Ahamed Hassan makes a Special Mention on reforms in the education sector

Ahamed Hassan makes a Special Mention on reforms in the education sector

Posted on August 4, 2017 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Sir, the education sector in India faces structural issues. The case of West Bengal may be studied to address these issues.

Between May 2011 and May 2017, 16 universities have been set up, out of which seven are State-aided. Thirty-one Government colleges and 16 Government-aided colleges have also been established.

The State mandated a 17 per cent reservation for OBC students as a result of which almost 60,000 OBC students were given admission at the State’s UG and PG level courses in 2014-15, and almost 1,00,000 in 2015-16.

The State has also established 732 smart classrooms in State-aided universities, Government colleges and Government-aided colleges at a total cost of Rs 22 crore. Every State-funded higher education institution has an e-learning space with free internet facilities for students and teachers during work hours. The budget of the Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means Scholarship Scheme has been enhanced to Rs 200 crore in 2016-17 from Rs 45 crore in 2015-16. During 2016-17, the number of student beneficiaries has been almost 74,000.

Issues concerning teachers and other staff have also been addressed. These include granting leave travel concession to university and college teachers, bringing them under the West Bengal Health Services Scheme, conferring child care leave and paternity leave on male and female university and college teachers respectively, conferring teaching status on librarians, deputy librarians and assistant librarians of Government-aided colleges and graduate laboratory Instructors, etc.

A study of these schemes may be instructive for the Central and State Governments.

Aparupa Poddar speaks about the grave flood situation in Bengal

Posted on August 4, 2017 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

FULL TRANSCRIPT

অত্যন্ত দুঃখ এবং লজ্জার সঙ্গে জানাচ্ছি আজকে স্বাধীনতার এতগুলো বছর পর ভারতবর্ষের নবজাগরণের রুপকার রাজা রামমোহন রায়ের জন্মস্থান রাধানগর, খানাকুল এবং বিস্তীর্ণ অঞ্চল; রামকৃষ্ণ পরমহংসদেবের জন্মস্থান কামারপুকুর এবং গোহাটির বিস্তীর্ণ অঞ্চল, এবং মহাতীর্থ তারকেশ্বর এবং আরামবাগ, পরশুরায় মানুষ বন্যায় যন্ত্রনার মধ্যে দাঁড়িয়ে আছে।

এই এলাকাগুলির লক্ষ লক্ষ মানুষের পাশে বাংলার মুখ্যমন্ত্রী আছেন। দামোদর, মুন্ডেশ্বরি ছাড়াও আরামবাগের মধ্যে দিয়ে বয়ে গেছে দ্বারকেশ্বর এবং রুপনারায়নের মত নদীগুলিতে প্রচুর পলি পড়ে চর হয়েছে। স্থানীয় মানুষ অত্যন্ত ক্ষোভের সঙ্গে ডিভিসি’র (মানে দামোদর ভ্যালি কর্পোরেশনের) নাম দিয়েছে ডোবানো ভাসানো কর্পোরেশন। পরিকল্পনা অনুযায়ী এই পরিকল্পিত বাঁধগুলির ১০ লাখ কিউসেক জল নিয়ন্ত্রণ করার কথা, কিন্তু দীর্ঘকাল পলি পড়ে বর্তমান দুরগাপুর ব্যারেজের অবস্থা সঙ্গিন। এই অবস্থা থেকে উদ্ধারের জন্য জলদি ঘাটাল মাস্টার প্ল্যানের যথাযথ রুপায়ণ দরকার। এর জেরে গোঘাট, চন্দ্রকোণা ও পশ্চিম মেদিনীপুরের বিস্তীর্ণ অঞ্চল বন্যা থেকে মুক্তি পাবে।

জলধারাগুলিকে পলিমুক্ত করতে হবে, নদী বাঁধগুলো যথাযথ রক্ষণাবেক্ষণ করতে হবে। কেন্দ্রীয় সরকারের কাছে এটা আমার অনুরোধ যে বাংলা এবং আরামবাগের মানুষের পাশে তারা থাকুক। তাহলে এই নিম্ন দামোদর এলাকার ইতিহাস আবার নতুন করে লেখা হবে এবং সেই ইতিহাসে বন্যার সঙ্গে কোনও বন্যার্ত মানুষের চোখের জল মিশবে না বরং বন্যার পলিমাটিতে গড়া হবে আরামবাগের এলাকার মানুষের নতুন ভবিষ্যৎ।

Saugata Roy speaks on The Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy Bill, 2017

Posted on August 4, 2017 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Sir, I rise to support the The Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy Bill, 2017. Before I speak on the Bill, I have two questions for the Minister. One is why the Government increased the price of subsidised LPG by Rs 4 per cylinder and why it will be done every month? This is an anti-people decision. Sudip Bandyopadhyay has spoken earlier on this issue. I also say that, this anti people decision should be withdrawn.

My second question. This Bill was cleared in the Cabinet on April 12, 2017 and this Bill has now come to Lok Sabha. Why did the Minister go and lay the foundation stone of the campus even before it was cleared by the Cabinet? He should not have done that. Laying a foundation stone before even the Bill has been passed by the Cabinet should not have been done by him.

So, having said this, I say that this institute is very essential. It is being set up in Vizag which already had a petroleum refinery. It is close to the Krishna-Godavari Basin where oil has been found. It is also close to Kankinara where HPCL is setting up a new petrochemical complex. So, it is ideally situated. Government of Andhra Pradesh has given 200 acres of land at Sabbavaram, where the Minister went to lay the foundation stone.

IIT Kharagpur has a course on petroleum and teach a subject called Exploration Geophysics. They are mentoring the institute and already four professors are working there and more professors will be appointed after consultation with the IIT professors. The student intake is 50 for petroleum engineering and 50 for chemical engineering. Already 96 students are studying in the institute and the courses are very important.

This Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy is being set up as a follow-up of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, where it was promised that Andhra will have a new Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy and in fulfillment of that objective this has been done.

Now, Sir, I want to say that it is very essential not only to develop petroleum sector but also to develop alternative sources of fuel. India is already deficient; we are importing 70 per cent of our petroleum products. That is why research on non-conventional hydrocarbons as well as new sources like liquefied natural gas, biofuels and renewables should be conducted in India; we need to reduce our dependence on imported fuel which is causing a huge outflow in foreign exchange.

Now as far as the institute is concerned, which is being structured like the IITs, the minister has to bring another Bill so that it can be declared as an Institute of National Importance because that has to be included in Entry 64 of the Schedule 7 under Union List. I request the minister to examine if a separate Bill needs to be introduced for this purpose.

The first ordinance of the institutes will be set up by the Central Government. The first statute and ordinance will be made by the Central Government and thereafter the power will go to the board. Central Government also provide for the General Council of the institute and also provide for the Board of Governors.

In this connection I want to invite the minister’s attention to the Indian Institute Of Management Bill which was passed in this House recently. There the government has withdrawn from the IIMs altogether. They said all decisions will be taken by the Board of Governors and the president will not be a visitor on the IIMs. I want the Minister to follow this path; free this new institute from the apron strings of the Government. Let all these things be decided by the Governing Council of the institute itself.

Sir, as I said that it is of great importance to find more petroleum sources. I request the Minister, since he is here, that it is said that the Bay of Bengal basin is floating on oil. Oil [exportation] had started in the Sunderbans area of Bengal. But that was given up. I think Schlumberger or some American company was doing it. Now it has been given up. I would urge him, so that [exportation] for petroleum can take place in the Bay of Bengal basin.

Sir, the Cabinet has approved Rs 65.46 crore as capital expenditure and given Rs 400 crore as endowment fund. As the Bill states clearly that this will be slowly reduced. In coming days, slowly the central government grant would be reduced and expenditure or shortfall will be made from the endowment fund for which only Rs 400 crore has been allocated. The idea is that ultimately the institute will be raising some of the finances for its own sources and I hope that the Minister would do the needful in this matter so that the institute is not short (of funds).

About Rs 1000 crore is being given for the development of the institute, and so, as I said, it is good that the Government of India is investing so much money in energy research. By 2020-23 capital expenditure would come down to Rs 4.16 crore. The initial capital expenditure is for constructing the buildings, the laboratories etc. So, slowly it will taper down. Then the institute will run from its own income and its endowment fund.

There is already an Indian Institute of Petroleum at Dehradun where ONGC is headquartered. This new institute will provide courses for undergraduate studies. I request the Minister to also initiate the postgraduate courses immediately, and also the courses which are already being offered at IIT Kharagpur. Start doctoral research also.

This is a good step. It fulfills the aspirations of the people of Andhra Pradesh. It is in keeping of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act and it meets the challenge of India’s energy needs in the future.

With these words, I support this Bill.

Sukhendu Sekhar Roy makes a Zero Hour mention on the deplorable state of the jute sector in India

Posted on August 4, 2017 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Sir, through you I would like to draw the attention of the Central Government to the pitiable condition of the jute sector in India. Last year, 13 lakh tonnes of jute were produced in 5 lakh hectares of land.

The Jute Corporation of India, under the Government of India, bought only 56,000 bales whereas 90 lakh bales were available. Farmers who are associated with the jute industry are forced to opt for distress sale. They are selling jute at a loss of Rs 400-500 per quintal. The Jute Corporation has not reached out to them in this distress.

Even this year, the Jute Corporation of India has not yet intervened in the market until now. As a result, farmers are not getting the MSP (as decided by the Government) on jute. This year too the farmers are selling their produce at a loss of Rs 700-800 per quintal. This is the sorry state our farmers are in. Almost 30 lakh families are connected to the jute sector; hence, this is a matter of concern.

That apart, due to the anti-people policies adopted by the Centre, 17 of the 62 jute mills have had to close down last year, of which seven have closed down permanently. There are three Government-run mills among these – National, Alexandra and Union. These three jute mills have closed down forever.

The policy that the Government announced this year is helping the plastic lobby; the Jute Packaging Material Compulsory Act has been violated and diluted. The Government has announced instructions to stop the use of all jute bags by 2024. Till now, the Government has decreased up to 80% the use of jute bags for sugar packaging, and up to 50% for other foodgrains.

Manish Gupta asks a Question about sanctioned work-charged posts in Railways

Posted on August 4, 2017 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Sir, the issue of work-charged staff in the Railways is very old and will continue for many years. We have this issue in other departments of the Government too; work-charged staff is a serious issue.

Now, I would like to ask the Minister, through you Mr Chairman, whether the Railways is deploying any other policy to control this malaise. Is something like benchmarking of manpower productivity ratio being continuously done because it is a useful tool to control the dynamics of work-charged staff?

Mamata Bala Thakur asks a Question on Swadhar Greh Scheme

Posted on August 4, 2017 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

FULL TRANSCRIPT

How many educational benefits have children been given and what is the policy that has been adopted to make children more educated to help save them from child labour? How many congeries have been organised?

The national women’s helpline number, 18181, does not work/function properly. The Various States have their own helpline numbers, most of which do not function properly as well. It is due to this, that rural women are facing a lot of trouble and confusion.

My question is that whether this Government has taken any practical, concerted efforts via helplines to assist women and what are the various schemes available and for how long will one helpline number be applicable?

Thank you.

Sukhendu Sekhar Roy speaks on the renaming of Mughalsarai railway station

Posted on August 4, 2017 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

FULL TRANSCRIPT

The Central Government is renaming the railway station in the same way some of the Central Ministers are using the photographs of their party leaders in the official stationery, belittling the National Symbol, the Ashoka symbol. They are denigrating the National Symbol. Sir, this is not an isolated incident.
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Ahamed Hassan speaks on The Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2017

Posted on August 3, 2017 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Sir, I rise to speak on The Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2017.

The amendment in this Bill seeks to award Indian Institute of Technology, Design and Manufacturing, Kurnool in the State of Andhra Pradesh, the status of the national importance. We support the Bill in its spirit as a newly formed state, this status is vital for the institute.

I would like to highlight few issues faced by students as well the areas which should be considered for further scrutiny about our current system of education in the country.

I would like to raise five important problems

1. Do we have enough Premier Institutes in the country for the aspiring students?

In April 2017, nearly 12 lakh students have appeared for JEE Mains Examination just to fill 36,208 seats in IIT, NIT, IIIT and CFTI. That is, only 3% of the total students who aspired to enter the premier institutions are able to make it to them. The rest are settling for lower institutes in the country.

I would also like to raise one important point which has also been raised by my colleague Mr. Saugata Roy in Lok Sabha. I urge the Government to set up an Indian Institute of Technology in Kalyani in West Bengal.

2. Are we able to provide job opportunities to everyone who is graduating from these premier institutes?

According to the data sent by IITs to the human resource development (HRD) ministry revealed only 66 per cent of students who appeared for campus recruitment got a job offer in 2016-17, as against 79 per cent in 2015-16 and 78 per cent in 2014-15.

The percentage of placements in these institutes is declining year by year. Who is responsible? What is the reason for the decline?

According to survey, the decline in placements at India’s premier engineering colleges is seen as a possible outcome of various disruptions globally, including protectionist steps taken by countries like United States and Australia.

As a nation, are we able to control/reduce the global impact on our country in this issue? Did the ministry start assessing the necessary steps to overcome it?

3. IT Layoffs

IT professionals are losing their jobs every year, this can be attributed to various reasons. It is anticipated that, the actual job cuts will be between 1.75 lakh and 2 lakh per year in next three years, due to under-preparedness in adapting to newer technologies.

4. Brain Drain

Every year students from India migrate to western countries for education and better opportunities. Who is responsible for this Brain drain taking place in the country? Sir, a survey conducted by U.S. National Science Foundation of Earned Doctorates show that 80 per cent or more of students who complete their PhDs in the U.S. from India and some other Asian countries remain in the U.S.

I would like to give you a comparison. The number of students from china who used to migrate to Western countries for post-graduation are now getting flat. A likely explanation, with relevance for India, is that China has invested heavily in its top-tier universities and now has significant quality and capacity in most academic fields for post-graduate study. Chinese students are no longer obliged to go abroad for high-quality programmes, there is a growing trend among them to stay and pursue higher education in their own country.

What I wanted to convey is that we have very less number of universities in comparison to the student population we contain right now in the country.

5. Suicides

According to NCRB data released in 2016, 34% of the total suicides happening in the country are attributed to students, unemployed victims and self-employed people (6.7%, 8.2% and 19.1%).

We are living in a society where there is cut-throat competition. From the time a child is born, the parents start deciding on kindergartens, schools, colleges and eventually their careers. We don’t spare a moment to think about what kind of pressure we are creating for our children. At a time when they should be going out and playing, we are forcing them to cram books which weigh more than them.

Once they pass out from higher education institutes, a majority of students who have studied a particular subject are not getting jobs in the relevant sector. Therefore, they have to take up jobs in industries which are completely beyond their comfort zone. This leads to zero job satisfaction, eventually turning to depression.

We need to look into these aspects and ensure that we provide a healthy and nourishing environment for them, and provide psychological support at every step of their lives.

On this occasion of discussing such an important bill in the parliament, I urge the minister to consider these points and address them in the near future.

Thank you.

Saugata Roy speaks on The Punjab Municipal Corporation Law (Extension to Chandigarh) Amendment Bill, 2017

Posted on August 3, 2017 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Sir, I will be very brief.

Earlier, in the city of Chandigarh, which is a Union Territory under the Government of India, entertainment tax and entertainment duty was collected by the Centre. Now, the Centre has decided that the collection of entertainment tax and entertainment duty will be passed on to the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation. This will mean a gain of Rs 17 Crore to the Corporation which will be necessary because Chandigarh is a beautiful city; it needs money for its upliftment.

Having said that, let me also state that our party has always been in favor of introducing GST. We had some reservation about introducing it in a hurry on the July 1, 2017, which is why we did not attend the midnight session of Parliament.

All I want to say is that now one month has elapsed since July 1; there are some hiccups, there have been complaints. I hope that all the decisions will be taken in the GST Council – which has been taking decisions unanimously – and there will be moderation in the tax rate. These five tax rates of 0, 5, 12, 18 and 28 per cent should not remain and especially regarding those matters on which there is contention. For example, women have demanded reduction of tax on sanitary napkins. Mr Jaitley explained that, on the issue of GST on cloth, etc., the consensus reached in Parliament will be looked into.

With that Sir, I support the Bill. It is good for the country.

Trinamool’s Derek O’Brien speaks regarding the adverse effects of interest rate cut by SBI

Posted on August 3, 2017 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Sir, I am glad that the Finance Minister and Leader of the House is here; maybe he will give us an explanation.

The SBI reduced rates on savings in bank accounts, holding a balance of less than Rs 1 crore, by 0.5%. Sir, more than 90% of bank accounts in India are people who have less than Rs 1 crore. Sir, SBI, in their explanation, have said, that after demonetisation there was a huge inflow of funds; about 50,000 bank accounts were being opened every day, and about Rs 1.5 lakh crore was moved into the system. But there were no borrowers in the system because after demonetisation economic activity was low. This is the SBI’s view.

Sir, what impact has this had? Sir, the first impact, the obvious impact, is that small depositors, especially senior citizens, pensioners are all affected. When they are affected, what would they do as alternative? This is a sure fire way of opening up and encouraging chit funds. Everyone talks about chit funds but no one talks about Pearl Chit Fund.

Let us have an investigation on how many people were investigated in Pearl Chit Fund and which Government and which people were involved. What action was happening outside North Block in Delhi and in Punjab? It is very convenient to talk about Odisha and Bengal when it comes to chit funds. Sir, through you I want to caution the Government that this decision will also increase the infiltration of chit funds.

And worse still, the commercial banks also going to be affected. Sir, the rate for the fixed deposits in early 2014 was 10%. I was talking to some senior relatives of mine, they were getting 10%, 9% till a few years ago. Now that is down to less than 6%.

Sir, post demonetisation, 1.5 million jobs have been lost. Sir, now even the NITI Ayog Vice Chairman has suddenly resigned; we wish him luck in his new assignment. No matter what the Government tries to say, he has resigned after three years. Sir, these are the big issues post GST and demonetisation.

The Opposition parties have been trying to discuss these issues. NPAs worth Rs 7 lakh crore have still not been recovered and you are hurting the poor people. Sir, we need a discussion on this; the Government is running away from a discussion. For three weeks we have given notices, Sir, please look into this, take this up and let us discuss it.