Arpita Ghosh speaks on Demands for Grants of Ministry of Railways for 2017-18

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Thank you Sir, aapne mukhe mauka diya, main aap ke abhari hoon aur main aapne party ka bhi abhari hoon ki humein mauka diya gaya. Pehle to hum Jagdambika Ji ko thoda correct kar de ki jab Mamta Banerjee, jo abhi hamare Mananiya Mukhya Mantri hai, Rail Mantri thi, tab hi PPP model mein pehli dafa yeh sab stations development huyi hain.

Is bar Railway Budget mein 12 points diye huye hain, us mein kahin bhi punctuality ke barien mein ek bhi shabd nehi hain. Abhi aap jante hain ki aksar bohot hi train late ho rahe hain, iske bare mein yahan pe kahin zikar hona chahiye tha mujhe lagta hain aisa.

25 stations ko redevelop kiya jayega. Hamare jo constituency hain, Balurghat, wahaan pe Gangarampur-Buniyadpur yeh sab areas develop hi nahi hua hain. Aisa maine aap ko bohot dafa chitthi diya hain, NFR mein diye hain, tab bhi aisa kuch nahi hua. Gangarampur bahut neeche reh giya, lok chadh nahi paate hain wahaan se. Yeh develop karne ki bahut zaroorat hain. Aap redevelop karne se pehle agar yeh soch le to behtar hoga.

Aksar mujhe Rail mein safar karna padhta hain, raat ko whole night travel kar ke jaate hain apne constituency. Rail ke cleanliness ki halat abhi bahut hi kharab hain, Sir. Aap agar dekh le to yeh bahut behtar rahegi. Yeh zyada taur dekhna bahut zaroori ho gaya.

Coach Mitra ke barein mein aap ne Mention kiye hain ki abhi jo bhi complain hain woh aage chalke yahan launch kiya jayega to log complain kar payenge.

Toh abhi tak toh jo system hain, usme koi aisa nahin hain ki complaint karne ke baad feedback mile. Toh yeh feedback kaise mile, logon ko kaise maloom pare ki mera complaint darj hua hain ki nahin, uske upar action ho raha hain ki nahin, iske upar agar aap zara soche toh behtar hain.

Metro Railway ke liye aap ek baat bataye hain which is very important, I believe. A new Metro Rail Act laya jayega that will facilitate greater private participation and investment in construction and operation. Aur bola gaya hain ki kuch naya policy le ke aayenge aap jiske upar kuch employment generate hogi. Iske bare mein yahan kuch charcha ho nahin paya, par mera question yeh hain ki, kya hum log privatisation kit arak ja rahe hain?

Railway aisa hain ki aam janta us par chadte hain. Agar Railway privatisation ki taraf jaate hain – kyunki IRCON ko dekhiye, IRCTC ko dekhiye, jinko aap stock exchange mein list kar diye hain – toh lagta hain ki aage chalke yeh private hathon mein chala jayega. Toh Government ki kya soch hain yeh janna bahut zaroori hain. Rail jaisa important cheez  agar privatisation ki taraf jayega toh hamari party zaroor iski virodh karegi, humlog isko support nahin karte hain, kyun ki Rail aam janta ke liye hain jo Government ke paas rehna chahiye.

Mera aur ek request hain. Purane bahut sanctioned projects hain. Jaise Mamata Banerjee jab Rail Mantri thi tab bahut saare projects di thi. Mere constituency mein bhi kuch projects the. Jab Trinamool ne government chor diya, tab woh sab projects bandh ho gayi thi. Usme se haal hi mein – maine aap ko bahut dafa likha hain – iss bar Balurghat-Hili project diya hain, jo bohut important hain. Buniyadpur mein ek wagon factory bhi hain jiska koi zikar nahin hai. Is bar bhi 1000 rupaye de kar chor diye hai. Aise karke agar purana  project  picche chala jayega aur naya project aage aate rahenge toh purana projects ka kya hoga?

Dusri baat yeh hai ki aapne bullet  train ka zikar kiya hai, bohut badiya hoga agar bullet tran India mein chal sakti hain toh. Mere constituency mai ek/do train hain, rail lines kam hain. Is meh bullet train kahaan seh aayegi yeh sab problem hai agar aap dekh payein toh behtar rahega.

According to my knowledge jo humara metro rail hai, is bar metro rail ke project mein paisa diya gaya hai kuch. Metro ka jo bhi problem tha State Government ne resolve kar diya hai. Yeh humari maang hai ki agar aap metro rail ki projects ko expedite karein toh behetar rahega aur agar koi bhi problem reh jaye toh usko resolve karne in koshish karenge. East-West Corridor ka kya hua; is mein aapka ka kya soch hai, is ka zikar nahi hai. Aage jaake iska zikar ho to behtar rahega.

Is bar jo Rail Budget aur General Budget ko jod diya gaya hai, is ke peeche kuch kaaran toh hoga. Humein aisa koi kaaran samajh mein nahi aaya par ek chinta vyakt kar rahi hoon ki Railway ki privatisation karne ke liye hi yeh Budget se mila diya gaya hain; alag budget bandh kar diya gaya hai. Aisa nahi hona chahiye; aisa humara soch hain ki asal result kya hain yeh agar aap yeh sadan ke samne vyakt kare ke kyun Railway Budget ko General Budget ke sath mila diya gaya hai yeh saamne aana bahut zaroori hai.

Mere ek colleague ne aur ek request kiya hai ki Bishnupur-Tarakeshwar rail line bhi thoda jaldi se complete ho gaya toh bahut badiya hoga.

Aur aakhir mein aur ek baat. Meri jo constituency hai Balurghat, woh bahut hi backward hain. Mamata ji ne bahut sare projects diye the; woh projects agar aap phir se soch ke de dete hain toh hum bahut abhari rahenge.

Safety ke liye aap logon ne mention kiya hai Rs 1 lakh crore paanch saal main denge. Rs 20,000 crore every year, jis mein se Rs 15,000 crore government se ayegi aur Rs 5000 crore railway generate karegi. Yeh kahaan se generate karegi, kaise generate karegi is ke barein main aapka kya policy hain? Safety policy kya hai?

Safety bahut important hai. Ladkiyon aur mahilaon ke saath joh battameezi hoti hain trains mein us pe dhyan denge toh hum aap ke bahut aabhari rahenge.

Dhanyavad. Thank you very much.

 

Dinesh Trivedi speaks on Demands for Grants of Ministry of Railways for 2017-18

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Thank you very much Sir. Main apni party ko bhi bohot dhanyabad dena chahta hoon jinone mujhe yeh mauka diya. Humne kal hi Holi manaya. Sabse pahele sab sathiyo ko aur desh wasiyon ko Holi ki bahut bahut mubarakbad. Mamata Ji isko bahut acche shabdon mein kehte hain ki Maa, Mati aur Manush. Woh hi humein disha dikhatein hain.

Aur humne kahaan sathiyon, hum sab rajniti mein kyu hain? Kyuki sabse bada hain desh. Humare sabki niyat yeh hi hain, niti alag ho sakti hain, humara jo debate hota hain shayad woh niti ko leke hota hain, niyat sabki ek hoti hain ki desh kaise aage bade. Desh rahega toh hum rahenge, aur desh ke liye sab kurban. Aur yehi baat main kehna chahta hoon.

Yeh aisa desh hain jiska parichay kya hain? Himalaya. Kya aap Bharatvarsh ki kalpana kar sakte hain Himalaya ko apne samne na rakhte huye? Hindustan ki ek aur parichay hain – Ma Ganga. Aur tisra parichay hain hamari Bharatiya Railways. Yeh tin aisa parichay hain jo desh ko jodti hai.

Aaj jo escalators etc lage hain uski nibh kaheen na kaheen Mamata Ji ne lagai hogi, ke unke budget mein pass kiya hoga, process thoda der se chalta hain magar hum sabki ek hi akanksha hain ke iss prakar se rail mazboot bane aur usske age kuch nahin. 14 March, 2012 mein main ne yeh hi kaha tha “Desh ki ragon me daurti hai rail, Desh ke ha rang ko jodti hai rail, dharm, jati-pati nahi janati hai rail, chote-bade sabhi ko apna manti hai rail”.  

Sir, yehi hamari bhavna hain ki Rail kis prakar se aage bade. Sab se pehle jo zikar ho raha tha ki Rail ki tarakki zaroori hain aur uske liye hum koi mauka nahi chodte. Rail ki jo karamchari hain, unke balboote se aaj Rail jahan par hain; iski neev hain Rail ki karamchari. To aaj tak ki uplabdhiyaan main Rail ke karamchari ke naam karta hoon aur har ek karamchari ko main jhuk ke pranam karta hoon. Aap hi ke wajay se Rail aj bulandiyon par pahunchi hain.

Is saal ek aitihasik budget tha kyun ki dono budget ko ek saath milaya gaya. Sir, beech mein ek Convention Committee ki baat huyi thi. Ab itihaas ke panno mein hum jaye to 1924 mein jo Convention Committee – Separation Convention Committee – huyi uska ek itihaas hain. Samay mere paas bohot kam hain to main uspe nehi jaoonga, magar, 1898 se 1924 mein Rail ko ek bohot zyada profit huyi thi – Rs 103 crore. Uske baad Angrezon ko laga ki bhai yeh to kamdhenu gai hain, tab se unhone alag kiya ta ki unhe paisa mil sake interest mil sake.

Finance Minister ne Budget pesh karte hue kaha ki ‘The merger of the Railway Budget is a historical step. We have discontinued with The Colonial Practice Previlances 1924’. Sir, mera is mein ek alag manna hain, aur mera manna hain ki jab tak aap Railway ke paribhasa ko badlenge nehi, tab tak Rail jis prakar se aage badni chahiye us prakar se aage nahi bad sakti.

Main yeh kyun keh raha hoon? Railway ka definition kya hain Sir? Railway ka definition hain aur main paragraph five of ‘The Concept Paper of The Rail Department of Authority of Indian Railways’ January 2016 padh raha hoon. Aur woh kya kehta hain? “Indian Railway is a Department of Government of India, it is also a commercial organisation that has to operate on some business principle, apart from recovering the cost, it is imperative to generate revenue streams educate to generate surplus, required for capital investment and for future expansion, periodic renewals of asset upgradation of infrastructure and providing for safety related works.”

Sir, yeh paribhasa colonial hain, jab tak yeh paribhasa ko aap nahi badlenge, tab tak Rail ki tarakki nahi ho sakti; Sir, aap puri duniya ke Rail ko aap le sakte hain, Rail aapne aap revenue generate kar ke growth nahi kar sakti. Wo alag vishay hain us bishay par main baad mein aaonga, par Cabinet Note bhi yehi kehti hain ki, ‘it will continue to be a Department run commercially undertakings.’ To us bishay ke charcha main baad mein karoonga, magar jab tak woh paribhasa aap nahi badlenge.

Rail ki paribhasa kya honi chahiye? The Railways should be that infrastructure which will add a half per cent to the GDP, and it will be a catalyst. Apne aap mein profit nahin kar sakti hain, bahut mushkil kaam hain. Aur khas kar ke Hindustan, jahan itne gareeb baste hain, aur wahi poore Hindustan ki takat hain. Woh aap ne chunav mein bhi dekh liya. Magar yeh paribhasha colonial hain. Iss paribhasha ko aap ko badalna hi parega.

Kyunki yeh demand ka vishay hain, toh mein thode aankhron mein jana chahunga. Bahut baar aankhre bahut boring lagte hain, political speeches achhi lagti hain. Kyunki aankhre ka sawal hain, mujhe padne main dilchaspi aati hain.   

Sir,pehli baat toh, main Bangal ki taraf nazar rakhoonga. Humare ongoing projects Rs 40,000 crore ke barabar – ongoing, jo abhi hain; pichle projects ko toh hum saath nahin le rahe hain. Aap ne paise diye hain, uss liye hum shukrguzar hain – aap ne sirf 15 per cent diye. Sir, iss se kya hota hain ki gati bahut dheemi ho jati hain, aur jab gati bahut dheemi ho jati hain tab uske daam badh jati hain, aur phir kehte hain ki aap paise diye.

Sir, mein ullekh karoonga – bahut saare projects hain – metro projects kitne hain, aur metro projects ke baad jab aap kahenge, toh ek toh hain aap ka Joka ko le ke BBD Bag. Hamara khud ka kshetra, Barrackpore – bahut saari samasya thi, wahan land ki bhi samasya thi. Mein Mamata ji ko dhanyavaad dena chahta hoon, Prabhu ji ke saath baithkar jitna bhi jatil mamla tha, woh jatil mamla sab suljha diya.ab gati aap ke haath mein. State Government ki taraf se sab mamle suljha diye. Toh Sir, 15 per cent yadi dete hain toh bahut bahut hi kamzoor par jayegi aap ki speed. Ab iss ke baad.

Mein ab aankhre pa aaonga jo hamara Railways Demands for Grants 2017-18 ka Vishay hain. Sir, mujhe thori fikr hain. Manoj ji, mujhe fikr yeh hain ki – main aankhre ke saath kahoonga – ki jo aap ne passenger revenue for financial year 2017-18 ka kiya hain,main uss par aap ka nazar gaur farwana chahoonga. Percentage of growth in the Budget Estimate 2016-17 is (-)1.74. Percentage growth over RE 2016-17 is (+)4.40. Suburban is (+)0.92%, non-suburban is (-)0.66%.

Sir, iss mein humko ek baat yeh kehni hain ki aap jab comparison karte hain toh Budget Estimate ka saath Budget Estimate karte hain. Yahan aap jab comparison karte hain aur kehte hain 4.4% hamara badega toh ab Revised Estimate se aap compare karte ho to budget estimate ho gaye revised estimate. Kam hogaye aur phir aap forecast karte hai zyada ka aur kehte hai itna percent bada woh percentage barta hai aapka revised estimate se. So, growth over budgeted estimate 2016-17 was minus 4.61 percent matlab itne passenger ka aapne revenue kum hua. Aap BE 2016-17 ko BE 2015-16 se compare kare non suburban ka toh minus 5.14 percent ka aapka ghata hua.

Sir issue kya hai? Issue yeh hai, Sir ki when there is a continuous decline in BE to BE figures jab aap woh compare karte ho last two years  and actual have also shown decline. How is your forecast for 2018 showing an increase of 0.20%? How is this possible, Sir? ye possible nahi hai. Dil ko bhailane ke liye yeh khayal acha hai ghalib magar ye mujhe kehi na kehi aakro main kami lagti hai. Similarly average road is not increased and passenger kilometre is also going down. The projected increase is only 0.2 percent in 2017-18 over RE 2016-17. How will the railway achieve a financial increase of 4.4 percent over RE 2016-17?

Yadi aap fare increase karte hai toh parliament ko kehna parega. Will there not be a diversion of passengers? Sir aaj kal kya hora hai passenger number kum hora hai woh jaa rahe hai ya toh air mein nahi to Volvo bus mein. Ab dekhiye last year se compare kare toh air traffic 24 percent bade hai aur last 6 saal main dus crore passenger plane se jane lage.

Sir, paanch cheezon se aapko paisa ata hai – ek toh fare se aata hai, parcel aur luggage revenue se ata hai, postal se ata hai, postal van charges, ticket checking se aata hai aur special train se ata hai. Sir during 2016-17 BE was projected to increase 34 percent increase in revenue of BE of 2015-16 magar kya hua aapne project toh kiye tha 2016-17 showed the increase of only 8.41 percent. During 2017-18 BE has been  projected at a modest of 5 percent over BE of 2016-17 but 30 percent over revised estimate jiska zikar main pehle kar raha tha.

Aap revised estimate ka sahara le kar dikha rahe hai ki bahut bara increase ho raha hai magar yeh mujhe lagta hai ke kahi na kahi gumrah ho raha hai. Sir issue kya hai issue yeh hai ke in the past 3 years Indian Railways fell short of its budget estimate in the segment parcel  by 25 percent. Isn’t the expectation of this vast increase only a wishful thinking?

Sir, parcel traffic is decreasing day by day. The Ministry of Railways should justify if there is any chance of its increasing and how are they going to increase it. Postal vans are also reducing due to the diversion of postal mail to courier services. The Indian Railways has not been able to harness e-commerce. E-commerce ka bahut ek bara hissa hai jo Railways ke paas ja sakta tha. Aaj woh road pe ja raha, air pe ja raha.

Sir, forecast for the goods traffic is also not very good. Sir, the freight forecast for financial year 2017-18 – percentage growth over 2016-17, is 0.19% only. Aur percentage growth over RE , phir aap ne RE laga diya, woh aap ne dhikaya 8.5%. Growth forecast for freight traffic (physical), that is, metric tonne, Sir, the percentage growth over 2016-17, you have shown as a 0.69% increase. Percentage growth over 2016-17 is (+)6.5%. But actual mein yadi hum dekhe, yadi hum BE ko BE se compare karte hai toh 2016-17 mein (-)2.5% over BE of 2015-16. Sir, iska matlab yeh hai ki asal jo hai aap ka passenger kam ho raha hain, revenue kam ho rahi hain, aap ka freight bahut bahut  kam ho raha hai. Sir, conclusion ke dwar pe yeh hain ke this is the first time in Railways recent history where originating tonnage has decreased over the previous year. Yeh kabhi nahi hua tha. Kyunki  India is a growing economy, logh kahin na kahni, shayed road par ja rahe hai, aur kuch ho raha hai. Coal ke movement nahi ho rahi hai.

Sir, earnings per millions of freight traffic has remained static for the last 2 years. Yadi do saal se aap ke traffic static hain, toh Sir yeh toh bahut hi mushkil kaam hain, aur jo aap projection kar rehe hain Sir, if your operating ratio is 94.57, mujhe pata nahin  kahan se aayega. Mere paas Sir aankhre hain end of December tak. Yeh Railway ke aankhre mere pas  hain. Usme dikathe hain ki operating ratio is 110 (109.60 or something like that) kyonki 110, matlab aap ko Rs 100 kamane hai toh Rs 110 ke lagaat lagani paregi. Toh kahin na kahin, Sir, woh economy aap ke Railway ki charbarah rahi hain, ushi ki aur mein apka dihaan aakarshan karna chahoonga Sir.

Sir, the Railways has reached a stage where the internal resource and revenue funds is mainly 11%. Sir the internal revenue is only funding 11%.Budget outlay of 2017-18 of 1.31 lakh crore. It only looks at the trains the Railways is funding from outside. Sir, isme extra budgetary resource hain, aap ka borrowing hain, aap ka debt hain.

Sir the Railways revised net revenue estimate of 2016-17 stands at Rs 7,695 crore, compared with the Budget Estimate of Rs 18,210 crore. Matlab aap ne socha Rs 18,000 crore milega. Apne revise kiya to Rs 7000 crore, a decline of 58% yeh bohut gambhir samasya hai.

Sir the railway revenue from 2017-18 is estimated as 1,78,350 crore which is 9% increase from revised – again they are taking revised. Sir the Railways Surplus has been on the decline – decline by 20% of the estimated. Aapka jo flexi fair hai usse apka revenue kam ho rahi hai, aap figures par chale jaaeye yadi yatri ko Rs 3000 AC ka vara dena hai toh woh toh budget airline meh Rs 2000 ya Rs 2500 rupaye meh pahunch jaega; apka bohut nuksaan ho raha ha.

Sir, aakhir meh aapne kaha hai sources of Rashtriya Railway Shuraksha Kosh. Sir main yeh pucchna chahta hoon yadi koi airline maan lijiye kehti hai yeh humara safety fund hai aap uss airline meh jaenge kya? Kyunki safety is your responsibility; you can’t say this is a separate safety fund. That is the railway’s responsibility, if tommrow any airlines say this is a safety fund yadi humara tyre kharaab ho gaya safety fund meh paise honge toh hi tyre badlenge nahi toh tyre nahi badlenge. Is that acceptable?

Aajkal itne saare accidents kyu huye? Itne accidents historically nahi huye, is accidents ka kaaran yeh hai ki aapke paas depreciation – jo purane assets ko change karta hai har saal aapko Rs 25000 crore rupeya uss depreciation – mein daalne chahiye. Us depreciation ko chhor kar, yeh naya rail kosh fund chalu kiya hai. This is nothing but a depreciation fund. So i am asking that if you do not give depreciation to change the railways from Rs 25000 crore, if you all are only giving Rs 3000 or 5000 crore, then I think it is a dangerous situation.

Sir aakhir mein main dohrana chahunga jo maine 14 March 2012 ko kaha tha:

 

‘Rail gaadi ki chuk chuk meh aam aadmi ki dhak dhak hai,

Railway gaadi ki chuk chuk meh aam aadmi ki dhak dhak hai,

Rail gaadi ki barkat meh hi desh  ki barkat hai,

Railway gaadi ki chuk chuk meh aam aadmi ki dharkan hai,

Rail gaadi ko kuch dular ki zarurat hai thodi rahat thodi chahat thodi pyaar ki zarurat hai, Kyuki Railway gaadi ki chuk chuk meh aam aadmi ki dhak dhak hai’.
Bahut bahut dhanyawad.

 

Saugata Roy speaks in Lok Sabha on The Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2016

Full Transcript

Sir, I rise to speak on the Enemy Property Act 1968 and Public Premises Eviction Of Unauthorised Act 1971.

I give the BJP credit for creating an All-India record in the sense that this is the fifth Ordinance on this issue since 2016. From 1952 till date there has been no Law on which there has been five Ordinances, one after the other. If this is not an example of Ordinance Raj, I do not know what Ordinance Raj is. May be the Minister will give an explanation has to why as many as five Ordinances were necessary.

Sir, basically I have nothing against the contention of the Bill which we will discuss later. But, it has a strange history. This Bill was debated in this House in March and I mentioned then that this Bill is actually to take care of the properties of one particular enemy. Who is that person? That is Raja Of Mahmudabad. He was one of the big landlords of UP. He was a friend of Jinnah and he went to Pakistan after Partition. In 1968, after the Ordinance was passed, his property – much of which is in the city of Lucknow – became enemy property.

Enemy property was there in all states; in our state West Bengal maximum number of enemy property was there. What happened is that the custodian of enemy property was appointed, he took all the property under possession and started disposing off. He invited, in turn, applications from people who had lost their land or property in East Pakistan so that they would be given compensation – not full compensation but 25 % ex-gratia compensation.

A strange case happened in the case of Raja of Mahmudabad. His son came to India and became a citizen of India; then he went to the Supreme Court and claimed all those properties which were declared enemy properties; he even became MLA twice.

He claimed that the properties that belonged to his father should come to him. Supreme Court gave a judgement saying that the property should be returned since the son of the Raja of Mahmudabad was indeed an Indian citizen. Now, if that would happen property worth thousands of crores would pass to the hands of the son of Raja of Mahmudabad in the main area in Lucknow: Hazratganj, where most of the shops are situated. If he started evicting the tenants all the big shops there would be teared down and then there would be tremendous civil turmoil in Lucknow. That is why this Bill was brought.

In March we had said that we had no objection to this Bill; we had at that time said that since this Bill has certain legal implications it should be referred to a Standing Committee. Madam, you in your wisdom, and the government in their wisdom, decided not to do so and the Bill went to Rajya Sabha. The Rajya Sabha formed a Select Committee to go into the Bill. We – the Lok Sabha members who are directly elected – were deprived of the chance to scrutinize the bill and give our inputs on the Bill.

The Select Committee in Rajya Sabha went into the Bill. They made certain amendments and that’s how this new Bill came has now come to Lok Sabha. There are certain important changes. Earlier, it was said that as far as this Bill is concerned, there would be no jurisdiction of civil courts. Now that is remaining but what the government has added after suggestions from Rajya Sabha is that they have said that now there will be recourse in High Courts. Within 60 days, one can apply to the High Court and if within 60 days they cannot apply, then another 60 days is allowed with the permission of the High Court. Now this is reasonable. I think this is something which was raised earlier and this giving of opportunity to go to the High Court – as they say, “any person agreed by an order of the Central Government under Section 18 within a period of 60 days from the date of communication or receipt of the order may make an appeal to the High Court on any question of fact or law arising out of such order.” This is comprehensive. After this the Bill has become much better, and so we have no difficulty in passing the law.

I again say – initially in March also I had said – that we are totally in agreement with the object of the Bill: to see that the descendant or inheritor of any person became an enemy and whose property became an enemy property does not inherit that property. With special reference to the property of the Raja of Mahmudabad, whose property is in Lucknow, Muzaffarnagar and other places. So with these words, I support the Bill.

However, the government should not have taken the Ordinance route. They should not have created a ‘world record’ by bringing five Ordinances. They should have tried to find a solution by which the House can pass a law without taking a recourse to Ordinances.

 

Arpita Ghosh asks Supplementary Question on spreading awareness about Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana

Thank you, Madam. I would like to use this opportunity to highlight that in my State West Bengal, our CM Mamata Banerjee has already started fair price medicine shops. Madam, my question to the Hon. Minister is by when would the mandated 3,000 fair price shops be opened by the Central Government?

My second question is whether the Govt is contemplating to form any committee to involve MPs in spreading awareness. People must be aware for the benefits of the scheme. Is the Minister thinking anything on these lines?

Week 1 of the second leg of Budget Session: Trinamool plays responsible Opp

The second leg of the 2017 Budget Session of Parliament began with the Members of Parliament (MP) of the Trinamool Congress staging a protest near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi inside the Parliament complex on the issue of the killing of two Indians in America.

Inside Parliament also, the party played the role of a responsible Opposition by raising important issues, speaking on key legislations and opposing the Government where required.

LOK SABHA

March 9, 2017

Adjournement Motion
Saugata Roy spoke on the issue of the killing of two Indians in USA.

Bills
Ratna De Nag spoke on The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar spoke on The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

Zero Hour
Pratima Mandal raised the issue of installing sanitary napkin vending machines for girls in schools.

March 10, 2017

Bills
Kalyan Banerjee spoke on The Admiralty (Jurisdiction & Settlement of Maritime Claims) Bill, 2016.

Question Hour
Ratna De Nag asked Supplementary Questions on chronic diseases.
Saugata Roy asked Supplementary Questions on the confiscation of assets of economic offenders.

Zero Hour
Pratima Mandal raised the issue of the need for the awareness on generic medicines.
Ratna De Nag raised the issue of the need for subsidies for potato growers.
Md Idris Ali raised the issue of the need for the setting up of Central schools in his constituency and on the need for the waiver of interest on loans for farmers.

RAJYA SABHA

March 10, 2017

Bills
Sukhendu Sekhar Roy spoke on The Enemy (Amendment & Validation) Bill, 2016. Trinamool walked out in protest of the manner in which the Bill was taken up in the House.

Question Hour
Vivek Gupta asked Supplementary Questions on the providing of free Wi-Fi facilities by the Railways to stations in eastern India.

 

Thus, during the first week, Trinamool Congress raised the crucial issue of the security of Indians living in USA, to underline the importance of which its MPs even staged a protest inside the Parliament complex and raised important points while supporting the Bill on maternity benefits. On March 10, it staged a walkout in protest against the inadequate discussion before the passing of The Enemy (Amendment & Validation) Bill, 2016. The party’s MPs also raised various issues of local as well as regional and national importance through during the Question Hours and Zero Hours.

Kalyan Banerjee speaks on The Admiralty (Jurisdiction & Settlement of Maritime Claims) Bill, 2016

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Thank you Madam for allowing me to speak on The Admiralty (Jurisdiction & Settlement of Maritime Claims) Bill, 2016. Firstly, I must point out that I respectfully disagree with the statements made by the Hon’ble Minister. The Minister while making the statement said the Bill is also covering the environmental issues. I am sorry, Sir. Under clause 4 this is not the scope. You have also referred to that in case of leakage of oil etc. This will come within the purview of this. Therefore, I respectfully disagree with the statement made by him in respect of two issues.

This Act was necessary for long rather I say it is unfortunate that although Supreme Court in 1992 directed the Central Government to come up with a law which will fulfill the need of the day, when 151 reports of the Law Commission were existing. But unfortunately from 1992 to 2016, no one paid any heed to the circumstances. Today it is needed and therefore I am not opposing, as far as the substance of the Bill is concerned.

Madam, I will just mention two or three things. The claim which is required to be decided by the High Court by reason of this enactment of the Act, itself has been codified under Clause 4. The jurisdictions have been said there.

Clause 2, Sub Clause K, states “territorial water shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in the ‘Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and other Maritime Zones Act, 1976’. You have incorporated a provision and that is a vague provision. Which High Court has the jurisdiction on the sea itself?

I have an experience being a Lawyer; we had a dispute with the Odisha Government in respect of territorial water. However, both the Hon CMs discussed and resolved the problem and it is now working very good. I will point out to the Honourable Minister, kindly clarify this, this Bill is bringing another area where more interpretation is required to be done by the Court. You have to clarify and clear it.

Clause 17 Sub Clause 2, “shall not withstand the appeal of admiralty proceedings pending in the High Court immediately before the commencement of the Act, shall continue to be adjudicated by such High Court in accordance with the provisions of this Act.”

What does it mean? Firstly, “shall continue to be adjudicated by such High Court” – if you have said it is alright. The moment you are saying with accordance of the provisions of the Act, there is no clarity in this section. Will Kolkata will go to Odisha, or any other places will go to another? If a proceeding is pending in the High Court, will it continue in the High Court? Then the language of the statute needs to be made clear. You are creating a confusion by saying that before the commencement of the Act, it will continue to be adjudicated by such High Court in accordance with the providence of this Act.

Now I want to make a point to the nation its self. A national problem has emerged. You are giving the jurisdiction to the High Court to decide but do you know how many vacancies are there in the High Courts? How will they take the load? Not a single High Court is in a position to function.

Why you are not fulfilling the vacancies? The National Judicial Appointments Bill was passed here. Ultimately the Supreme Court declared it ultra vires; we have to accept this. We cannot have any ego on that. Neither the legislature nor the executive can have any ego with the judiciary. This has to be sorted out. If there is an ego with the judiciary regarding the filling of the vacancies kindly fill it up.

My suggestion to you (also it is a very difficult job for you) is that the territorial water jurisdiction has to be identified. Now it is not much difficult because of the new mechanisms like satellite etc.

You have to identify the part about water belonging to West Bengal and Odisha. If you identify that part you will find the question regarding the jurisdiction by the court that would be lesser and easier job. In the future if you will try to do it will be great helpful. This is my suggestion. With this I give you thanks. This Bill has been long pending since 1992. Let it be passed. There is no difficulty. With this I conclude.

Thank you.

 

Idris Ali speaks on the need for setting up Central schools in his constituency & loan waiver for farmers

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I have come from Basirhat constituency which is in the border area. There is not a single Central school in my area. My prayer before the Government as well as to the Hon’ble Minister, through you, is to establish a Central school, as early as possible, because there is a 9 km area with no Central schools.

Number two, my humble prayer before the Central Government through you, Sir, is that the interest on the loans to farmers should be waived by the Central Government.

Number three, the preference for the loan waiver should be people belonging to the SC/ST and minority communities.

 

Ratna De Nag speaks on the need for subsidies for potato growers

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Thank you very much Sir.

Potato growers in Bengal and some other States like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are facing difficulties as their produce is sold at half the price. With the result they are incurring huge losses; they are not deriving any profit in spite of toiling in the farm to produce potatoes. There is an urgent need to provide subsidy to the potato growers as the Union Government extended subsidy to the rice growers.

To give an example how potato growers is undertaking hard times: 1 bigha of land = 1600 square yards; whatever they are spending they are not able earn profit. On the other hand they are losing Rs 2000 to Rs 10000. If efforts are not taken by the Central Government they would find it difficult to make both ends meet.

I would like to ask the Union Government to make measures to come to the rescue of the potato growers at this hour of despair and helplessness.

 

Saugata Roy asks a Supplementary Question on confiscation of assets of economic offenders

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Sir, since it came to power, the NDA Government has been shouting from the rooftops that it would take all possible steps to curb the use of black money. Even before the elections they had promised that they would bring back the black money stashed abroad and deposit Rs 15 lakh in the account of every Indian. Now almost three years have passed, and the same has not happened.

In spite of the earlier existence of the FEMA Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, and the enactment of Black Money (undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets and Imposition of Tax) Act, we have seen that high-profile economic offenders like “Kingfisher and IPL man” had escaped abroad and are living merrily there.

Hon’ble Minister, what steps have been taken to confiscate the assets of the IPL man and the Kingfisher man, and what steps are being taken to prevent the escape of similar offenders abroad by the Government, both administratively and legislatively?

 

Ratna De Nag asks a Supplementary Question on chronic diseases

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Thank you, Madam. Public health is not in good shape. We see multifarious health issues being faced by us, be it diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, renal disease, malnutrition. Added to that, major allocation of budget for health is disturbing.

According to the statement laid by the Hon’ble Minister, according to the report of National Commission on Macroeconomics and Health, there were 380 lakh cases of cardiovascular diseases in the year 2005. And these were estimated to rise to 641 lakh cases in year 2015. This is a high time to go ahead with a new disease study control on chronic diseases. Madam, Hon’ble Minister has proposed to set up 30 branches of the national center for disease control in all the states with an outlet of 367 crore.

I would like to ask the Hon’ble Minister through you madam, how many branches of national center for disease control have been set up till now and is there any branch already set up in west Bengal which also addressed to chronic disease.
Thank You, Madam.