Manas Bhunia speaks on the Centre’s duty to help States reeling under debt burden

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Sir, I want to draw the attention of the Honourable Finance Minister and the Prime Minister, through you, to the fact that certain States in our country are debt-trapped and debt-barred. West Bengal inherited the debt burden from the 34-year rule of the Left Front, a burden to the tune of Rs 2,03,000 crore. Initially the State Government.s mop-up resource was Rs 22,000 crore, now it has reached Rs 52,000 crore under leadership of Mamata Banerjee.

My submission is that this State is reeling under the debt trap crisis. The Central Government should come forward to approve and extend all possible help and consider a moratorium for the sake of the State’s development and economic upliftment. Under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee, we are trying our best to improve the economic condition through all-round development.

I urge the Government, particularly the Finance Minister, through you, Sir, to consider the situation of West Bengal, along with that of other debt-trapped States, and provide moratorium at this moment. Thank you, Sir.

 

Dola Sen speaks on the problems faced by tea industry due to imposition of 2% cash tax

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Sir, the proposal to levy 2% tax if annual cash withdrawals exceed Rs 1 crore will affect Bengal’s Tea industry as most gardens disburse wages in cash. Around 3.25 lakh workers are employed in 276 tea gardens in the state, around 90 per cent are still paid their weekly or fortnightly wages in cash.

“Several tea estates have a huge workforce and their annual expenditure on account of wages is much higher than Rs 1 crore. These gardens will have to bear this TDS, which means additional expenditure that will add to the production costs,” said Prabir Bhattacharjee, secretary-general of the Tea Association of India.

For example, if there are 1,200 workers in a tea estate in Bengal, where the daily wage is Rs 176, an annual payment to the workers means a sum of around Rs 7 crore, which means a TDS deduction of around Rs 12 lakh, an additional expenditure for the garden. Then, there are other payments like bonus, which would push the tax bill up even further.

In November 2016, when the Centre had demonetised 1,000 and 500-rupee notes and laid stress on digital modes of payment, the disbursal of tea workers’ wages got delayed because of the cash crunch.

The banking infrastructure is so weak in these areas the management had to resume wage disbursement in cash as the workers refused to travel around 30-40 km to reach the nearest banks. Even though private banks have opened ATMs in some areas the telecom connectivity is weak, therefore the workers demand their wage in cash.

After the BJP won all the seats in the Tea growing area the Tea industry had been expecting some good news for the industry that is going through a rough patch. But the budget haa dashed their hopes.

 

Dr Santanu Sen makes a Special Mention on the increase of seats in medical colleges

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Thank you Sir for giving me this opportunity. As you know, in the last session of Parliament, a Bill was passed in which it was said that 10 percent of the seats will be reserved in every college of all the sections for economically weaker sections. Accordingly, the Government of India appointed the Medical Council of India Board of Governors, issued a circular to all the state medical colleges to increase 20 percent medical seats.

Later on, they put forward certain conditions which were not there in the original decision. The conditions, which were as follows, mentioned that there should be reservation for SC/ST and OBCs, medical colleges should provide for 15 percent seats for all India quota and fees as per issued by the statement.

As per June 21 circular, there were 44 medical colleges in which seats were supposed to be increased from 150 to 200 but surprisingly out of 44, in 10 medical colleges it was made 150 to 175, in 15 medical colleges it was made 150 to 180 and in 19 medical colleges it was made … <interruptions>

 

Prasun Banerjee speaks on the need for alleviating traffic jams at several level crossings in his constituency

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Thank you Sir for the giving time to me to speak. Sir, I have been elected from the Howrah parliamentary constituency in West Bengal. Sir, I draw the kind attention of the Railway Minister through you that in spite of several attempts, South Eastern Railway authorities did not provide three railway crossings; number one Baksara railway crossing gate, L/06, number two Jaynagar level crossing S/S01 and lastly much more important Bator gate level crossing number SS 02 which is situated at having busy track and main lines. 

Sir, I am demanding, through you, to provide suitable alternative in these three level crossings as the entire Baskara area undergoes daily pain due to the wastage of time at these crossings, when they go about their daily lives, schools, colleges and offices. This is not out of point to mention that on several occasions patients have died in ambulances, while waiting at these crossings. 

Sir, my request is that the Railway Minister must look into the issue as quick as possible.

 

Shanta Chhetri asks a Question on security concerns on allowing private drones

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Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether Government is aware that security agencies have raised concerns about allowing private drones;

(b) whether Government has directed drone companies to install a safety chip to switch off drones remotely; and

(c) if so, the details thereof to ensure safety and security?

 

SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION 1

Thank you Sir. I would like to know from the hon’ble minister whether the ministry is aware that drones can be a serious security threat. If so, what are the measures the government has taken so far to avoid mishaps?

 

SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION 2

Whether the ministry is going to introduce new laws or guidelines with regard to the use of drones by private players? If so, the details thereof. If not, the reasons thereof.

Thank you, Sir.

 

Abir Ranjan Biswas asks a Supplementary Question on establishing new central forensic laboratories

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Sir, given that crimes against women are on an alarming rise, does the government have any plans of establishing or setting up a more state-of-the-art forensic laboratories, like that of Chandigarh, in recent future?

Manish Gupta asks a Question on ONGC’s cash reserves and working capital

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Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the public sector Oil and Natural Gas Corporation’s (ONGC) cash reserves are precariously low, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the situation has been aggravated by the Government’s policy of pushing State-run firms to pay out more dividends, go in for buybacks and acquire stakes in other State-owned firms to meet its fiscal deficit targets, if so, the details thereof; and

(c) whether the dwindling of ONGC’s cash reserve had adversely affected its working capital requirements, if so, at what level should such reserves be ideally kept, the details thereof?

 

SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION 1:

ONGC has in the last few years undergone a metamorphosis. It has diversified widely into such things as SEZ infrastructure, in retail etc. The question is, is the ONGC shifting away from its core competence in oil exploration and production? Is it because of the continuous movement of the NELP, NELP 2, NELP 3 where privatisation is taking place?

 

SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION 2:

The limited that ONGC Videsh Ltd.  has acquired a lot of oil fields across 20/30 countries, what the future of OVL?

 

Manas Bhunia asks a Supplementary Question on ONGC’s disinvestment

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Sir, I want to know through you, from the minister, what prompted the government and his department, with a pressing effect, to disinvest ONGC, which is one of the top Navratna companies in the country. What are the reasons?

 

Ahamed Hassan speaks on the reduction of interest rates in small savings schemes

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Sir, the government has reduced the interest rates for small savings schemes by 10 basic points for the second quarter of this financial year. The government intends to match the sustaining interest rate in the banking sector since the Reserve Bank of India cut its benchmark policy rate thrice during the year. 

However, the government has lowered the interest rates on small savings for the first time in 2019, which will fetch lower returns to the savers barring interest on savings deposit have been at four percent while the rates from term deposits, public provident funds, national saving certificates and even the girl child scheme, ‘Sukanya Samridhi’ have been cut. Also, the maturity period of the ‘Kisan Vikaspatra’ has been raised by a month. 

Sir, moreover, the government has been systematically reducing the interest rates in small saving schemes over the past five years which has hurt the common people, especially the elderly who depend on the interest rates for their sustenance. It has also lead to the depletion of savings of the people. 

Sir, we implore the government to look towards the welfare of the common man who are already burdened with high taxation and compliance issues who will now suffer further from their savings being drained. Sir, we ask the government to sustain interest rates on small saving schemes aimed at aiding financial equity among the people of the country.

Thank you.

 

Abir Ranjan Biswas speaks on The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Bill, 2019

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Thank you for providing me this opportunity to speak on The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Bill, 2019. I feel this is yet another effort to bring equality by reviving the 200 point roster as against the 13 point system put forth by the High Court of Allahabad. The aim of providing is to consider a central educational institution as a unit in place of departments. Sir, the UGC guidelines of 2006 were quashed by the High Court of Allahabad in 2016. 

Sir I have a question, why didn’t the Government introduce this Bill in the following sessions? The Supreme Court too gave similar verdict on January 23, 2019. The Parliament was in session, as we know Sir, from January 31 to February 13. Again we did not find the Government making any effort to legislate on the matter. Instead Sir, an Ordinance was promulgated on March 7 , 2019 just three days prior to the announcement of elections. This cannot be a mere coincidence is what I feel. This held a clear intention of taking advantage of time to make hollow promises. 

If we look at the past, in the first 30 years since independence, out of every 10 Bills passed, one was an Ordinance. In the next 30 years, out of every 10 Bills passed about two were Ordinances. In the last two years, out of every 10 Bills, passed four were Ordinances. In this regard Sir, I have deep concerns. Promulgating Ordinances time and again is against the very spirit and nature of a parliamentary form of government. 

This House is constituted of earned an eminent representatives of the people and by promulgating Ordinances on every matter the Government is exhibiting an authoritarian feature. It is also discarding the views and inputs of the House. The House seeks to enact laws, which the Indian people deserve. But, as of today, as we saw most deplorably, the way the Government is functioning. Many Hon’ble  Members were complaining that they were denied the rightful opportunity of putting in their suggestions in the form of Amendments. However Sir, we understand the House should be given due importance it deserves, I request the government to modify this process of discharging functions.

Next Sir, I would like to say the main mandates for reservation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes to fill up more than 7,000 vacant positions in educational institutions. This is definitely a welcome step but the process that this government has adopted is no doubt faulty and promotes the interests of certain sections of the society.

Sir, I would like to further say that we know that the new notification is also an attempt to dent efforts to ensure representation of SC/ST and OBC categories as per the constitutional mandate of 15%, 7.5% and 27% respectively. If this system is taken, all professors of the same grouping across all departments in the university will be grouped together to estimate the extent of the quota. As a result, positions open will be reduced, limited and not filling up positions as per requirement of subjects. Some departments/subjects will have all reserved and some with all unreserved candidates. Moreover, the number of vacancies will not meet the required constitutional mandate.

This is nothing but a sheer motive to leverage positions for the upper caste candidates. This bill proposes to dilute the entire concept of reservation itself.

Today, the reservation system in our government posts is on the basis of the posts and not the number of vacancies in that arena. So, why should the same system not be followed for educational institutions as well? This Bill proposes to bring about a systemic change in the basis of reservation. It is only introducing a system of discrimination in the educational institutions that will only alienate the backward classes.

Sir, I would also like to say that section 4, sub-section (i) and sub-clause (a) provides for a discriminatory clause. It says that certain institutions will be kept out of the provisions of this Bill. I would request the minister to explain the basis of such institutes. Some like science and technology, I understand. But when we are doing this is the government making mistake of direct capabilities of concerned categories that is the SC/ST and OBCs. When these universities have reservation for student community, why not they have it for the teaching community as well?

Sir, I would also like to question that is the government creating a sense of division and discrimination in appointing positions to the socially and economically deprived in these institutions of esteem. Is the government questioning the capabilities and undermining those that are entirely eligible.

Also Sir, we can see that our Hon’ble members of the treasury benches are taking the credit of having given the reservation for the economically backward sections. After all, taking credit is the most easy thing to do. Sir, in this Bill itself they have been deprived also. Sir, I would like to say that I have a few suggestions for the hon’ble minister.

Firstly, reservations should be allowed for the universities that are excluded because if the criteria put forth by them is made by any candidate of the concerned section then why not given him/her the opportunity. Why not give the devil his/her due?

Secondly, a regulatory body should be constituted to ensure a proper functioning of the provisions of the Bill and in case of any dispute it can discharge quick verdicts. This is so necessary because even after this Ordinance we have four universities, namely, Central University of Punjab, Karnataka University, Tamil Nadu University and Indira Gandhi National Tribal University. They did not comply with the provisions. This would have gone unnoticed Sir, if it was not brought up by one of the hon’ble member of this very August House itself. Also Sir, this is why a responsible body to handle the affairs is necessary. This body should be entrusted with the duty of looking into the judicial matters arising after employment. This is because every other day we come across cases involving hatred towards vulnerable sections, namely the SCs, STs, OBCs and the economically-backward sections (EBS) .

Doubting and questioning their capabilities is not right I feel. There is a high chance that the teachers being appointed through this will also face similar problems and that is why this is very necessary. This is also very important and imperative, Sir. At a time when we soon aspire to make India the third largest economic power of the world, we declare a mission to the moon, we boast of progress achieved in space which only three other nations in this globe are capable of, we are failing to provide a level ground for all. This Sir, is proved by the fact that atrocities meted out to the backward classes has increased by 37 per cent in the last decade.

Sir, in this regard I would also like to say that moreover to avoid cases like that, which involved suicide of Rohith Vemula, this is a very important step that the Government can and should take and it cannot be done until serious steps are taken. 

Sir, also in this case, we have another most unfortunate case that took place recently, as recent as May, in Mumbai, where a young medical professional, Payal Tadvi lost her life due to suicide committed as a result of alleged casteist slur and discrimination. In this regard I would like to mention that Sukhdev Thorat, a professor emeritus of JNU and a former UGC chairman, had led a committee to investigate allegations of discriminatory treatment of SC and ST students at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), and which had found that lower caste students had faced discriminations at the premier institute.

 About the measures that should be taken to check discriminatory behaviour, the report says: “There has to be an Act by the government to make caste-based investigation at the university campus a punishable offence. Apart from this, a set of guidelines should be formulated for the upper caste students on how to behave in the presence of students from the marginalised sections.”

 Jobs and educational reservations are very vital in the view of Dr Ambedkar. He had wanted reservation in services and educational institutions to be permanent. If those reservations were not put in place, it would have led to a constant struggle of the oppressed, who would have never found a channel to come into the mainstream. What would have been denied to them they would have taken by force. Thus we have to ensure measures to bring the backward classes into public service and provide to them what is rightfully due to them.

 Thus I would like to request to send this Bill to a Standing Committee where stakeholders from all fields associated with this Bill would be consulted and proper legal suggestions are taken to correct the provisions of this Bill that would otherwise fully undermine the essence of reservation and its effects.

 Thank you, Sir.