Author: admin2

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Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that India is the best place for tourism for domestic and foreign tourists; and

(b) if so, the details of the domestic and foreign tourists who visited different tourist spots in the country during 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20?

FIRST SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION

Thank you, Sir. India is one of the best destinations of international tourist arrival and in the domestic field it is also the most attractive place for tourism. So far, we have received in your answer, the domestic tourist arrival and international tourist arrival up to 2018. 2019 data is not prepared. India secured 22nd rank in the world in terms of ITA in 2018. 

What is the present situation, after a pandemic situation created by the coronavirus, in relation to the domestic tourist arrival and international tourist arrival?

SECOND SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION

Sir, my second supplementary. The department, in collaboration with the other allied departments, have been planning to confront the situation. I agree. 

How many international tourists have been identified in collaboration with the ministry of Health and Civil Aviation, till this time – people who are affected and are carrying the virus?

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Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

(a) the number of idols and other artefacts which have so far reportedly been stolen from various temples, museums, ancient monuments, archaeological sites and remains in India and found to be smuggled out to foreign countries like USA, UK, Switzerland, Australia,etc., the details thereof;

(b) the action taken by Government so far for return of such cultural properties which have been stolen from and smuggled out of India, the details thereof; and 

(c) the number of such idols and artefacts which have so far been recovered and brought back to India, the details thereof?

FIRST SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION

I would like to congratulate the government for bringing back 35 numbers of articles or idols from foreign countries . But that is only the tip of the iceberg. 

Sir, my question is the artefacts or idols, which have been returned to India, have they been handed over to the original owners, or (are they) lying in the warehouses? 

SECOND SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION

Before I go to the second supplementary question, I would like to bring the attention of the Chair to the fact that (there are) so many contradictions. Reply has not been given by the Minister properly to my questions. 

For example, the hon’ble minister stated in the reply to my question that no information regarding idols or other artefacts smuggled out to foreign countries like the UK, USA, Switzerland and Australia is received. On the one hand, the minister says from certain countries no information is there, whether the idols have been smuggled out to those countries. But from the reply from Annexure II it appears the name of those countries which I have named. So, kindly take note of this for appropriate action. This is my humble submission to the Chair. 

My supplementary question is whether the minister is aware of the development as to regarding the theft of antiquities you have given a list? There is no mention of Tamil Nadu in the list. Whether any artefact or Indian idol was smuggled out of Tamil Nadu?

Sir, one Indian whistleblower, and he is an author of an authentic book, has listed and in Madras High Court, in an affidavit, the government said that more than 1000 artefacts were smuggled out from TamilNadu alone. 

And there is no reference (of Tamil Nadu) in the reply of the minister. No reference of Tamil Nadu. So what is the position? Kindly enlighten this House. 1,204 sculptures belonging to 387 temples from Tamil Nadu have been stolen since 1992. Aur woh 72 ki baat kar rahe hain?

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Sir, recently there is an ongoing request to build pump storage hydro-electric power plants. In order to make them effective system regulation (is required) as you have mentioned earlier. 

The high penetration of intermittent generation of renewable energies makes this control more difficult. So we find that pump storage plants have a low ramp up rate, which are very effective. As you may have seen, one or two pump storage facilities are already operating in some States.

Is there any policy to set up more pump storage plants? Are there any details, statewise, regarding any sites being selected? Or is the work in progress?

 

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I want to ask the Hon’ble Health and Family Welfare Minister, through you. A pandemic situation has been created by the coronavirus. So many countries have been experimenting on the treatment process by specific drugs in the trial. 

In the USA, in Australia, in Germany, in China they are trying retroviral drugs, which are used in HIV infections. Recently it was reported that Chloroquine is very effective in the treatment of coronavirus. 

I want to know, through you Sir, from the Honourable Health Minister, what are the protocols adopted by the Government of India, and advisories given to the State Government in this context?

 

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Thank you Sir. I will draw the attention of the entire Cabinet, the Centre and the Honourable Members of this august House, through you. Sir, that the Socio-Economic Survey was conducted in 2011. The survey forms the basis for the economic help that needs to be provided to people in the rural and urban areas. Depending upon the results of the socio-economic survey, the parameters for the Prime Minister Awas Yojana and other benefits to the citizens of India are fixed. 

However, unfortunately, many will definitely agree with me that the list has many faults. For example, a poor man in full honesty told the surveyor that he has two bicycles and one motorcycle but a person who had everything told the surveyor that he had nothing — there are many similar answers given to surveyors, as a result of which the poor have become rich and the rich have become poor. The entire country — all the State Governments and the Central Government — is duty-bound to follow the results of the survey, and if this survey is followed, the poor will be neglected in many cases. This is all the more important when we are in this critical economic situation, when the States and the Centre need to help the poor to enable their socio-economic upliftment by extending the benefits of all the relevant schemes and programmes, both in the urban and the rural areas.

It is my sincere request to this Government, and I’m sure many will agree, that the people should not suffer due to the results of the survey, and this will affect the entire country. I sincerely request the Government, through you, Sir, to review the data in the Socio-Economic Survey and give the order for a fresh survey so that benefits meant for the poor reach throughout the country. Thank You.