opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3676 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-07
Subject: e-Governance initiated by NIC-NET
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3676

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 07.12.2016

## E-GOVERNANCE INITIATED BY NIC-NET

## 3676.        SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT:

Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the NIC-NET has taken initiative towards e-governance;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  such  initiative  separately  in  urban  and  rural  areas,  State-wise including Rajasthan; and
- (c) the replicability of the initiatives in various Government organizations in the State?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI P. P. CHAUDHARY)

(a):  Yes, Sir.

(b) and (c):  National Informatics Centre (NIC), through its high speed Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Network, "NICNET", has institutional linkages with all the Ministries /Departments of the Central Government, 36 State Governments/ Union Territories including Rajasthan and about 630 District administrations of India. NICNET is  also  connecting  National  Data  Centres  at  Delhi,  Hyderabad  &  Pune  on  high  speed network. Services such as  Video Conferencing, e-Mail and SMS are also being provided through NICNET.

NICNET  has  been  implemented  by  the  Government  of  India  and  will  continue  to facilitate  delivery  of  e-Governance  services  at  various  levels  of  Government  at  the Centre, States, Districts and Blocks.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3675 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-07
Subject: Expulsion of Students from Kazakhstan
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: RANJANBEN BHATT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3675 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7.12.2016

## EXPULSION OF STUDENTS FROM KAZAKHSTAN

† 3675. SHRIMATI RANJANBEN BHATT:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- whether  cases  of  expulsion  of  Indian  students  from  Kazakhstan
- (a) have come to light;
- if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  whether  the Government has taken
- (b) any action in this regard; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI M. J. AKBAR)

- (a) to (c) Yes. Three  cases  of  expulsion  involving  5  Indian  students were reported  to  the  Embassy  in  Kazakhstan  in  the  last  2  years.  The details are as under:-
- (i)     On  November  2,  2015,  an  Indian  student  was  rusticated  by  the Kazakh British Technical University (KBTU) initially on grounds of 'nonattendance' of classes which was subsequently revised to 'unsatisfactory academic performance'.
- (ii) On  April  6,  2016,  two  Indian  medical  students  of  Asfendiyarov Kazakh  National  Medical  University  at  Almaty  were  rusticated  by  the University reportedly on account of disciplinary issues and both stundens have left Kazakhstan since then.
- (iii)     On October 20, 2016, two Indian students at the Karaganda State Medical University were involved in a heated argument leading to one of them  being  injured;  both  the  students  were  rusticated  and  have  left Kazakhstan since then.

In  all  the  three  cases,  the  Embassy  of  India  approached  the respective universities to show leniency, and in one instance in which the  individual  had  filed  a  civil  case  in  the  Almaty  Regional  Court  and subsequently  the  Supreme  Court  of  Kazakhstan  the  Embassy  of  India has also been in correspondence with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan requesting that the matter be considered sympathetically.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3673 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-07
Subject: Indus Water Treaty
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: SAUGATA ROY, M. UDHAYAKUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3673 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.12.2016

## INDUS WATER TREATY

3673.  PROF. SAUGATA ROY:

ADV. M. UDHAYAKUMAR:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  World  Bank  has  favoured  Pakistan  on  the  Indus  Water  Treaty dispute process over the Kishenganga and Ratle Dam hydropower projects;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has lodged any protest with the World Bank in this regard; and
- (d)
- if so, the details and response of WB in this regard?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

- (a) & (b) Under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) signed by India, Pakistan and the International  Bank  for  Reconstruction  and  Development  in  1960,  the  World  Bank has a specified role in the process of resolution of differences/disputes between the two parties. For resolving technical differences on Kishenganga  and  Ratle Hydroelectric Projects, India had requested the World Bank on October 4, 2016 to appoint a Neutral Expert as envisaged in IWT. Pakistan views the  same 'differences'  as  'disputes',  and  sought  the  establishment  of  a  Court  of  Arbitration and sent its corresponding request to the World Bank on October 27, 2016.

In the circumstances, India urged the World Bank more consultations on the matter, so that a legally untenable situation of two different  mechanisms adjudicating the same matter could be avoided. The World Bank, however, initiated both  the  processes-  appointment  of  a  Neutral  Expert  and  constituting  a  Court  of Arbitration, simultaneously on November 10, 2016. There has been delay on India's request to appoint a Neutral Expert while unreasonable and hasty timelines have been set on Pakistan's request.

The World Bank also offered on October 18, 2016 an extra-Treaty independent mediator for helping India and Pakistan choose from the aforementioned two modalities for difference/dispute resolution.

- (c) & (d) Government  has strongly protested to the World Bank on the developments and also conveyed its grave concerns that these developments may raise serious questions regarding workability of IWT. Consultations offered by the World Bank regarding its suggestion of a mediator are ongoing.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3672 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-07
Subject: Contribution to UN Budget
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: DHARAM VIRA GANDHI, RAHUL KASWAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3672 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.12.2016

## CONTRIBUTION TO UN BUDGET

3672.

SHRI DHARAM VIRA: SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  India  contributes  substantially  to  the  United  Nations  (UN) Budget;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the details of India's contribution to the UN agencies in India during the last three years?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI M. J. AKBAR)

(a) to (c) Each  member  state  of  the  United  Nations  is  obligated  to contribute  to  the  organization's  budgets.  Assessed  contributions  are calculated on the basis of a scale of assessment that takes into account the country's share of the global Gross National Income with adjustments given for low per-capita income and the country's external debt. Similarly assessed contributions in respect of UN peacekeeping operations are also based on this scale of assessment with further adjustments made on the basis  of  the  average  per  capita  Gross  National  Income vis-a-vis  global average  Gross  National  Income.  The  applicable  scale  of  assessment  is reviewed  every  three  years.  Based  on  this  scale  of  assessment,  India's contribution to the UN regular and peacekeeping budgets has been fixed at 0.737 % and 0.1474 % respectively for the period 2016-18.

India's assessed contribution to the United Nations paid out of the budget of this Ministry over the last three financial years is as follows:

|                                                                                                                  | FY 2013-14   | 2014-15    | 2015-16   |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------|------------|-----------|
| Final Expenditures of the Ministry of External Affairs on account of Contribution to United Nations Organization | Rs. 138 cr   | Rs. 157 cr | Rs 244 cr |

India  also  makes  voluntary  contributions  to  various  UN  agencies from time to time.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3671 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-07
Subject: Deficient Passenger Facilities
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RANGASWAMY DHRUVANARAYANA, GAURAV GOGOI, JYOTIRADITYA MADHAVRAO SCINDIA, BHEEMRAO BASWANTHRAO PATIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3671 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.12.2016

## DEFICIENT PASSENGER FACILITIES

3671.  SHRI R. DHRUVA NARAYANA:

SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA:

SHRI BHEEMRAO B. PATIL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has found deficiencies/defects in providing enhanced passenger facilities at almost 80 per cent of the Adarsh Railway Stations;
- (b) if so, the details of deficiencies/ defects noticed by CAG; and
- (c)  the  further  action  taken  or  contemplated  by  the  Railways  on  the defects noticed by CAG and brought to the notice of the Government?

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## ANSWER (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) to (c): Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG)'s Report No.13 of 2016 (Railways)  has  mentioned  about  the  deficiencies  in  few  passenger amenities  viz. Pay and Use toilets, Signages, Waiting Rooms with TV and bathing  facilities  for  Upper  Classes/other  classes  at  some  stations developed as Adarsh Stations.

The  C&AG's  Report  has  not  considered  the  fact  that  as  per  extant instructions,  the  aforesaid  amenities  are  not  to  be  provided  at  all stations,  irrespective  of  the  category  of  the  station  developed  under Adarsh  Stations  Scheme.  Nevertheless,  the  matter  has  been  taken  up with Zonal Railways for furnishing a detailed report in the matter.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3670 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-07
Subject: Passenger Facilities
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: KRISTAPPA NIMMALA, KAMLA DEVI PATLE, B. SREERAMULU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3670 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.12.2016

## PASSENGER FACILITIES

3670. SHRI NIMMALA KRISTAPPA: SHRIMATI KAMLA DEVI PAATLE: SHRI B. SRIRAMULU:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Railways  is  satisfied  with  the  standard  of  passenger facilities available at railway stations in the country especially in small towns  and  cities  like  Bellary  and  other  stations  in  Karnataka  and
- Chhattisgarh;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has prepared any action plan to improve the existing passenger facilities at railway stations in the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of the mechanism available for monitoring and inspection of availability and maintenance of facilities at various railway stations in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) and (b): It is Railways' endeavor to provide passenger facilities at all Railway stations including those situated in small towns and cities like Bellary and other stations in Karnataka and Chhattisgarh as per norms. Bellary is an 'A' category station and adequate passenger facilities like high  level  platform,  Foot  Over  Bridge,  waiting  hall,  waiting  rooms, drinking  water  facilities,  urinal,  lavatories  etc.  are  available  at  the station. Further augmentation/improvement of amenities at Railway

station  is  a  continuous  process  and  works  in  this  regard  are  taken  up depending upon their inter-se priority and availability of funds.

(c)  to  (e):  Upgradation  of  stations  is  a  continuous  and  ongoing  process and works in this regard are undertaken depending upon need, volume of passenger  traffic  and  inter-se-priority  subject  to  availability  of  funds. Regular  inspections  are  conducted  by  Officers,  Service  Improvement Group (SIG), Passenger Amenity Committee (PAC) and Passenger Services Committee (PSC) to monitor the availability and maintenance of passenger facilities at stations and remedial measures are taken as and when deficiencies are noted.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3669 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-07
Subject: MoU with Bank
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, BHARATENDRA SINGH, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3669 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.12.2016

## MoU WITH MUDRA BANK

## 3669.  SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

KUNWAR BHARATENDRA:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

## Will  the  Minister  of  SKILL  DEVELOPMENT  AND  ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  there  is  any  Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MoU)  between  National Skill Development Corporation and MUDRA Bank;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has signed a MoU with a scheduled commercial bank to  provide  financial  linkages  for  successful  trainees  under  Pradhan  Mantri  Kaushal Vikas Yojana; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY)

(a) to (d) No  Madam,  NSDC  and  MUDRA  bank  has  not  signed  Memorandum  of Understanding (MoU). However, to facilitate  various  functions  with  regard  to  financial linkages for trainees under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 2015-16, MOUs has been  signed  between  NSDC  and  banks  like  State  Bank  of  India,  Bank  of  India  and Central Bank of India. All banking related facilities with respect to the scheme would be provided to NSDC by these banks.

The  banks  are  required  to  provide  facilities  like  opening  of  bank  accounts  of trainees,  validation  of  accounts,  transfer  of  funds  to  the  beneficiary,  identification  of nodal officers, create awareness for the scheme among trainees and training providers, submit MIS reports, grievances redressal system and others.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3668 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-07
Subject: Travel Insurance
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: MALLIKARJUN  KHARGE, FEROZE VARUN GANDHI, DUSHYANT CHAUTALA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3668 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.12.2016

## TRAVEL INSURANCE

3668. SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE: SHRI FEROZE VARUN GANDHI: SHRI DUSHYANT CHAUTALA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state :

- (a) whether  the  Railways  has  worked  out  the  details  of  the  travel insurance to be provided at the time of ticket booking;
- (b) if so, the salient features of the scheme;
- (c) whether there will be any increase in fare as a result of insurance premium; and
- (d)
- if so, the details thereof in terms of percentage?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

( SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN )

(a) and (b): Yes, Madam. An Optional Travel Insurance  Scheme  on a pilot  basis  for  one  year  has  been  launched  w.e.f  01.09.2016  for  the Railway  passengers  who  book  e-ticket  through  official  website  of Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). The insurance scheme is available on optional basis for all reserved classes (SL, 1AC, 2AC, 3AC) and trains except passenger trains and sub-urban trains for tickets booked online on the IRCTC websites.

This insurance scheme provide financial support to the family/legal heir in case of death/injury of reserved passengers due to train accident/untoward incidents as defined  under section 123 read with Sections 124 and 124A of the Railways Act, 1989, subject to the qualification that the coverage will be valid from the actual departure of  train  from  the  originating  station  to  actual  arrival  of  train  at  the destination  station  including  'process  of  entraining'  and  'process  of detraining' the train.

The Sum Insured to be given to passengers are as follows:- (i) In case of Death-` 10 lakh, (ii) Permanent Total Disability -` 10 Lakh, (iii) Permanent  Partial  Disability    upto-` 7.5  Lakh,  (iv)  Hospitalization Expenses for Injury -` 2 Lakh, (v) Transportation of mortal remains -` 10 Thousand.

(c)  and  (d)  :No,  Madam.  There  is  no  increase  in  fare.  The  Insurance Scheme  is  optional  for  passengers  and  if  any  passenger  opts  for scheme  then  only  the  premium  of ` 0.92  (inclusive  of  taxes)  per passenger is charged.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3664 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-07
Subject: Anti Accident Coaches
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: MANOJ KUMAR TIWARI, (SMT.) RATNA DE(NAG), CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3664

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.12.2016

## ANTI ACCIDENT COACHES

3664.   SHRI MANOJ TIWARI: DR. RATNA DE (NAG): SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways has any proposal for compulsory attachment of "Anti-Accident Coaches" with all the trains across entire railway routes of the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the details  about  the key  features and  funding  pattern of aforesaid proposal?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) to (c):  The coaches plying over Indian Railways (IR) are designed with necessary safety features considering the operating conditions over IR systems.

In  an  effort  to  improve  the  safety  performance  over  IR,  the  Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) type coaches which are having better safety features  like  anti-climbing  and  are  manufactured  using  Stainless Steel, are being proliferated.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3663 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-07
Subject: Recruitment for SBM
Ministry: URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI, (SMT.) RATNA DE(NAG), MANOJ KUMAR TIWARI

(a): Yes, Madam.

- (b): 5% of Project fund has been earmarked for the States for Capacity Building under which they are permitted to hire consultants and technical experts  for  the  project  period  and  for  setting  up  Project  Management Units (PMUs) at State level and Project Implementation Units (PIUs) at City level.

(c): Besides this no organisation has been set up separately.

******

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3663

TO BE ANSWERED ON DECEMBER 07, 2016

## RECRUITMENT FOR SBM

No. 3663 SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI:

DR. RATNA DE (NAG): SHRI MANOJ TIWARI:

Will the Minister of URBAN DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to recruit fresh human resource in  urban  local  bodies  for  better  implementation  of  Swachh  Bharat Mission;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  details  of  the  organizational  set  up  and  plan  outlay  for aforesaid proposal?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT

(RAO INDERJIT SINGH)
Lok Sabha Question No. 3661 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-07
Subject: Research on Cloud Seeding
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: RANJIT SINGH  BRAHMPURA, NANABHAU FALGUNRAO PATOLE

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3661 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2016

## RESEARCH ON CLOUD SEEDING

## 3661. SHRI RANJIT SINGH BRAHMPURA: SHRI NANA PATOLE:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a)
- (b)
- whether the Government has conducted any research on cloud seeding;
- if so, the details thereof and the outcome thereof;
- (c) whether  any  agreement  is  likely  to  be  signed  with  foreign  countries including China in this regard and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to implement cloud seeding technology to help the rain deficit areas; and
- (e)
- if so, the details thereof and if not/ the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (SHRI Y. S. CHOWDARY)

- (a-b)   Yes Madam. Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) has implemented a program named Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement  Experiment  (CAIPEEX).  Under  this  program  aerosol-cloud interaction and rain formation over Indian region is studied. On the basis of observations, a cloud seeding experiment was conducted on the research mode over the rain shadow region of Indian peninsula to propose protocols for conducting cloud seeding. Past efforts could not give adequate samples for statistically significant results. It is proposed to conduct more aircraft based observations in 2018-19 monsoon season.
- (c)
- (d)
- No Madam.
- No Madam.
- (e) The present scientific knowledge suggests artificial rain making techniques  involving  cloud  seeding  cannot  be  used  as  an  alternate  for bringing  rain  to  rainfall  deficit/drought  areas.  These  techniques  can  only induce potential pre-existing clouds with adequate cloud development, to produce enhanced quantum of rain.

*******