copenlu/druid huggingface dataset:
Claim: Allocation in budget 2018 raised to 3 lakh crore rupees, a rise of 20% over previous year. (Govt. of India, 2018-05-26)
Evidence (2024-10-09): The Standing Committee on Urban Development, 2017, noted that the budgetary allocations were lower than the Ministry demand.[2] Although there was a 36% increase in the budget estimate for 2017-18 over the budget estimate for 2016-17, it was short of what the Ministry had projected. (The erstwhile Ministry of Urban Development had an allocation of Rs 34,212 crore as compared to the projected Rs 68,410 crore).2 [...] The budgetary allocation towards metro projects in 2018-19 is Rs 15,000 crore. This is a 17% decrease over the revised estimates of 2017-18. [...] The budgetary allocation towards the scheme for 2018-18 is Rs 6,505 crore. This is an 8% increase over the revised estimates for 2017-18. The increase in budgetary allocation in 2018-19 can be attributed to the increase in allocations for the LIG and MIG components of the CLSS.
Claim: For food grains damaged due to excessive rainfall, full minimum support price to be paid. (Govt. of India, 2018-05-26)
Evidence (2018-05-26): The BJP government has made four claims about standing with farmers in times of need ( referring to the SDRF) in an infographic published on the 48-months portal. This article is a fact check of the claims made in the infographic.
Claim: For food grains damaged due to excessive rainfall, full minimum support price to be paid. (Govt. of India, 2018-05-26)
Evidence (2015-08-31): Minimum Support Price (MSP) is a form of market intervention by the Government of India to insure agricultural producers against any sharp fall in farm prices. The minimum support prices are announced by the Government of India at the beginning of the sowing season for certain crops on the basis of the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). MSP is price fixed by Government of India to protect the producer - farmers - against excessive fall in price during bumper production years. The minimum support prices are a guarantee price for their produce from the Government. The major objectives are to support the farmers from distress sales and to procure food grains for public distribution. In case the market price for the commodity falls below the announced minimum price due to bumper production and glut in the market, government agencies purchase the entire quantity offered by the farmers at the announced minimum price. [...] In formulating the recommendations in respect of the level of minimum support prices and other non-price measures, the Commission takes into account, apart from a comprehensive view of the entire structure of the economy of a particular commodity or group of commodities, the following factors:- [...] Government announces minimum support prices (MSPs) for 22 mandated crops and fair and remunerative price (FRP) for sugarcane. The mandated crops are 14 crops of the kharif season, 6 rabi crops and two other commercial crops. In addition, the MSPs of toria and de-husked coconut are fixed on the basis of the MSPs of rapeseed/mustard and copra, respectively. The list of crops are as follows.
Claim: For food grains damaged due to excessive rainfall, full minimum support price to be paid. (Govt. of India, 2018-05-26)
Evidence (2022-06-13): Critical food shortages in India in the 1960s, including a major famine in 1965–66, led to the implementation of the Green Revolution and a reformulation of the Indian Government’s food procurement and distribution system1. The procurement system was established with minimum price support for selected crops and a distribution/storage system to ensure that lower-income households have access to primary nutrition. To reduce transaction costs, the crops are procured from a few provinces where the Green Revolution took root and crop yields are typically higher. This ultimately led to a significant change in regional cropping patterns different from traditional crops adapted to the local climate and soil conditions. Increased demand for irrigation in the procurement regions resulted and surface water-based irrigation through dams and canals was developed in many cases but it had a limited reach. To support many smallholder farmers, state governments offered subsidized/free electricity for pumping groundwater for irrigation which consequently led to widespread groundwater depletion2,3. Farmers in procurement-favored regions receive a guaranteed revenue (based on a margin above the cost of cultivation) from the crops procured by the government as well as subsidies for electricity and other inputs.
Claim: For food grains damaged due to excessive rainfall, full minimum support price to be paid. (Govt. of India, 2018-05-26)
Evidence (2023-08-31): Context: The Centre has announced a 5 to 10 % hike in minimum support prices (MSP) of all mandated Kharif crops for marketing season 2023-24. Minimum support price - Minimum Support Price (MSP) is a form of market intervention by the Government of India to insure agricultural producers against any sharp fall in farm prices. [...] - MSPs are announced by the Government of India at the beginning of the sowing season for 24 notified crops on the basis of the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)
Claim: For food grains damaged due to excessive rainfall, full minimum support price to be paid. (Govt. of India, 2018-05-26)
Evidence (2019-02-12): The second claim is that ‘for food grains damaged due to excessive rainfall, full minimum support price to be paid’. As per a government’s press release, procurement quality norms are decided every year on the recommendations of a committee of experts which include Food Secretaries of States. If quality of wheat or rice is affected due to unseasonal rains or any other reason, relaxation in the norms is considered on the recommendations of states after testing samples of food grains. As per Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 relaxation in norms is allowed in the case of broken and shrinked grains and if grains have lost shine. According to the act grains having more than 14 percent moisture cannot stored and procured.
Claim: For food grains damaged due to excessive rainfall, full minimum support price to be paid. (Govt. of India, 2018-05-26)
Evidence (2022-11-07): There was a sudden unexpected increase in temperature in March this year. This coincided with the time the wheat crop was at a maturing stage, he shares. As a result, there was a drop in production. Wheat production from Singh’s farm, in previous years, has been about 48-50 quintals per hectare. This year, his farm produced only 38 quintals per hectare – a drop of about 10 quintals per hectare. This, in turn, brought down his income by Rs. 20,000 per hectare. Singh gets Rs. 2,015 per quintal as the minimum support price (MSP) set by the government.
Claim: For food grains damaged due to excessive rainfall, full minimum support price to be paid. (Govt. of India, 2018-05-26)
Evidence (2021-08-27): In order to safeguard such a large number of small and marginal farmers, procurement of staple cereals such as wheat at the minimum support price (MSP) is an important policy tool that involves large scale procurement dispersed in wheat producing states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Bihar. The procurement of wheat involves massive handling of small quantities from a large number of individuals, a mammoth task as it has to be completed during the limited period of 3 months of Rabi harvesting, i.e., from April to June. FCI with other supporting state agencies play a vital role in the procurement of wheat. They procure about 33% of total wheat production in the country for the purpose of supporting farmers through minimum support price (MSP) to save them from distress sale, maintaining food security through the country-wide public distribution system (PDS), stocking reserves as a buffer to meet exigencies and to stabilize market prices through open sale of wheat in case of the steep rise of market prices.
Claim: For food grains damaged due to excessive rainfall, full minimum support price to be paid. (Govt. of India, 2018-05-26)
Evidence (2019-12-11): More than 60% of the kharif crop arrivals in October were trading below the minimum support price (MSP).3 Late and heavy rainfall in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra damaged standing kharif crops. With high moisture content of kharif crops and little progress in procurement of crops by government, eight of the thirteen kharif crops were trading at price lower than MSP (Chart 5). Excess rainfall is expected to impact kharif crop output and, consequently, farmer income may be only marginally higher than last year. [...] 3 Minimum Support Price (MSP) is a form of market intervention by the Government of India to insure farmers against any sharp fall in agricultural prices.
Claim: Bio-toilets are introduced in train coaches only after 2014 (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-03-28)
Evidence (2023-03-28): Indian Railways in collaboration with DRDO, developed the existing bio-toilet system in 2010. And by June 2014, Indian Railways have installed 11,777 bio-toilets in 4356 passenger coaches. Hence the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
Claim: Bio-toilets are introduced in train coaches only after 2014 (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-03-28)
Evidence (2018-04-12): One Lakh Twenty Five Thousands Bio-Toilets Installed in Trains Coaches [...] Beginning with the introduction of 57 bio-toilets in one train i.e. Gwalior-Varanasi Bundelkhand Express in January 2011, Indian Railways has provided about 1,25,000 bio-toilets in its coaches till March 2018. This covers about 60% of coaching fleet of Indian Railways. During 2017-18, IR has installed highest ever bio-toilets in coaches which is 40% higher than the set target of 40,000 bio-toilets and 64% higher than the fitment of 34134 bio-toilets in 2016-17. [...] "Bio-Toilet project" of Indian Railways is an innovative & indigenous development of technology. This technology is first of its kind being used by any railroad in the world for On-board accelerated digestion of human waste. These bio-toilets are fitted underneath the lavatories and the human waste discharged into them is acted upon by a colony of anaerobic bacteria that convert human waste mainly into water and small amount of bio-gases. The gases escape into atmosphere and waste water is discharged after chlorination onto the track. Human waste, thus, does not fall on the railway tracks thus improving cleanliness and hygiene at platforms, and facilitate track and coaches maintenance staff to perform their work more efficiently. The Bio-toilet project is very much aligned with ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’, launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.
Claim: Bio-toilets are introduced in train coaches only after 2014 (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-03-28)
Evidence (2023-10-02): India’s extensive railway network is the lifeline of the nation, ferrying millions of passengers and tons of cargo daily. Ensuring cleanliness and hygiene on trains is a top priority. To address this concern and contribute to environmental sustainability, Indian Railways has embarked on a remarkable journey by introducing bio-toilets. These innovative waste disposal systems are transforming the railway experience, enhancing hygiene, and promoting a greener future. In this blog, we explore the world of bio-toilets in Indian Railways, backed by official data sources. [...] Before the introduction of bio-toilets, Indian Railways faced a significant challenge: the discharge of human waste directly onto the tracks. This not only posed environmental and sanitation issues but also jeopardized the safety of track workers. Traditional toilets on trains relied on a system that allowed waste to fall onto the tracks, resulting in unsightly and unhygienic conditions. [...] Official data from the Ministry of Railways reveals the scale of this green transformation. By the end of 2020, Indian Railways had installed over 2.4 lakh bio toilets in coaches across the network. This massive rollout demonstrates the railway’s commitment to improving hygiene and reducing environmental impact.
Claim: Bio-toilets are introduced in train coaches only after 2014 (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-03-28)
Evidence (2021-07-02): Bio-Toilets in Indian Railways: In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mission of Swacch Bharat, Piyush Goyal-led Indian Railways has fulfilled the pledge of bio toilets in passenger trains. According to the national transporter, 100 per cent of passenger coaches have been fitted with bio toilets. This has ensured that no human waste is discharged from coaches of passenger trains on rail tracks. With this effort of the Railway Ministry, around 2,74,000 litres per day of excreta on rail tracks are being avoided. Indian Railway had said that with this move, human waste led corrosion of rails and fittings costing an amount of Rs 400 crore per annum, is also avoided. As many as 73,078 passenger train coaches have been fitted with 2,58,906 bio toilets. Further, the national transporter has planned to supplement the existing system of bio toilet with vaccum flushing system toilet (bio vaccum toilets), which substantially reduces the requirement of water for flushing, while ensuring effective flushing of fecal matter from the pans. According to Indian Railways, bio vaccum toilets have been provided in a total of 1,372 LHB (Linke Hofmann Busch) coaches and also, it has been decided to provide bio vaccum toilets in air-conditioned LHB train coaches. Besides, sanctions for 8,500 coaches are also available, Indian Railways said.
Claim: Bio-toilets are introduced in train coaches only after 2014 (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-03-28)
Evidence (2022-07-18): NEW DELHI: The Indian Railways has finally installed the bio-toilets in the entire fleet of passenger coaches as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission with the support of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Adopting the ‘anaerobic bacteria’ the first of its kind in railway systems in the world the Indian Railway (IR) has installed the bio-toilets in 79,269 passnger coaches during 2021-22 ,which prevent fall of nearly 2, 74,000 litres human excreta on tracks every day. [...] "This technology under ‘Make In India’ initiative has brought a paradigm shift in cleanliness at staion premises and tracks, which can been seen across the railways," Jain claimed, adding that the Gwalior-Varanasi Bundhelkahnd was the first train that was fitted with IR-DRDO bio-toilet in 2011. Acting over received outputs, the fitments was ramped to a great extent that has now made the entire fleet of passenger trains equipped with the bio-toilets.
Claim: Bio-toilets are introduced in train coaches only after 2014 (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-03-28)
Evidence (2020-03-20): To eliminate the previously open discharge toilet system, zero discharge Bio-toilet system with ventilation has been adopted for coaches of Indian Railways. [...] Initially complaints regarding choking of bio toilets in coaches were investigated and it was found that it was largely due to passengers throwing non Bio-degradable items like plastic bottles, huggies, tea cups, papers / polythene bags, napkin etc. in the toilet pans because of their unawareness about the provision of Bio-toilets in respective coaches which were resulting in choking and foul smell. [...] - To further address the issue of the foul smell in coach toilets and remove waste from toilet pan to Bio-tank, Bio-Vacuum toilet systems have been developed and are being fitted/retrofitted in coaches.
Claim: Bio-toilets are introduced in train coaches only after 2014 (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-03-28)
Evidence (2023-04-03): A claim is being shared on social media platforms stating that bio-toilet systems in Indian railways were first implemented under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government after it came to power in 2014. [...] More than 11,000 bio-toilets installed till 2014: According to a Lok Sabha answer given on 14 August 2014, around 11,777 bio-toilets were installed in 4,356 passenger coaches till 30 June 2014. [...] Conclusion: The claim that bio-toilets were first introduced after 2014 is false. It was introduced by the UPA government in 2010.
Claim: Bio-toilets are introduced in train coaches only after 2014 (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-03-28)
Evidence (2023-04-03): A social media post claims that, earlier governments have ignored the issue of cleanliness of railway toilets, and it is only during the current government after 2014, that the issue is acknowledged, and railway coaches were equipped with bio-toilets. The post compares an image of a railway tract filled with litter with that of an image showing a clean track, as a symbolic representation. Through this article let’s fact-check the claim made in the post. [...] It is true that the equipping of rail coaches with bio-toilets has increased after 2014. However, it is not the current government which introduced these bio-toilets, but the previous government. It is during the previous Congress led UPA regime (2009-14), Indian Railways introduced these bio-toilets. [...] 4356 train coaches equipped with bio-toilets by June 2014:
Claim: Bio-toilets are introduced in train coaches only after 2014 (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-03-28)
Evidence (2015-06-16): These bio-toilets have specially developed bacteria to break down and digest the solid part. The only discharge is liquid that is recycled for further use like flushing. These toilets are easy to install with very minimalistic maintenance requirements. No additional energy is required as the toilet do not require electric-motor driven mechanism. These bio-toilets are easy to maintain and ensure maintenance of hygienic conditions at tracks and railway stations. [...] Despite the promising setup, engineers lament on the lack of awareness among the cleaning staff or ‘safaiwalas’. Once fitted, the bio-toilets can function for almost two years with little maintenance. But, the staffs are not adequately trained on the new technology and they resort to their traditional cleaning methodologies with the help of disinfectants and acids, causing more damage. In addition to this, train maintenance staff complain about apathy among the passengers, who despite the signs, dump items like diapers, plastic bags, bottles and sanitary napkins into the toilet, rendering the system ineffective.
Claim: Bio-toilets are introduced in train coaches only after 2014 (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-03-28)
Evidence (2017-04-24): India has one of the most extensive railway networks in the world, and rail journeys are an integral part of most travel plans. However, while train travel evokes certain nostalgia, the state of toilets has always left much to be desired. Now, the Indian Railways is going in for a complete overhaul, to not just modernize its toilets, but also meet its swachh targets for a ‘Clean India’ by 2019. First they introduced incorporation of bio-toilets in each and every coach of Indian Railways by 2019. As of October 2016, more than 49,000 bio-toilets have been installed by Indian Railways in passenger coaches. [...] These premium looking toilets will be an add on feature to the existing plan of fitting each and every coach with bio-toilets. [...] Speaking to NDTV, a spokesperson from the railways added, This is just a makeover to the existing railways toilets, so as we can uplift the passenger experience on railways. Bio-toilets is one dream, this is another. These toilets too will incorporate the idea of bio-toilets, but, apart from adding the bio-toilet seat which changes human excreta to water and gas, the idea is to revamp our traditional train toilets aesthetically.
Claim: Bio-toilets are introduced in train coaches only after 2014 (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-03-28)
Evidence (2020-07-13): A total of 69,000 coaches have been fitted with 2, 44,000 bio-toilets in Indian Railways [...] Ministry of Railways, with a goal of transforming Indian Railways into Green Railways by 2030 has taken a number of major initiatives towards mitigation of global warming and combating climate change. Railway Electrification, improving energy efficiency of locomotives & trains and fixed installations, green certification for installations/stations, fitting bio toilets in coaches and switching to renewable sources of energy are parts of its strategy of achieving net zero carbon emission. [...] In the field of Green Initiatives a total of 69,000 coaches have been fitted with more than 2,44,000 bio-toilets in Indian Railways.
Claim: Bio-toilets are introduced in train coaches only after 2014 (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-03-28)
Evidence (2019-02-10): In the area of passenger amenities, the Railways has improved the e-ticketing capacity to 20,000 tickets per minute which was just 2,000 tickets per minute in 2014. For the first time, Railways also started providing free wi-fi to passengers at railway stations, a facility which was missing during the UPA rule. So far, Railways haa provided 707 railway stations with free wi-fi. Cleanliness of trains and railway stations, too, gained momentum after the launch of the Swachh Bharat Mission. Railways began installing bio-toilets in trains at a pace 30 times higher than during the UPA rule. From 2004 to 2014, Railways installed 959 bio-toilets per year which increased to 29,290 bio-toilets per year.
Claim: Bio-toilets are introduced in train coaches only after 2014 (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-03-28)
Evidence (2017-11-23): As many as 93,537 "bio-digesters"--as the toilets are called--have been installed in mainline express and mail trains by the Indian Railways. These are small-scale sewage-treatment systems beneath the toilet seat: Bacteria in a compost chamber digest human excreta, leaving behind water and methane. Only the water, disinfected later, is let out on the tracks. [...] During the last three years of the second UPA government (2011-14), 9,350 bio-toilets were fitted in trains but the figure rose by 539%, to 59,735, in the first three years of the NDA government (2014-17). [...] ________________________Railways ministry: "It is not correct to say that bio-toilets in coaches are ineffective or ill-maintained. The waste water discharged from the bio-toilets is tested periodically for specific parameters in order to ensure that the discharged water meets the required norms.
Claim: Bio-toilets are introduced in train coaches only after 2014 (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-03-28)
Evidence (2024-09-13): Download Solution PDFWith reference to bio-toilets used by the Indian Railways, consider the following statements: [...] - The bio-toilets, which have been developed by the railways and the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), have a colony of anaerobic bacteria, kept in a container under the lavatories that convert human waste into water and small amounts of gases. Hence statement 1 is incorrect. [...] Additional Information - Gwalior-Varanasi Bundelkhand Express was the first bio-toilet-fitted train that has been running since January 2011.
Claim: Bio-toilets are introduced in train coaches only after 2014 (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-03-28)
Evidence (2017-07-17): In addition to only using solar energy, the train also has bio-toilets, a water-recycling system etc.
Claim: Bio-toilets are introduced in train coaches only after 2014 (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-03-28)
Evidence (2023-05-28): After coming to power in 2014, the Modi government focused on introducing state of the art modern trains on the Indian rail network. [...] According to the officials, these trains have ultra-modern features like quick acceleration, on board infotainment and Global Positioning System (GPS) based passenger information system, automatic sliding doors, retractable footsteps, zero discharge vacuum bio toilets etc. [...] Following the Prime Minister's call, the railways first completed the fitment of bio-toilets in all its coaches running on the line. *Installation of bio toilets in all the coaches of the trains meant that railways saved 2.74 lakh litres of excreta on the railway tracks.