Questions & Discussions:

Questions raised and Discussions initiated by Shri Tathagata Satapathy in Parliament

 Monsoon Session 2012 :

Subject: Admission to MBBS course at Armed Force Medical College, Pune

*Will the Minister of Defence be pleased to state:
(a)the number of students that have been selected for the 2012 intake.
(b)the number of sponsored candidates that have been taken from the friendly neighbouring countries.
(c)whether the course structure has been updated in the last 5 years
(d)if so, details thereof

Subject: Property rights of Slum Dwellers

Will the Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation be pleased to state:
(a)the steps that have been taken for the assignent of property rights to the slum dwellers, under the ‘Rajiv Awas Yojna’ (RAY).
(b)The number of states where special nodal agencies have been set up for this purpose.
(c)Whether any NGOs have been approached for assistance
(d)If so, details thereof.
Supplementary: The number of states that have actually submitted the ‘Slum free state Plan of Action’.

Subject: Housing for the Scheduled Tribes

Will the Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation be pleased to state:
(a)whether any concrete steps have been taken for provision of housing and sanitation facilities for the people belonging to economically marginalised, scheduled tribes but not recorded under BPL Index as per the ‘Indira Awas Yojna’.
(b)If so, details thereof.
(c)If not, reaons therefor.

Subject: Micro Enterprise Loans to Women

*Will the minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises be pleased to state:
(a) whether any special schemes have been implemented for the extension of micro enterprise loans to women, specifically widows.
(b) If so, details thereof: state-wise
(c) Whether there has been a rise in the overall industrial productivity of states in which such loans have been extended.
Supplementary: whether there are any vocational training programs in place which enhance the entrepreneurial skills of women who have been granted such loans.

Subject: Wages of Khadi Spinners

Will the minister of Micro, small and medium Enterprises be pleased to state:
(a)whether the khadi spinners have been granted a hike in their remmuneration or wages in the last two years.
(b)If so, details thereof
(c)If not, reasons therefor.
(d)Whether any commissions have been set up to address the concerns of khadi spinners. If so, details thereof.

Subject: The progress of Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan

*Will the Minister of Drinking water and Sanitation be pleased to state:
(a) whether any centres for Solid and Liquid waste management (SLWM) have been set up under the ‘Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan’ scheme launched by the government in 2012.
(b) If so, details thereof; state-wise
(c) The total number of villages where the scheme is presently being implemented.
Supplementary: whether any NGOs or professional agencies have been sought to assist in the implementation of SLWM projects.

Subject: Contamination of Drinking water supplied by the Delhi Jal Board

Will the Minister of Drinking water and sanitation be pleased to state:
(a)whether any remedial steps have been taken to deal with the micro cracks in pipelines due to which contamination occurs.
(b) If so, details thereof, and if not reasons therefor.
(c)Whether there have been any proposals to set up dedicated utility corridors for each water lines and sewage lines in Delhi.
 Winter Session 2012 :

Subject: Accommodation for Working Women

Will the minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:
(a)Whether there have been hostels constructed in Mizoram for single working women.
(b)If so, details thereof.
(c)Whether any steps have been taken to resolve the difficulties faced by women in terms of accommodation.
(d)If yes, details thereof and if not, reasons therefor.

Subject: Promotion of Golf Tourism

Will the minister of Tourism be pleased to state:
(1)the progress on the promotion of Golf Tourism on which a workshop was conducted on 21st January, 2011.
(2)Which states have been asked to participate in Golf Tourism.
(3)Whether the roadmap to such a policy has been devised.
(4)If so, details thereof.
(5) If not, reason therefor.

Subject: Medical Tourism in India

(1) Whether there have been any changes in the policies regarding the doctors and hospitals which are allowed to participate under such and agreement.
(2) If so, details thereof.
(3) If not, reasons therefor.
 Budget Session 2013 :
(1)Whether there have any proper mechanisms for the revision of pay scales of teachers under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Scheme.
(2)If yes, details thereof and if not, reasons there for.
(3)What is the maximum number of teachers that can be enrolled under the scheme in a specific district in which the scheme is being implemented?
(4)What is the progress of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in Orissa since the last two years? (5)Details thereof.
(1)Whether the mid day meal scheme has a quality control mechanism in place in the districts of Orissa?
(2)If yes, then please state the details of nutrition and hygiene standards, which are adhered to.
(3)If not, reasons there for. (4)How many Self Help Groups were appointed to implement the scheme n Dehenkanal and Angul districts of Orissa?
(5)What are the steps taken by the government to overcome the caste and gender based discrimination which has been observed during the implementation of the mid day meal scheme in a large number of schools?
(6)Details thereof.
(1)State wise list of community colleges that the government plans to open in the year 2013.
(2)What percentage of private participation will be allowed in the community colleges?
(3)What kind of vocational training would be imparted in the community colleges?
(4)Would the colleges cater primarily to local requirements of the area in which they are located or be more aligned to national interests?
(1) What are the steps that are being undertaken to improve road connectivity in Maoist insurgency-affected districts in the country?
(2)Details thereof.
(3)Are there any provisions for contractors to undertake construction of roads in spite of repeated threats from Maoists?
(4)If yes, details there of and if not, reasons there for.
(5)Please list the details of increase in road connectivity in the Maoist inflicted regions of Orissa in the year 2012-2013.
(1) The number of districts which will be covered in the direct cash transfer scheme in Orissa by the end of 2013?
(2) What will be the basis of direct cash transfer to all beneficiaries? If it is Aadhaar, then what steps are being undertaken to ensure 100% enrollment in the state?
(3) What steps are taken to ensure that the MNREGS beneficiaries have operational bank accounts to enable the cash transfer?
(4) Is the government planning to take the help of any non-government organizations for the implementation of the same?
(5) If yes, details there of.
(1) What has been the background research in taking up Viability Gap Funding as a financial incentive for solar energy?
(2) How is it better than Interest rate subsidy?
(3) How is it better than generation based incentives?
(4) Have the financial incentives helped in development of solar energy in the state of Orissa?
(5) If yes, details there of.
(6) What new steps are being undertaken to generate solar electricity at a larger scale in the rural areas of Orissa?
Note: Viability gap is the period for which the project is allowed to become functional of profitable. So there is a proposal stating the project,s which may not be viable since the very beginning should be granted such funds. This is similar to gestation period.
(1) Whether there is a provision for electricity in the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan for schools?
(2) If so, details of the funding allocated to electrification in schools?
(3) How many schools in Dhenkanal district of Orissa have been electrified under such a scheme.
(4) Whether the government plans to make electrification of schools mandatory under SSA in the coming years?
(5) If not, reasons there for.
(1) Whether there are any proposals to invest in tourism for Chilka lake (Orissa) which is the largest brackish water lake in Asia?
(2) Are there any funds allocated to buy new motor boats for the promotion of tourism in the area?
(3) If yes, details there of.
(4) If not, reasons there for.
(1) Whether there have been any irregularities in funding sin the implementation of National Rural Health Mission in the state of Orissa?
(2) Details of the irregularities, where they have been registered.
(3) What mechanism have been devised to monitor the implementation of NRHM by non governmental agencies?
(4) Is the government planning to implement NRHM at a national level. If yes, details of the funds that would be allocated to this scheme.
(1) Whether any steps are being undertaken to curb elephant deaths by poaching and electrocution in the state of Orissa?
(2) If yes, details there of.
(3) If not, reasons there for.
(4) What are the mechanisms in place to punish poachers who are responsible for elephant deaths?
(5) There have been instances where elephants deaths have been recorded to due loss of habitat caused by industrialization and mining. What does the government plan to do about this?
(6) Details thereof.
(1) The number of security persons killed in naxal encounters in the last one year in the state of Orissa.
(2) A state wise list of such encounters, which have been registered in India for the year 2012-2013.
(3) What are the steps that the government plans to undertake to curb such activities.
(4) Details there of.
(1) What policy is being adopted for allocation of coal blocks to state run or private companies in the state of Orissa?
(2) The number of years that are assigned for development and production of coal by such companies.
(3) Procedures undertaken if the production does not take place in the stipulated time period.
(4) Whether any steps have been taken in this regard so far. Details thereof.
(5) If not reasons, there for.
(1) Whether there are any power projects which have been allocated captive coal blocks but are still awaiting land acquisition clearance?
(2) Whether any such allocations have been cancelled?
(3) If yes, details there of.
(4) What are the arrangements being made to ensure fuel supply in the state of Orissa?
(5) Details there of.
(1) The status of investigation, which is being undertaken in case of irregularities in coal block allocation since 2006.
(2) The number of cases, which have been registered against government officials in this regard.
(3) Does the government plan to speed up the process of such investigations by appointing subsidiary judiciary bodies?
(4) If so, details there of.
(5) If not, reasons there for.
(1) Whether any action is being taken against women being traded for marriages in states such as Haryana and Rajasthan.
(2) What legal procedures are in place for people involved in this sort of human trafficking?
(3) Whether cases of domestic violence have increased since 2008?
(4) The steps taken by the Union government to ensure conviction under the Domestic Violence Act.
(5) Details there of.
(1) The steps that are being undertaken against allegations on the 12-helicopter deal for the Indian Air Force (IAF) signed in 2010 with Italian company Finmeccanica's UK subsidiary Agusta Westland (AW).
(2) Details of the illegal commission that has supposedly been paid to Indian political leaders.
(3) Whether such a deal would have repercussions in terms of national security of the country?
(4) What is being done to curb corruption on the national level?
(5) Details thereof.

 

 Matters Raised Under Rule 377 and during Zero Hour (2012-13):

The Polavaram project being implemented by the Andhra Pradesh government has put the lives of people living in Southern Orissa at peril. No public hearing was conducted before issuing environmental clearance to the project and the project violated Forest Conservation Act, 1980 so far as diversion of forest land for submergence was concerned. In the absence of upstream projects, which have not been undertaken by the Andhra Pradesh Government, there will be a large reservoir making huge backwater submergence in Orissa.

Water is a scarce resource and it is our duty to use it in a sustainable way. I urge the Central Government in the Ministry of Water Resources to act as a mediator and encourage both the state governments to resolve the matter via mutual agreement. Such matters should not be taken to court as they only result in additional burden, taking several years to reach a consensus.

Both state ministries could divide responsibilities for building the dam so that people from both states benefit equally. Costs could be incurred by both states, including compensation paid to farmers, if any. This way, an essential matter could be taken up without stalling the project and wasting precious natural resources meanwhile.

Rajeev Gandhi Grameen Vidyuktikaran Yojna, a scheme for providing access to electricity in rural areas under the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP) was launched by the government of India to electrify all un-electrified and partially electrified villages and all habitations having a population of more than one hundred. All districts of Orissa are included under RGGVY.

However, the poor performance of implementing contractors engaged by the CPSUs delays the completion of RGGVY scheme during the 11th plan project as they are unable to engage adequate manpower as per the requirement. I would like to impress upon the Ministry of Power to give directives to the CPSUs ( NTPC, PGCII & NHPC) to expedite the electrification works under the scheme and REC (Rural Electrification Corporation) to approve the balance revised cost estimates of different districts. A sum of Rs 33308.64 crores has been released so far, out of which 2934.59 crores has been spent having a balance of 374.05 crores with CPSUs. The Distribution transformers provided under the RGGVY are having low capacity resulting in frequent failure. I request the Ministry to take remedial actions so that the real benefit of the scheme can reach the consumers.

Also, a large number of hamlets having a population of 100-300 and less than 100 people are not covered under RGGVY. A considerable number of BPL households are still deprived of electricity. The scheme should be further extended in the 12th plan to cater to such deficiencies.

Bilateral relations between India and the Republic of Maldives have been friendly and close in strategic, economic and military cooperation. India contributed to maintaining security on the island nation and has forged an alliance with respect to its strategic interests in the Indian ocean. Rajeev Ji had also helped their government overcome a coup some years ago.

Today, we stand alienated, as an enemy. Geography will not change. We support corporates that help create enemies, and not friends in the neighborhood. Indian High Commissioner, Dynaneshwar Mulay being termed as a ‘traitor’ and ‘enemy of Maldives’ by Presidential spokesman, Adil Riza is a matter of great concern. Such anti-India remarks by a key presidential aide are against diplomatic protocol.

India should NOT stop giving assistance. The matter should be diluted and our unfriendly neighbors to the North must not be allowed to get entry into Maldives.

Hence, I urge the government to take appropriate and other steps as they may deem necessary in this regard.

Bhubaneswar and Cuttak being educational hubs, with many national level institutions such as IIT, AIMS, NISER, NIFT, Institute of Physics, institute of Mathematics, National University, KIIT, XIM, National University, National Law University and several Medical Colleges, and Brahmapur being a major IT Center, everyday thousands of students, professionals, patients and general people from Tatanagar and around keep traveling to Bhubaneswar, Cuttak, Brahmapur for business, health, educational and other purposes.

Many people from Orissa reside in steel city, Tatanagar and around for their livelihood. But unfortunately, so far not a single intercity express train has been introduced by Indian Railways from Tatanagar to Brahmapur even after 65 years of independence.

Hence I request the Ministry of Railways to introduce an intercity express train from Tatanagar to Brahmapur in the upcoming Railway Budget. Moreover, this train would connect the entire coastal belt of Orissa from Brahmapur to Balasore with each other, bypassing the Kharagpur and Dhenkanal stations, as this will reduce traffic and traveling time. The people of Orissa also propose to name it as LAVANYABATI EXPRESS owing to the historical importance of the Odiya epic ‘Lavanyabati’, written by Upendra Bhanja in 16th Century AD. Thank you.

The elephant death toll in Orissa has risen alarmingly in the lat few years. Poachers remain active in forests of Orissa, eliminating 73 elephants in last seven years since 2005 even as 157 people were arrested during the period on charge of killing wild animals. While hunters killed 57 jumbos by using guns, the poachers poisoned 16 elephants to death during the same period.

Besides poaching, electrocution was another factor responsible for the huge casualty of elephants. High-tension electric lines passing through forest areas, specifically in elephant corridors are a major threat. The electricity poles supporting the wires are placed far apart, causing the wires to hang low. An elephant passing under the wires often accidentally touches it and gets electrocuted. Meanwhile, as per the report of state’s Ministry of Environment and Forests, 78 elephants were killed in Keonjhar district alone in 12 years from 2001 to 2012. This is a matter of concern for all as there is an urgent need to preserve wildlife in the state today. It saddens me to observe that elephants, that were the backbone of the Kalinga army for several decades are in such a dire state today.

Thus, I request the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests to undertake remedial steps and ensure strict implementation of the same. The animals are dying due to lack of proper official measures.