Tag: Saugata Roy

Saugata Roy speaks on the Appropriation Act (Repeal) Bill, 2015 | Full Transcript

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I thank the Minister for making the effort to bring this Bill. This is an example of how government work piles up and multiplies. Every Act that we pass in Parliament has to be printed in the central laws book. Not only does the government publish central law books but also private publishers publish central law books. Uselessly these Appropriation Acts are included.

Madam, as you know, no government can spend money out of the Consolidated Fund of India unless it is appropriated by a proper an Appropriation Act. The validation of the Appropriation Act is only for one year. At the end of the financial year the Appropriation Act ends.

Over the years there are four appropriations taken in the House. If you recollect Ma’am, one is the Vote-on-Account Appropriation. The second is the actual Appropriation. Then there is Railway Vote-on-Account Appropriation. Then there is the Railway Appropriation Bill. So, four appropriations are being done per year.

From 1950 all these appropriations are there in the Statute books and the thick central laws book that is published. Nobody cared to repeal them before. In 1998 there was a committee to study government functioning. They recommended that all this should be abolished or repealed. Then the Law Commission also said these laws must be repealed. A Standing Committee of the Rajya Sabha went into the mater. They recommended that there should be an automatic repeal clause at the end of the Appropriation Act.

Now, we have studied in the objects and reasons that the Minister has mentioned about Australia and UK. Australia has an automatic repeal clause. It’s a Commonwealth country. UK repeals them in parts from time to time. So far we are following the UK method in which we shall repeal clauses.

Many states come under the President’s rule. Up to 1976, before the 42nd amendment, the budgets of the states under President’s rule had also to be appropriated in the Parliament as a result of which those were also added. So, altogether there are 758 such Appropriation Acts out of which 11 are related to State Appropriation Acts.

Now we are going to repeal all this at one go. The Minister has earlier also taken some initiative in repealing outdated laws. You see the Indian Penal Code is from 1860. All our laws are from British era. There are Police Acts and hundreds of Acts which have become redundant. A study should be made or the Law Commission report should be sought for and these useless Acts should be repealed from our Statute books.

Ultimately Madam, the laws have to go online. If you go to a lawyer’s chamber he asks you for fees depending on how many law books are there in his chamber. There is no necessity for this. All the laws can go online. Anybody can have access without buying these costly law books.

I would like the Minister to simplify our laws; simplify the law making procedure and simplify the whole system so that the common man need not interact with the legal system through lawyers only. For simple laws the common man should know his rights.

I am glad that the Law Minister has started this initiative. I think in the coming days this archaic language of the laws would be done away with. Modern language should be brought in and all useless laws should be repealed from the statute books.

With these wprds, I support the Bill.

Saugata Roy opposes the introduction of Land Bill in Lok Sabha | Full Transcript

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Under rule 72 of the Rules of Procedure, I move to oppose the introduction of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlements (Amendment) Bill, 2015.

The Bill takes away the chapter on social impact assessment as well as the chapter on food security in case of certain land acquisitions. This Bill is against the interests of farmers and has been opposed by all opposition political parties and farmers’ organisations. Hence it should be opposed tooth and nail by everybody who has farmers’ interest at heart.

The Bill also takes away the right of consent of the farmers. Where 80% consent of the farmers was needed for land acquisition for a private party that has also been removed for certain land acquisitions. Madam, this Bill shows how a Bill should not be put. A Bill was passed in Parliament in 2013; even the BJP party had supported the Bill at that time. The government brings a second amendment and because of the majority they pass it in Parliament. The Lok Sabha passes it and it is not even taken up in Rajya Sabha. After the session is adjourned briefly, the government issues an ordinance. Then it has again brought a Bill to support it.

This tortuous process of legislation is something that should not be happening. We feel unhappy that steps have been taken by the government against the farmers. The steps are being taken by the government to run the country by an ‘Ordinance Raj’. This is a second time an ordinance has been introduced.

Hence Madam, with all the force at my command I oppose the introduction of this anti-farmer Bill which takes away from the farmers, their own right to give consent for their land acquisition. It also takes away their right to have a social impact assessment on their land acquisition and also the minimum provisions for ensuring food security.

We had opposed even in 2013 when the government had imposed the 80% consent clause. Trinamool Congress had said that we want 100% consent of farmers for land acquisition for private parties as we had done during the Singur agitation.

It has been a matter of principle and a matter of faith for our party and we shall continue to oppose any attempts to tweak the Land Acquisition Bill in favour of the big businesses which this government is trying to cater to.

TMC opposes the introduction of Land Bill in Lok Sabha

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Trinamool Congress today vociferously opposed the introduction of the Land Bill in Lok Sabha. Speaking on behalf of the party, Saugata Roy said Trinamool was always opposed to anti-farmer legislation.

Citing the party’s role in Singur land agitation, Saugata Roy said this Land Bill is favourable for big businesses and was against the interest of farmers. “The Bill does not have provisions for social security assessment. It has no provision for food security,” he said.

He accused the government of ruling through Ordinance Raj.

Speaking after him, leader of the party in Lok Sabha, Sudip bandyopadhyay said that in 2013 Trinamool was the only party to vote against the UPA’s land bill. He said the current Bill does not have any provision for taking consent of farmers.

Saugata Roy speaks on the problems faced by jute mills in West Bengal | Full Transcript

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Jute mills are closing down not only in my constituency,  but also, in Barrackpore represented by Sri Denesh Trivedi, Serampore represented by Sri Kalyan Banerjee and also Hooghly represented by Dr Ratna De Nag.

The Jute industry in West Bengal, which employs 2.5 lakh workers, is going through a serious crisis. Though a Tripartite Wage Agreement was signed in the industry by the Government of West Bengal recently, serious labour trouble is erupting in different mills, especially in this month over non-payment of wages. On the morning of May 1, 2015, Notice of Suspension of Work was issued in Nafarchand and Kankinada Jute Mills in the Barrackpore industrial belt. On the same night, similar Suspension of Work Notice was issued in Victoria Jute Mill, Telinipara, in the Hooghly industrial belt. The mill employs 5000 workers. On May 2, 2015, labour trouble erupted in Wellington Jute Mill of Rishra and India Jute Mill in Serampore, both in Serampore parliamentary constituency.

The Prabartak Jute Mill in Kamarhati, has been closed recently. The Kamarhati Jute Mill, also in my constituency, has also been closed sometimes back. Also, the Calcutta Jute Mill in north Kolkata is lying closed. All these closed jute mills together employed 50,000 workers.

The main reason for their problems is that the mills are not getting adequate orders from the Government of India as par the Jute Packaging Materials Act. And, they are not getting orders from either Government of India for jute sacking and also from the State Government.

There is also a problem regarding rising price of raw jute. Unless the Textile Ministry intervenes immediately, the crisis is going to get worse and more employees will be thrown out of employment.

Madam, I would like the Textile Minister to say something. Even if he is not present, some other Minister can reply, just as the Home Minister replied to a question of Food Processing, some other Minister can reply on behalf of him. This is a serious issue. Jute mills are being closed in the State. What is the Minister doing?

Saugata Roy speaks on the demands for grants for the Ministry of Home Affairs | Full Transcript

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Sir, On behalf of my Party, I rise to oppose the Demands of Grants in respect of the Ministry of Home Affairs and support the Cut Motions moved by me.

Though law and order is a State subject, the Ministry of Home Affairs is one of the biggest Ministries of the Government of India and, to my mind, is the most important Ministry. It has got 18 Divisions, seven Forces like Assam Police, BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP, NSF and Sashastra Seema Bal. There are 27 organizations under this Ministry.

As has been commented earlier during the discussion on the Demands o

Saugata Roy speaks on the earthquake tragedy in Nepal and India | Full Transcript

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Madam, I am drawing the attention of the House to the terrible human tragedy that happened in our neighbouring country of Nepal on the 25 April, 2015.

The earthquake with the epicentre near Pokhra in Nepal caused by shifting of tectonic plates in Himalayas has caused immense damage in that country with number of deaths crossing 2400 and 1000 injured. Huge amount of property has been destroyed in that country. It is good that Government of India has sent rescue teams with relief materials to Nepal through the Indian Air Force as a humanitarian gesture.

The earthquake has also affected India. At least 63 people are dead – 46 in Bihar, 13 in UP, 2 each in West Bengal and Rajasthan.One hundred and fifty six people have been injured in Bihar, 43 in UP and 52 in West Bengal and also some in Sikkim. The Government of India has been in touch with these States for relief. More needs to be done in the form of disaster relief.

The West Bengal Chief Minister has gone to north Bengal, where the earthquake happened, to supervise relief and rescue operations.

We are told that the National Disaster Management Authority is supervising relief work in Nepal and in India. But I would like to know how much money has been released from National Disaster Relief Fund for different states.

Madam, earthquakes cannot be prevented. There are large numbers of high-rises as well as illegal construction. The Government should examine whether these buildings are earthquake-resistant and whether proper disaster management teams are in place in the big cities which will be affected more by the earthquake.

I express deep sorrow at the deaths including those who died at the Everest Base Camp.

earthquake

Our prayers are with the people of Nepal: Trinamool in Parliament

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Trinamool Congress today expressed grief and sorrow at the immense loss of life and property in Nepal and parts of India due to the earthquake on 25 April, 2015.

During a discussion in both Houses of the Parliament, Derek O’Brien and Saugata Roy extended solidarity with the people of Nepal in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha respectively.

“The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was dissolved. Out of a board of 12 odd members, only three members have been appointed so far. My humble suggestion to the government is not to keep those seats vacant,” Derek O’Brien said.

He added that the formula to handle such situations was PIC – Preparedness, Infrastructure and Communication. While the communication on government’s part was satisfactory, a lot was needed to be done in preparedness, he opined.

Click here to read the full transcript of his speech

 

In Lok Sabha, Saugata Roy said that huge loss of life and properties has happened in Nepal. It is good Indian govt has sent relief material to Nepal. He appreciated the central government’s role in relief operations but said a lot more could be done.

He also wanted to know from the government how much funds have been released from the National Disaster Relief Fund.

Click here to read the full transcript of his speech

 

The image is a representative one (courtesy: qz.com)

Centre must follow Bengal model to help farmers in distress: Trinamool

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Trinamool today highlighted the plight of farmers in Parliament and demanded that the Central Government must come up with a concrete proposal to address the grievous issue.

Speaking during a discussion in Rajya Sabha, Chief Whip of the party Sukhendu Sekhar Roy said, “On one hand we are talking of unprecedented growth and on the other hand farmers are committing suicide. This govt is extending waivers worth thousands of crores to corporates. Why should such waiver not be extended to farmers?”

SS Roy also highlighted the steps taken by West Bengal government for addressing the plight of farmers. He said, “Government of West Bengal took initiatives to solve the plight of potato farmers. WB CM announced 50000 metric tonnes will be directly procured from farmers. The government is distributing these potatoes to schools under mid-day meal schemes and ICDS at Re 1/kg.”

SS Roy added that the West Bengal Government also introduced the transport subsidy scheme. He wondered if the Bengal government could procure potatoes directly from farmers against a/c payee cheques, why couldn’t Centre do it.

Click here to read the full transcript of his speech

 

Discussion in Lok Sabha

Demanding a judicial probe into the death of the farmer, Professor Saugata Roy said the incidents “is the tragedy of the highest order that I can think about.” He was speaking during a discussion in Lok Sabha.

He added that farmer deaths are recurring phenomena in India, with about 12000 farmer suicides over the last few years. This was the first time someone committed suicide in front of TV cameras.

Saugata Roy also criticised the media for not doing anything as the tragedy unfolded before them. He also demanded that the government give compensation to farmers who suffered loss of crops.

“Shall we be bound by bureaucratic rules and practices while people die, commit suicide? I would like a categorical statement from the Government today as to when they are going to give full compensation to the farmers in the States who have been hit by this crop loss, “he said.

Click here for the full transcript of his speech

Saugata Roy speaks in Lok Sabha on the suicide by a farmer in Delhi | Full Transcript

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Respected Madam,

I express deep anguish and sorrow at the suicide of the farmer, Gajendra Singh Rathode, from Jhamdwada village in Dousa district of Rajasthan.

The suicide, took place in full view of television cameras, while a rally was going on. In the suicide note or the note that fell from his pocket, it was revealed that he had lost his crops, his father had turned him out from the house and he did not know how to feed his three children, which was driving him to desperation.

Now, two points emerge from this. One is the immediacy of the matter that how unsympathetic, unreactive our polity and society has become. The man climbed the tree at 12:25 PM. He hanged himself only at 1:50 PM. There were people there. There were policemen there. Nobody took any steps to bring him down, to persuade him to come down. Why? The media was busy filming what he was trying to do. This is the tragedy of the highest order that I can think about.

The Home Minister is here. He has said that he will inquire into the matter. But, I think for a change, he should order a judicial inquiry as to why nobody acted while this drama was played out in full view. This is my first point.

Lastly, Madam, suicide by farmers is nothing new in this country. Every year, according to the data supplied by the Agricultural Ministry, on an average 12 thousand farmers, over the last few years has committed suicide and of them, the maximum numbers are from Maharashtra.

Now, Madam, this man was distressed because his crops have been destroyed. In this House, we have discussed the agrarian crisis. But, may I mention that in February and March many States – Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir and West Bengal – were hit by hail storm followed by untimely excessive rainfall.

Now, this has caused a great distress to farmers and you would be surprised to know that in four days, death of 17 farmers took place in Bareilly alone. 30 farmers were dead in four days in several north Indian States. This hides a deep malice in our system, that when a calamity takes place, the Government appoints a team headed by an additional secretary. That team goes to the place, files a report and in their bureaucratic style, they submit the report. This man and many farmers at the rally were complaining yesterday that they had not received any compensation for their loss of crops.

Now, shall we be bound by bureaucratic rules and practices while people die, commit suicide? I would like a categorical statement from the Government today as to when they are going to give full compensation to the farmers in the States who have been hit by this crop loss.

Madam, what happened yesterday, should not happen again. As Kiritji was saying, that the country cannot be a spectator to such suicide taking place. I would have been very happy, if the Prime Minister, instead of saying it on Twitter, came to the House and express his anguish because this is Lok Sabha, the House of the People and the Prime Minister is the Head of the House, the Leader of the House and Head of the Government. He would have expressed the concern of the Government to the situation developing in the country where deep-seated agrarian crisis is enveloping the farmers in various States.

I have given an Adjournment Motion. Adjournment Motions are normally given by Opposition Parties to criticise the Government, to censure the Government. You have converted it to an all-party discussion. I have no objection to that. If the ruling party members also speak and express their anguish, maybe, their expression will goad the Government to act where no action has been taken.

Let there be a judicial inquiry and let the Prime Minister come out with a statement. The Home Minister is present here. The Delhi Police were responsible for not preventing the suicide yesterday. But, we have to take a holistic view of the situation of the most horrific incident that took place in full view of public eyes and television cameras.

Thank you.

Saugata Roy speaks on the demand for grants for the Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation | Full Transcript

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Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise to speak on the Demands for Grants of the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. I have given my Cut Motion also to the Demands. But what will I speak on the Demands? I have full sympathy for the Minister. Please look at the way his Ministry has suffered Budget cuts.

The actual allocation for this Ministry in 2013- 14 was Rs. 11,941 crore, in 2014-15 it was Rs. 12,107 crore and this year it is Rs. 6,243 crore. The Government which speaks of supplying drinking water and a clean India has halved the Budget of this most crucial Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. I strongly criticize this.

You may have seen the Report of the Standing Committee. The Standing Committee has decried this cut in the Budget of the Ministry and has said that the Government should still consider increasing the Budget of this very vital Ministry.

Sir, it is most unfortunate that 67 years after Independence, still only 40 per cent of the country has piped water supply as per 2011 Census and water supply has many problems. One is the supply of water and the second is the quality of water supplied. There are various problems associated with different States.

There are States like Rajasthan which is largely arid where people have to carry water from miles away to a State like Maharashtra where people collect water from percolation tanks to a State like West Bengal which has got surplus water. Maybe nature balances this. We have surplus surface water in West Bengal. But in our State, nine districts are affected by arsenic and fluoride content in water, mainly arsenic.

Arsenic belt has extended from West Bengal to Bangladesh and a part of Assam. You know, if you drink arsenic contaminated water, then you develop blisters on your body. This may turn into skin cancer. We have still not been able to provide arsenic free water to the State.

What is the way to improve the water quality? The main way is to supply surface water and reduce dependence on ground water. All projects for supplying surface water are very capital intensive. So far, the Centre has been funding the schemes for supplying surface water in arsenic affected districts. But, with this cut in the Budget – minimum Rs 300 crore is necessary for a big project – they will not be possible any more.

The Government is pushing our people towards suffering from arsenicosis. You may say, the Government has only one explanation; we have to increase the devolution to the States from 32 per cent to 42 per cent. That does not mean that you cut money on water supply and sanitation. It does not mean that you cut money on NREGA. It does not mean that you cut money on the schemes which affect the rural people.

So, I would urge, especially for my State, in all the areas affected by arsenic and fluoride poisoning, people must be supplied piped water through large surface water schemes. The other thing is, this Ministry is not still fully ready. It was set up only in 2011. Now, all over the world, research is going on whether we can take ground water and free it from arsenic.

There have been many projects in which arsenic-affected water is passed through a chemical which takes out the arsenic. There is serious research and investment in research to find out the ways since you cannot give everybody piped water. That sort of research is not happening in our country. I demand the setting up of a National Water Quality Laboratory in the arsenic affected State of West Bengal.

The earlier Government had promised such a scheme as to how to mitigate arsenic poisoning. That is not happening. There are also other processes of producing pure water. Our friend from Tamil Nadu has spoken of desalination. In Saudi Arabia, they are using nuclear energy for desalinating sea water. We must find out what is the way which is possible by which we can produce pure water from sea water.

Large portions of Tamil Nadu are arid especially if we go north of Madras, the North Arcot and all these districts. Where will they get ground water? There is already a plant in Tamil Nadu where they are producing drinking water by reverse osmoses process.

Sir, the other thing that is to be considered is how we can produce pure water in this country. Ultimately, we have to shift from ground water and go into surface water. We have to purify it by any means including sea water. The Ministry has not formulated any scheme for going into it in a big way.

Even today, Sir, villagers in our country drink water from the ponds. Practically they are drinking poison. We are forcing people to drink poisoned water even after 67 years of Independence. We should seriously think of it. I do not understand it. I have full sympathy with the helpless Minister. He finds his hands tied and his budget halved. What will he do with this budget?

The way they have cut the Budget, it is a matter of shame. They have cut money like anything in this country for drinking water. Only Rs. 2200 crore has been allocated for drinking water. There is a cut of around Rs 9000 crore. So, what will he do? Now, I come to sanitation problem. It was discussed. Mr. Naidu was replying in the morning that the open defecation is a big problem in this country.

Yeh zaruri baat: ek hi admi, ek hi neta desh me iske bare me awaz uthaye the. Woh the Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi barabar apna latrine khud saaf karte the aur who logo se bhi kehte the ki open defecation bhi ho toh uspar mitti dalna chahiye. Matlab Gandhiji utne saal pehley yeh samjhe the ke agar hum dur nahi karenge, toh desh ka satya naash ho jayega. Aur yeh drinking water aur defecation ke saath connection hai.

If you leave night soil on the ground that will leach to the subsoil water and your own drinking water will be affected. Now, the Prime Minister has launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Of course, it is nothing new. There was a total sanitation campaign. Before that there was the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan. The villages were being declared nirmal grams even at that time. What Mr. Modi has done is that being the Prime Minister he has given a big fillip and it is a good thing.

I see on the television everyday one advertisement by Vidya Balan. Vidya Balan is looking at a newly married wife who is wearing a ghunghat. Aur logo ko bolta hai:aap ghoongat hataiye. Toh bola nahi. Hamare yaha nahi chalta. Toh vidya balan puchti hai aap ghoongat uthane nahi chahte hai, lekin aapke ghar me shauchalya hai? Toh bolta hai nahi, hum toh maidan mein jate hai. Bola aap ghoongat nahi uthayenge lekin apna bahu ko maidan me bhejye. Abhi shauchalya baniye.

Toh ye advertisement achha hai lekin kaam kuch nahi ho raha hai. Kaam mai jaisa bola hai Rs 2,600 crore le ke kya Swach Bharat Abhiyan hoga? Hum toh yeh bhi batiye the ki total hum bahut nirmal graam dekhe hai. Waha par kyat ha sir? Ek toh bara concrete ka slab diya jata tha. Aur bolta: iske upar ektoh ghar banao. Toilet ban jayega. Lekin pani ka provision nahi hoga toh ye gandha ho jayega.

Toh mei aaj subha suggest kiya ki aap log ne bio toilet chalu kijiye jaha bacteria se hum is fickle matter ko dissolve kar sakte hai. Agar pani aap nahi denge toh kuch din ke baad ye naya shauchalya job anta hai, ye kharab ho jata, koi log nahi jata. Phir log maidan me, jungle me jate hai ye kaam ke liye. Ye bahut zaruri hai.

Hum log toh ache ghar me rehte hai. MP quarter me achha toilet hai. Lekin humare desh me maa behen ko bahar jane parta aur who log keval jab shyam hota, andhera hota, tabhi ja sakti hai. Ye humare liye sharam ki baat hai. Mei yeh toh support karta hoon ki 2019 ke andar we should stop open defecation. Lekin uske liye toh paisa chahiye aur uske liye technology chahiye. Mei khatam karta hoon. Hume sochna chahiye.

We must think that what is the technology available through which we can have clean toilets? I have suggested bio toilets. There are many varieties that we have used. DRDO ek toilet design kiya tha. Toh DRDO ke ye naya model kyon nahi pure desh me phaila jai. Ye bol rahe ki char hazaar rupiye aap denge. Lekin ek toilet banana me, bio toilet, kam se kam 20-25 hazar lagta hai. Toh aap uske kuch intezaam keejiye.

Mai Chowdhury Birender Singh ko kehna chahte hai aap bahut bara parivar se aate hai. Kissano ka leader hai. Aur jaato me leader hai Chotu Ram bahut bara leader hai. Sir Chotu ram itna sahas dekhaiye aur ye ministry ke liye aur budget laiye. Aap keval abhi lage huye hai kaise woh Land Bill layenge. Ye aap ka kaam nahi hai aap logo ko swach pani dijiye aur swach bharat dijiye.

Issi ke saath sir mai is budget ka virodh karta hun.