Month: December 2022

Sir, we know that as far as child nutrition is concerned, milk is a cheap source. From the reply given by the Minister, it seems that he is heavily dependent on the Poshan Scheme. I would like to bring to the notice of the Minister that this scheme has not been a very good
success. They have a target of arresting stunted growth to 25 per cent by 2022. The current NFHS-5 figures show that it has achieved only 35.5 per cent. That is just an example, Sir. I may again repeat that milk is a cheap source of nutrition for children aged below six years. The Minister has said that the Government does not regulate milk prices. Does the Minister intend to do something more to help out in this case the people, especially children, of the lower income group? Sir, I would be putting my second supplementary question, but as I said, the Poshan Abhiyan has not been a good success and hence I was asking if Government intends to do something more. Sir, this is my second supplementary question. As per the answer and as per several news articles, milk inflation increased to 7.7 per cent in October, 2022. I would like to know if the Minister has requested or intends to request the Finance Ministry to remove the five per cent GST on curd, lassi, buttermilk and 12 per cent GST on condensed milk, butter, ghee, cheese, etc., for easy accessibility to the lower income groups.

Sir, rightful heirs have a hard time claiming their inherited money usually present in the form of unclaimed bank deposits, insurance, Post Office funds, etc., because the process to retrieve them is often cumbersome and different for each entity and every bank. At present, the unclaimed sum is reportedly estimated at a massive Rs. 82,025 crore. Parliament has authorized the RBI to enact a policy or issue directions with a statutory backing. However, no redressal or actionable procedures have been formulated until now. What accelerates
the problem is the fact that individual banks make their own rules and demands to release these claims. For instance, they ask
for probate, sureties from unrelated person, indemnities, affidavits, mandatory fixed deposit, etc. Therefore, I request the Government to formulate a Standard Operating Procedure for making effective claims and for creating a more humane system for heirs of deceased persons to claim their inheritance. In addition, a centralised online database should be developed under the control of the RBI. That will provide information about the deceased account holders including their details. Further, in every nine to twelve months, banks should be asked to mandatorily inform the RBI about the inoperative or dormant bank accounts. I end by saying that this unclaimed public money, which is to the tune of more than Rs.82,000 crores, is the resource of the citizens. I am just concluding.  Okay, Sir. I would like to say that
this amount is the resource of the citizens and it is the duty of the Government that this resource, unclaimed money, goes back in the
fulfilment of the demands and various schemes of the citizens.

Mr. Chairman, Sir, my submission for Special Mention has been disallowed on legal terms. But I would plead justice from you and the House. Our national spokesman has been ….(Interruptions)..

Sir, with your consent, I have raised the point of order. Rule 47, subrule ii says the right to ask a Question is governed by the following conditions. There are 22 conditions for the person who…. The Honorable Member who raised the Question. There is no such conditionality in so far the Ministers are concerned while getting the reply. Just now I have found that thus House has witnessed that in a reply to a Supplementary Question of Honorable Member Sanjay Singh the Honorable Minister characterized the state government as a ‘chor’, ‘theif’ government. Whether this is admissible under the rules, I put it for your kind consideration.

Thank you, Sir, for this opportunity. I have only one simple and sharp question addressed to the hon. Minister. Are we heading for a food crisis? I have figures with me. Usually, we have stocks of about 25 million tonnes to 26 million tonnes of wheat at the beginning of
the year. We have around 29 million tonnes to 30 million tonnes of rice at the end of the year. Last year’s procurement was an all time record. But, in this current year and in the previous year, we have consumed a lot, thanks to the Prime Minister’s free ration scheme. The net question is that wheat has been impacted, as we know, by the heat wave and other factors. And, Sir, rice, paddy has also been badly
impacted. They have been reflected on the procurement figures. So, we are in shortage state, hon. Minister. And I would like the Government to admit it and take steps.

Sir, my first supplementary question is this.Under the Prime Minister Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PMMITRA) scheme, I would like to know whether the hon. Minister will specifically elaborate about the fund allotted and the project details for
Darjeeling and Kalimpong Districts. Sir, my second supplementary question is this. I would like to know whether the Textile Ministry, on its inspection, found Darjeeling or Kalimpong Districts suitable for setting up of a PMMITRA park. If yes, can the proposal still be sent by the State Government? And, what is the last date for submission of such a proposal? MR. CHAIRMAN: Now, the Minister. Please give pointed response.