March 23, 2022
Aparupa Poddar’s speech on the Demands for Grants of Ministry of Commerce and Industry for 2022-23
Thank you, Sir, for allowing me
to speak during this discussion on the Demands for Grants of the Ministry of
Commerce and Industry. We are discussing a very crucial issue, which is
responsible for reviving the economy that has already suffered a lot during the
COVID-19 crisis and also due to some Government policies.
I would like to place some statistics before the House. India’s overall
merchandise exports both in goods and services is $ 497.90 billion in 2020-2021
as against $ 526.59 billion in 2019-2020. It has witnessed a decline of around $
28.65 billion in 2020-2021 registering a negative growth of 5.44 per cent. For a
period from April to December, 2021 imports are estimated at $ 547.12 billion
against $ 347 billion for the same period in 2020 registering a substantial
increase of $ 199.36 billion. माननीय सभापित जी, माननीय प्रधान मं
त्री जीहमेशा कहतेहैं– आत्मिनभर्र भारत। But is
it Atmanirbha Bharat or is it Import-Nirbhar Bharat? अगर हम सब चीन सेही इम्पोटर्
कर रहेहैं, चाइनीज़ टे�रटरी मेंभी आ-जा रहेहैंऔर चाइनीज़ प्रोडक्ट्स भी इं
िडयन माकेर्ट मेंआ
रहेहैं। क्या यह इम्पोटर्िनभर्र भारत है
? यह सरकार िडसाइड कर।
े
The overall (merchandise and services combined) export to GDP ratio is
on a declining trend over the last few years. In 2020-21, the ratio stood at 18.7
per cent. The ratio was 18.6 per cent in 2019-20,and 19.91 per cent in 2018-19.
Merchandise export to GDP ratio of 12.2 per cent in 2018-19 has come down to
11.07 per cent in 2019-20 and 10.94 per cent in 2020-21. Services exports’
contribution in India’s GDP declined from 7.7 per cent in 2018-19 to 7.53 per
cent in 2019-20. These figures show the real picture of the economyand that of
the country. यहांहम सरकार का िवरोध करनेके िलए खड़ेह�ए या नहीं, यह बात महत्वपू
णर्नहीं है। जब
देश क� जनता क� फ्यू
ल प्राइस और एलपीजी िसलें
डर खरीदनेके िलए पॉकेट कट रही है, जनता
को परशानी
े हो रही हैतो हम उनक� आवाज़ बनकर यहांखड़ेह�ए हैं। हम इस चीज का िवरोध करते
हैंिक आपइस परध्यान नहीं देरहेहैं। आम जनता को तकलीफ हो रहीहै।वोट लेकर जीतना अलग
बात हैऔर आम जनता के ददर्को समझना अलग बात है। मैंयही दरख्वास्त माननीय मं
त्री जी से
करना चाहती ह� A department in the Ministry monitors Intellectual Property Rights. As per
a report of the Department of Science and Technology, on R&D expenditure,
India spends a mere 0.7 per cent of its GDP, which is lesser than the other
countries such as, China, Brazil, Russia, and South Africa.
The logistics cost in India is higher in comparison with developed
countries and reducing it is crucial for bringing down overall cost in exports and
achieving a competitive edge in the export market. The Ministry has formulated
a National Logistics Policy to address logistical issues in a holistic manner.
However, the policy has not been finalized. I would request the Minister to
finalize and implement the policy as early as possible Sir, I come from West Bengal and my neighbouring State is Assam.
Welfare of the tea workers is not in a good condition. There has been
considerable reduction in the budgetary allocation from Rs.353.65 crore in
Revised Estimate in 2021-22 to Rs. 131.92 crore in BE 2022-23. I would want
the Minister to clarify on this injustice to tea workers of West Bengal and the
reasons for the decline in budget. Also, a Scheme – Pradhan
Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana – was proposed in the budget speech of FY
2021-22 but the same has not yet seen the light of the day despite the fact that
an allocation of Rs. 1000 crore has been made for the Scheme which aims to
enhance the quality of life of tea workers.
The Standing Committee of Commerce observed that there has been a
considerable shortfall in budgetary allocation of Rs. 8,348.00 crore for the year
2022-23 vis-à-vis demand of Rs. 10,267.45 crore made by the Department. The
Committee notes with concern that there is a massive shortfall of Rs. 1,919.54
crore which could have an adverse impact on the infrastructural projects and
schemes envisaged for the year 2022-23. The Committee is also of the opinion that serious efforts have to be made
to reduce the time taken for the patent examination, specifically in the field of
communication, computer, biomedical, food, biotechnology and textiles.
Lastly, we should take immediate steps to ensure that adequate number
of employment is generated in the country in this financial year of 2022-23 in
order to address this serious problem of unemployment in the country.
