurveda continued to be neglected. No steps were taken for its growth, research and treatment for it to benefit modern culture.

Now Germany has a centre for ayurveda. The Upanishad is taught in Iran. Where is the apex institute of ayurveda, where research is going on till this time? Can we deny that nayantara is a plant from which multi-cancer drugs are produced? Similarly many medicines derived from plants are very effective. 

Our original medicinal system was neglected for the last 73 years. This is my own perception — anyone is free to deny it. So focus on ayurveda must be improved, to make it more popular. We can include surgical intervention in ayurveda courses. In allopathic modern medicine, surgical intervention is necessary. Are we hesitant about surgical intervention in ayurveda? We have to adopt these measures. For heart blockage, bypass surgery is a mandatory provision. For intestinal obstruction, surgery is a mandatory provision. Will any doctor — homeopathic or allopathic — stop you from doing so? No.

So, we need to adopt a cohesive combination of all branches of medicine, under an apex body, and provide remedies to the patients. That should be the primary matter. An integrated system of therapy should be adopted. India should become the pioneer in this context. Repealing the Act of 1973 and 1970 and bringing this in Bill to upgrade the status of our Indian medical system is highly appreciable. Despite being a practising allopathic doctor, I highly appreciate this. 

We should not be like stagnant water but rather like flowing water, as in a river. We should change our mindset. We should change our psychological approach and leave it to the patient to select their choice of medicinal system to adopt. As a doctor, It is not important which medicine cures them as long as it cures them. That should be the approach and at the same time, scientific approach and evidence-based medicine should not be neglected at all. 

In today’s world, modern medicine is evidence-based medicine. A simple example is coronavirus. Can allopathic medicine treat the viral infection? No. Experimentation and research is going on in 75 places across the world currently. Some retroviral, anti-HIV therapy has been tried. In some places, even chloroquine, used for malaria, is being tried. But nobody has the final answer. How will coronavirus be cured? Nobody knows. 

Think of the plague which created a pandemic situation many years back. So many people died. Could we have saved all of them? No. Think of other viral diseases. Could we have saved all the patients? No. Now think of the coronavirus. Is there any allopathic medical doctor who can say with authority that he or she will cure the disease? The answer is no, though every doctor will try their best. 

So, in my opinion, an integrated medical therapy should be adopted. The improvement in research, education and treatment through the Indian system of medicine (ayurveda) should be taken up. At the same time, homoeopathy has to be taken up properly and seriously. We must improve the system. So these two Bills are highly appreciable, and we support them.

 

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Thank you, Sir. My subject is Nepal tea entering India without adequate complying with Indian food safety norms. 

I would like to draw your kind attention to the fact that customs officials are doing random screening of Nepal tea. The entire spectrum of analysis, as mandated under FSSAI regulation, is not being done. 

Sir the finding of the Tea Board after testing these Nepal teas have revealed that they are not suitable for human consumption and therefore such teas have been destroyed by the Tea Board. 

Therefore, I would urge the hon’ble minister, through you Sir, that the entire spectrum of analysis must be done by customs authority before allowing the Nepal tea to enter India.

Secondly instead of random analysis, each and every consignment, invoice lot must be analysed in our NABL accredited laboratories. 

Thank you, Sir.

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Sir, I will be very brief because 26 MPs spoke and 2 Ministers spoke. We were expecting some answers. You have been very generous because you kept telling the Ministers. 

I am going to repeat six questions. Woh six questions jiska answer abhi tak nahi mila. Aap dusra chance nahi denge kyunki phir Minister humko unka chamber mein bulayenge answer ke liye. Mujhe chamber mein answer nahi chahiye.

Pehla prashna: Chhe saal mein freight ka jo growth tha 4 per cent woh ghatke abhi 1 per cent kyun hua? Not one word on that.

Doosra: Bullet trains nahi hain, yeh bullet points hain. Revenue receipts ghatke minus 78 per cent kyun hua? Revenue deficit Rs 25,000 crore kyun huwa? Ek line bhi nahi bataya unhone.

Teesra: Railways Government of India ko Rs 7-8000 crore deta tha har saal. Teen saal mein nahi diya. Woh paisa abhi ek ho gaya.

Chautha: Bullet train chalu hone ka date announce hua tha bahar mein, 2022 ya 2023. Aaj hum answer sun liya. Kya uttar suna? State Government. Now all the blame for the delay will go to the State Government. The Minister did not tell me when the bullet train was coming. He did not say.

Before 2017, sab koi samajhna tha ki, when the Railways would do a project, it would be funded 100 per cent by the Central Government. Now it has become 50 per cent State Government funding and 50 per cent Central Government funding. The model is different.

Mera panchwa point hain: Electrification and bio-toilets. Yeh Indian Railways ka disha 2014 saal mein sthapit nahin hua, it was through the Vision 2020 document, as propounded by Mamata Banerje

<interruptions>

You see, Sir, two more points. Jab Rail Mantri bhashan de rahe the, hum log ek bar bhi tippani nahi kiya. Protect us. We are talking facts, we got no answers.

I have got two more specific points. Whenever a project, the Centre wants to take credit. When it is not successful, you want to blame the State Government. 

My basic question here is, you cannot call anybody, you cannot call the people of Bengal anti-national. Please withdraw that comment. Withdraw this comment. Who said this on the floor of the House? Bangal ko de raha hai, kya de raha hai? Anti-national yeh BJP ka rawaiya hai. Anti-national bol raha hai Bangal ko. Nahin, unacceptable. You withdraw this comment. 

How dare you call the people of Bengal anti-national? Not acceptable, Sir.