Tag: Vivek Gupta

Vivek Gupta speaks on the violation of internet neutrality by telecom operators in India | Full Transcript

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Full Transcript

Sir, the Article 19 (I) A of the Constitution guarantees us the Freedom of Expression. However, the telecom operators in cahoots with Telecom Regulatory Authority of India are trying to bring in a backdoor method and violating all modes of net neutrality and make certain applications only on the data networks, which will mean the more data consumed, the more money inflow for them.

However Sir, this will violate any kind of freedom that any telecom user, that is more than 90 million users in India.

Sir, this will also violate the Right to Information as interpreted by the Supreme Court of India.

Sir, by restricting access to information and fair and free usage of internet, these operators, just because they want to make some money, are trying to manipulate and corrupt the system of licensed telecom operations in India.

Sir, the TRAI has also floated a consultation mechanism where you could not go and post your views as the site is always down and when somehow people were able to put in, they simply exposed all the one million people who put it so they can be targeted and their image could be hacked.

Sir, if the Government is serious in allowing this to happen, which I feel is a very, very bad idea, then in the spectrum auction, why did it not mention that the telecom operators will be allowed to do this kind of monopolistic practices.

Sir, the Hon’ble Prime Minister says Skill India will come from Digital India. Sir, if this is the way, we should rename it to Limited Digital India because a non-neutral Digital India would not serve the purpose.

Sir, the National Telecom Policy also envisages affordable and reliable broadband by 2015. Sir, all these will be defeated if TRAI and these telecom operators are allowed to do this.

Sir, when the TRAI is trying to endorse a foreign concept, we would request the TRAI and specially the Ministry of Telecom to instruct TRAI to first see the Indian sensitivities and then follow these kinds of concepts blankly.

Sir, in the end, my request through you is to safeguard the freedom and choice of equality on the internet and to promote innovation and competition on the web. This step should be abhorred, discouraged and the net neutrality of the telecom operators should be restored.

Vivek Gupta makes Special Mention demanding for declaring the Ganga Sagar Island a National Heritage Site | Full Transcript

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Full Transcript

Mr. Vice-Chairman, Sir, I thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to speak on this issue.

Sir, there is a very famous saying, “Sab tirtha bar bar, Ganga sagar ek bar”. This phrase itself speaks the laurels of the historic heritage of the Ganga Sagar Island in the Sundarban Biosphere. The Ganga Heritage River Cruise Circuit is an initiative by the Government of West Bengal for identifying, preserving and promoting art, tradition, heritage, culture and environment as thrust areas for development of Indian culture and tourism.

Sir, the Ganga Sagar pilgrimage and fair is the second largest congregation after the holy Kumbh where over five lakh people take a holy dip on a single day of Makar Sankranti. The tirthasthan and the Kumbh Mela attract an annual footfall of 15-20 lakhs. The Government of West Bengal has connected the villages in the Sagar Islands with electricity through aerial wires across the river – the first ever initiative of its kind in the country.

Sir, West Bengal is the final recipient of all upstream pollution of River Ganga, while West Bengal is leading in Clean Ganga Mission, having completed 24 out of the 30 sanctioned projects implemented in 24 towns across the State. The previous Government had sanctioned Rs.1,200 crore for West Bengal under NGRBA, however no amount has been allocated to West Bengal under the Namami Ganga either in 2014 or in 2015.

Sir, tourism boosts the socio-economic development of the people in the region. The Ganga Sagar, as a place of religious importance and a hub for tourism and promotion of Indian culture, should be declared as a National Heritage Site. Sir, through you, I would like to draw the Government’s attention to this.

Thank you, Sir.

Vivek Gupta raises concern on Air India’s apathy | Transcript

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Full transcript:

Sir, I would like to raise the issue of Air India’s apathy.

Over 1 lakh passengers of Air India have suffered due to 70% of the flights being cancelled in the month of January and February 2015.
Sir, even if they know if it is going to be delayed for three hours they do not inform us. The principal reason behind this is they are short of crew. Shortage of crew is something they have known for one and half years but no steps have been taken to recruit crew or address the issue.
Sir, 50 pilots have resigned in the past few months and another 50 pilots are serving the notice period.

Today there is news in the newspaper, in the walk in interview which was held to recruit Air India pilots not a single person turned up. The HR manager was arrested last week for recruitment scam.

Sir, there is no response coming from the Air India Management as to what they are doing to fill up these vacancies.
New planes are being bought every month. There is an aircraft VT-AXE which is lying unused and some USD 12,000 per day is the expense that is being incurred without usage.

The crew is being forced to operate aircraft in which they are not trained.

Sir, recently untrained people were sent to check spare parts condition, this is very serious. Sir, through you I would like to draw the Government’s attention on this. Spare parts training is required to operate the particular aircraft, people were not trained and yet they had gone to the aircraft and then they were trying to certify. However, there was timely intervention by the Airport Authority.

These are all are public records Sir.

Thank you.

Vivek Gupta makes Special Mention on IMR and universal immunization in India | Transcript

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Full transcript:

Sir, the gravity of child mortality in India varies significantly among the States. While West Bengal has succeeded in meeting the national targets, many States have a high infant mortality rate. We are missing the targets of Millennium Development Goals (MDG) – 4 and child survival goals under the 11th and the 12th Five Year Plans, falling short of the target of 27 per 1,000 live births by a considerable 15 percentage points, with the present level of 42 per 1,000 live births.

Neo-natal mortality is one of the major contributors to infant mortality, amounting to 68.5 per cent of the National Infant Mortality rate. Social determinants are as important as the direct cause of such deaths. In India, malnutrition, poverty, mother’s health, medical care, immunization. Health conditions are major causes of persisting significant rates of under-five mortality and infant mortality.

As regards the number of children dying due to pneumonia and diarrhoea, which occurs in 15 countries of the world, India has the highest number of such cases. About 40 per cent hospitalization of below-five years of children is due to rotavirus. India is expected to cover about 89 per cent children for immunization against measles by 2015 and, thus, likely to fall short of universal immunization by about 11 percent.

West Bengal has already achieved the national level MDG target of under-five mortality rate with 38 per 1,000 live births. The Government has not taken any serious measures for curtailing such an alarming situation. The need of the hour is to create a stage-wise action plan that includes nutrition, sanitation and vaccination to reduce these high figures of children’s mortality.

Trinamool’s day in Parliament

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After playing the role of the principal Opposition party in the Winter Session of Parliament, Trinamool Congress is again dominating the proceedings of the House in the Budget Session.

After raising a Zero Hour discussion on Mother Teresa yesterday in the Rajya Sabha, Trinamool won the support of the major Opposition parties. The party also slammed the Government during the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address.

On Friday, Debabrata Bandyopadhyay raised the issue of Santhali language being represented in Devnagari script instead of in Ol Chiki in an advertisement published by the Ministry of Human Resource Development. He called it an insult to the Santhal community and demanded an apology from the Government.

During a Zero Hour discussion in the Rajya Sabha, Vivek Gupta asked the Government to reconsider delinking forest land from the wildlife impact assessment system by the National Wildlife Board and allowing adjustment within a 10 km range of national wildlife zones for such clearances. He said that forest cover can be increased while going for sustainable development, environment and infrastructure.

During a Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, senior MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy questioned the Government on why 14 districts have been excluded from the coverage of handloom marketing assistance. Also speaking on the handloom industry, Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Gupta asked the Government why two jute units in West Bengal have been removed from a BIFR assistance scheme and also, why there has been no increase in the number of people in the handloom industry in the state getting health insurance, from the 2012-13 numbers.

TMC MPs raise the issue of sick jute and handloom industry

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AITC MPs Vivek Gupta and Sukhendu Sekhar Roy took up the rising concern of dwindling sectors of handloom and jute industries in Parliament today.

Vivek Gupta mentioned 40 lakh jute growers are affected and 4 lakh jute workers are affected specially in Bengal that what steps have been taken by the Minister for the prevent the dilution of the jute packing order and also for the revival of the Khardah and the Kinsan units, which had earlier received the cabinet approval of the Board of Industrial and Financial Reconstruction Scheme, but now suddenly on 20 November has been removed from the scheme now 5 jute mills in Bengal are declared sick and facing immediate closure.

Further pointing put why there has been there has been no increase in the number of people being provided health insurance, the Ministry was urged that what is the reason for this disparity.

Clicke here for the full transcript of his speech.

Sukhendu Sekhar Roy raised the concern of why 24 districts were covered in 2011-12, but in 2013-14, only 10 areas have been covered, so why have 14 districts have been excluded?

Clicke here for the full transcript of his speech.

Vivek Gupta speaks on Promotion of Handloom Industry of Bengal | Transcript

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Sir, through you, I would like to know from the Hon’ble Minister about one of the products of the handloom industry. The jute industry is going through tremendous hardship and 40 lakh jute growers and 4 lakh jute workers are affected, specially in West Bengal. What initiatives have been taken by the Minister to prevent the dilution of the jute packaging order and also for the revival of the Khardah and Kinsan units, which had earlier received approval of the Cabinet for a Board of Industrial and Financial Reconstruction scheme, but now suddenly on November 20 have been removed from that scheme? And now five jute mills in Bengal have been declared sick and face immediate closure.

There has been no increase in the number of people being given health insurance. What is the reason behind this? According to Annexure I, after 2012, the number of people is fixed at 3,81,714. Does this mean that new additions would not be made?

According to Annexure IV, regarding handloom marketing assistance, why has New Delhi been named while mentioning the districts of Bengal? From when has New Delhi become a part of Bengal?

Vivek Gupta speaks in Zero Hour on National Forest Programme | Transcript

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Sir, one of the 12 mega diverse countries of the world, India is the habitat to 12% of the world’s biodiversity and 2% of the earth’s surface. The stress on the environment for resources like fuel, power, minerals, among others, has adverse implications on forest cover, diversion of forest land, environment and wildlife.

Sir, I would like the Minister to reconsider delinking forest land from the wildlife impact assessment system by the National Wildlife Board and allowing projects within a 10-km range of wildlife zones, in demarcated eco-sensitive zones.

Also, Sir, many project developers are permitted to cut down forests for canals, power lines and highways before final clearances and before the consent of tribals is obtained.

Sir, yesterday, in the Rail Budget we got to hear that all those who performed well would be rewarded. But, Sir, in the case of Bengal a gross injustice have been done. West Bengal has added the maximum forest cover in the last two-three years, yet our funding against CAMPA has been nil and we have been allocated the lowest amount of funds for the National Afforestation Programme. We are trying to show an example to the rest of the India that forest cover can be increased while going for sustainable development and infrastructure. But sadly we are not receiving any support from the Central Government.

I would urge the Minister to look into this immediately and urgently, and do something to encourage us so that we can do much more.

Thank you, Sir.

Vivek Gupta speaks on outbreak of H1N1 Seasonal Influenza (Swine Flu) | Transcript

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Here is the full transcript: 

Mohodaya, aap ke madhyam se kuch clarifications mangunga. Yeh joh pehla case dohrana chahunga, ki mere jo mitra Naresh Agarwal ne report kiya tha. Ki vaccine ke clarification mein likha tha ki woh teen-chaar hafte baad asar karta hain, toh aapka pehla case kab detect hua tha aur pehla vaccine ka prayog kiya tha aur kya research and development hua hain, kyunki aapne apne statement mein kaha hain ki yeh sirf ek saal hi effective rehti hain. Yeh kya koi immunisation mein nahi laya jaa sakta jise ki vaccine ko zyada effective banaya ja sake?

Sir, aapne yahan likha hai ki 60,000 tenders yahan jama kiye hain. Yeh 60,000 ke number ke piche koi logic hain? Yeh zyada ya kam huyi nahi hain? Hamari desh ki itni abadi hain, jin states mein yeh phael raha hain aur phael sakta hain, toh yeh 60,000 ka aankra kyun hain?

Mahodaya, anth mein main yehi kehna chahunga ki hamare yeh Bengal me panch maute, jo woh bhi bahut zyada hain, uska yah karan hain ki humare yaha ka hospital, BC Roy mein exclusive isolated ward and units banaya gaya hain iske ilaaj ke liye.

Aap chahe toh yeh model desh ke dusre pradesho ke saath share karein, joh dusre pradesho mein accha ho raha hain woh hamare pradesh mein share karein. Ta ki ek bhi maut bachaya jaa sake.

Dhanyavad.

Translated Version:

Sir, through you I would like to request for some clarifications from the Hon’ble Minister. I would like to mention what my friend Naresh Agarwal has asked, when the first case was reported, because in your clarification regarding the vaccine you stated that it takes three to four weeks to have an effect. So when was the first case detected and when did you start administering the first vaccine? And what research and development has taken place? Because you have mentioned in your statement, the vaccine stays effective only for a year. Cannot this vaccination be brought under the immunisation programme? Or some research and development be done to make the vaccine more effective?

Sir, you have written here that you have brought out tenders for 60,000 units of vaccine. Sir, is there any logic or reason for this number? Why only 60,000, neither more nor less, when we have such a huge population and when this can spread to so many states and affect many more? So why is this figure 60,000?

At the end, I would only like to say that in our state, West Bengal, we have had five deaths, which is still a huge number. The reason for this low number though, is that an isolated ward has been set up for the exclusive treatment of this disease at BC Roy Hospital. If you want, this model can be shared with other states and good models that are there in other states can be shared with us, so every single patient can be saved.

Thank You.

Vivek Gupta speaks on the MSME Development Bill, 2013 | Transcript

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Sir, I am very nervous today because I have been inspired by my friends of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar today from the BSP, SP and JD(U) to try to speak a little in Hindi, so I may make some mistake you must not laugh.

Sir, Bharat ne Bali me jo hasil kiya tha wo WTO samasya ka adha solution tha, pura nehi. Kyun ki dash pritisat subsidy cab ke ulanghan kar ne ke immunity sirf char sal ke liye di geye thi. Ab immunity par samay ki pawandi nehi hay lekin ye bhi sampuran samadhan nehi hay. Jab iska pura hal nikal ayega or domestic support ke liye naya formula apnaya jayega to Bharat ko WTO ke liye kuch aur concession dena hoga ki nehi dena hoga, that is the question.

While the Government and the earnest and hard working minister has seemingly helped improve the Bill for Bali, the current situation let it be said has been on the Table since it raid flag in the summer. But it stopped halfway. And my question is why didn’t it raised for final solution, something it had argued for and agreed to endorse the TFA.

Sir, on a serious note, short term gain but long term pain. I have two specific questions on the short term gain and long term pain. The first question for the Government is that the TFA will enhance the developed countries’ access to the Indian market, we know that. India is losing out in competitiveness in all product lines as there has been a hollowing out of industries. My straight question to the Minister is, please tell us how is the TFA going to impact growth in the manufacturing sector?

And my second clarification is to do what the Minister said and I quote: “Continuing the minimum support programme is the lifeline for millions of our low income resource farmers. We have a right to distribute food to the poorest to the poor.”

Then I have to ask the Minister, what about the MGNREGA? What about cutting back subsidies for petroleum products, cutting educations subsidies, cutting health subsidies, cutting all sector expenditure?

So, I am totally confused. They have to clarify this. On one side they make statements about distributing food to the poorest of the poor and on the other side they cut all the subsidies.

I will end, Sir, with a nice appropriate quote by Hon’ble Arun Shourie, made three or four days ago. “When all is said and done, more is said than done”.

What will the Minister have to say about her statement in relation to this statement?

Thank you.