opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 187 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-17
Subject: Schemes to Encourage Folk Artists
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: HARISHCHANDRA DEORAM CHAVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 187 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 TH JULY, 2017

## SCHEMES TO ENCOURAGE FOLK ARTISTS

## † 187.  SHRI HARISHCHANDRA CHAVAN:

## Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of centrally sponsored schemes being implemented by the Government  at  present  to  encourage  folk  artists  and  music  of  artists  in  the country in various States especially in Maharashtra;
- (b) the details of the fund spent on these schemes and people benefitted out of the schemes during the last three years; and
- (c) the names of the States where the folk artists of Maharashtra have performed during the last three years?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR CULTURE AND TOURISM (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) & (b)         The mandate of the Ministry of Culture is to protect, preserve & promote various forms  of  folk  art  and  culture  throughout  the  country  and  to  meet  this  objective,  the Government  of  India  has  set  up  seven  Zonal  Cultural  Centres  (ZCCs)  with  headquarters  at Patiala,  Nagpur,  Udaipur,  Allahabad,  Kolkata,  Dimapur  and  Thanjavur  to  promote  folk  artists and  music  in  all  the  States/UTs  of  India  including  Maharashtra.  These  ZCCs  organize  various cultural activities and programmes during the year and the folk artists from all over India are engaged to perform in these activities and programmes. Annual grant-in-aid is provided to all these  7  ZCCs  by  the  Government  of  India  for  carrying  out  these  activities.  The  grant-in-aid released to these ZCCs during the last three years is as under:

(Rs. in lakh)

|   Sl. No. | Year    |   Amount |
|-----------|---------|----------|
|         1 | 2014-15 |  3974.88 |
|         2 | 2015-16 |  6834.33 |
|         3 | 2016-17 |  6085.07 |

(c) The names of the States where the folk artists of Maharashtra have performed during the last three years are as under:

| 2014-15        | 2015-16        | 2016-17        |
|----------------|----------------|----------------|
| Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka      | Karnataka      |
| Madhya Pradesh | Madhya Pradesh | Manipur        |
| Karnataka      | Delhi          | Bihar          |
| Uttar Pradesh  | Andhra Pradesh | Madhya Pradesh |
| Uttarakhand    | Kerala         | Tamil Nadu     |
| Haryana        | Maharashtra    | Goa            |
| Rajasthan      | Maharashtra    | Chhattisgarh   |
| Maharashtra    | Maharashtra    | Telangana      |
| Maharashtra    | Maharashtra    | Delhi          |
| Maharashtra    | Maharashtra    | Maharashtra    |
Lok Sabha Question No. 184 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-17
Subject: Encroachment of Forts
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: KIRIT SOMAIYA

- (a)&(b) No, Madam.
- (c)&(d) Yes,  Madam.  The  Superintending  Archaeologists  of  Archaeological  Survey  of India are authorised to issue show cause notices against encroachers under the provisions  of  Ancient  Monuments  and  Archaeological  Sites  and  Remains (AMASR)  Act  1958  and  Rules  1959  followed  by  a  direction  to  the  District Collector/  Magistrate  by  Central  Government  to  remove  such  encroachment under section 19(1) and 19 (2) of the Act and Rule 38 (2). They are also vested with  the  powers  of  an  Estate  Officer  to  issue  eviction  notices/orders  to  the encroachers  under Public  Premises (Eviction  of  Unauthorised  Occupants)  Act, 1971. Further, assistance is also sought from the respective State Governments/police, failing which cases are filed in the court of law against the encroachers.  In  addition  to  the  regular  watch  and  ward  staff,  private  security personnel, State police guards and CISF have also been deployed for the safety and security of selected monuments. In the case of Tughlaqabad Fort, ASI has initiated  actions  against  the  encroachments  by  issuing  show-cause  notices  as well  as  demolition  orders  under  Section  19(1)  and  19(2)  of  the  AMASR  Act, 1958.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.184 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.7.2017 ASHADHA 26, 1939 (SAKA)

## ENCROACHMENT OF FORTS

## 184. DR. KIRIT SOMAIYA:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is not  able  to  protect  forts  from  encroachments  in  various  States  of  the  country including the Tughlaqabad Fort in Delhi;
- (b) whether it is true that ASI have slackened in enforcing the orders of Apex Court in this regard;
- (c) whether  the  Delhi  High  Court  has  recently  directed  to  protect,  maintain  and preserve the Tughlaqabad Fort; and
- (d) if  so,  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  in  this  regard  to  protect the  forts  from encroachments?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE, CULTURE AND TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

## (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)
Lok Sabha Question No. 183 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-17
Subject: Establishment of Spices Park
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Y. S. AVINASH REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 183 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 th  JULY, 2017

## ESTABLISHMENT OF SPICES PARK

## 183.  SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received any proposal requesting for establishment of Spices park;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the action taken by the Government on this proposal?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx jkT; ea=h ¼Jherh fueZyk lhrkje.k½ ¼Lora= izHkkj½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a)  &  (b)  Central  Government  has  received  proposals  for  establishment  of  Spice  Parks  from  the  States  of Gujarat, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Odisha , Sikkim, Karnataka and Assam.
- (c)  Eight  spice  parks  have  been  established  at  Chhindwara  and  Guna  (Madhya Pradesh),  Puttady  (Kerala), Jodhpur  and  Kota  (Rajasthan),  Sivaganga  (Tamil  Nadu),  Guntur  (Andhra  Pradesh)  and  Rae  Bareli  (Uttar Pradesh) with financial assistance from the Government of India under the Scheme of Assistance to States for  Development  of  Export  Infrastructure  (ASIDE).  Following  the  downsizing  of  the  ASIDE  Scheme,  the Central Government had discontinued making further direct investments in Spice Parks through Spices Board and the concerned State Governments were accordingly informed that the Board would   extendall technical support, if the State Government consents to provide land and financial support for establishing the Spice parks.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 181 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-17
Subject: Subsidy to EPF Members for PMAY
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: DUSHYANT CHAUTALA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 181 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.07.2017

## SUBSIDY TO EPF MEMBERS FOR PMAY

181. SHRI DUSHYANT CHAUTALA:

Will  the  Minister  of  LABOUR  AND  EMPLOYMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a)whether  the  Employees  Provident  Fund  Organisation  proposes  to provide  credit  linked  subsidy  to  its  members  for  purchase  of affordable homes under Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojana and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)whether  the  EPFO  has  also  entered  into  agreement  with  Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) in this regard; and
- (c)if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  financial  implication estimated by the Government for this purpose? ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

(a): The Government has introduced paragraph 68BD in Employees' Provident Funds (EPF) Scheme, 1952 for withdrawal from the  Fund,  for  purchasing  dwelling  house  or  flat  or  construction  of  a dwelling house. Members can also avail of Equated Monthly Installment  (EMI)  facility  to  repay  the  loan  taken  from  the  financial institutions for purchase of a house.

Eligible  Employees'  Provident  Fund  (EPF)  members  can avail of Credit Linked Subsidy for purchase of affordable homes under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) which is provided by the Ministry of  Housing  &  Urban  Affairs  through  its  nodal  agencies  including Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO).

- (b) & (c): Yes,  Madam.  The  main  features  of  the  Memorandum  of Understanding (MoU) are as under:-
- i) HUDCO and Central Board of Trustees (CBT), Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) shall jointly disseminate information to Provident Fund (PF)  members  regarding  Credit  Linked  Subsidy  Scheme  benefits under PMAY and housing related provisions of Employees' Provident Funds (EPF) Scheme, 1952.
- ii) HUDCO shall make housing loans available to the eligible members of  Employees'  Provident  Fund  Organisation  (EPFO)  for  buying  the housing units/flats.
- iii) EPFO shall create awareness amongst PF members.
- iv) EPFO  shall  provide  all  the  relevant  details  of  the  PF  member borrowers to HUDCO on the request of PF members.
- v) PF member can authorize Commissioner to make monthly withdrawal of the amount for payments of EMI.

The financial implication would depend on applications made by EPF Members to avail benefit under the Schemes.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 180 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-17
Subject: Tourist Hotel in Nalanda
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†180 ANSWERED ON 17.07.2017

## TOURIST HOTEL IN NALANDA

## †180. SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of steps being taken by the Government to promote the tourism in the country;
- (b) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  open  tourist  hotel  in famous tourist spot Ghora-Katora in Nalanda district in Bihar;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the other facilities proposed to be provided by the Government to attract tourists in said Ghora-Katora?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a): The  Ministry  of  Tourism  (MoT)  promotes  India  as  a  holistic destination  and  as  part  of  its  on-going  activities,  releases  print, electronic, online and outdoor media campaigns in the international and  domestic  markets,  under  the  Incredible  India  brand-line,  to promote  tourism  products  and  destinations  of  the  country.      MoT also  promotes  the  tourism  destinations  and  products  through  its websites and publicity and promotional material produced by it from time  to  time.  In  addition,  a  series  of  promotional  activities  are undertaken  in  important  and  potential  tourist  generating  markets overseas through the Indiatourism Offices Overseas with the objective  of  showcasing  India's  tourism  potential  and  increasing tourist arrivals to the country. These include participation in travel fairs and exhibitions; organising road shows, 'Know India' seminars &  workshops;  organizing  and  supporting  Indian  food  and  cultural festivals;  publication  of  brochures;  offering  joint  advertising  and brochure  support  and  inviting  media  personalities,  tour  operators and  opinion  makers  to  visit  the  country  under  the  Hospitality Programme  of  the Ministry. The  Ministry of  Tourism  provides financial assistance to stakeholders for promotion of tourism in the international and domestic markets under the Marketing Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme.

(b): No, Madam.

(c): Does Not arise.

(d): The Ministry of Tourism in the year 2013-14 has sanctioned an amount  of  Rs.4841  lakh  to  the  State  Government  of  Bihar        for Integrated Development of Ghora-Katora (Rajgir -JalmandirPawapuri) as Mega Circuit in Bihar.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 179 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-17
Subject: Disinvestment of SAIL Plants
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: M. CHANDRAKASI

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.179 FOR ANSWER ON 17/07/2017

## DISINVESTMENT OF SAIL PLANTS

179. SHRI  M. CHANDRAKASI:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to/has any proposal to sell three plants of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) including the Salem Steel Plant;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) the details regarding the steps taken to improve the financial performance of the  plants  to  make  them  profit  earning  ones  before  exploring  the  possibilities  of disinvestment/privatization;
- (d) whether any standard criteria has been laid down for disinvestment/ privatization of loss making PSUs and if so, details thereof; and
- (e) whether the concerned State Governments would be offered equity ownership before resorting to disinvestment/privatization and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR STEEL

(SHRI VISHNU DEO SAI)

(a)&(b): The Government has accorded 'in-principle' approval for strategic disinvestment of three units of Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) viz, Visveswaraya Iron  and  Steel  Plant,  Bhadravati,  Salem  Steel  Plant,  Tamil  Nadu  and  Alloy  Steel Plant, Durgapur. These three units of SAIL have been consistently making losses.

- (c) The  details  of  the  significant  steps  taken  by  SAIL  to  improve  the  financial performance of the three plants are as under:-
- (i) Capital investment to improve the facilities;
- (ii) Reduction in consumption level of raw materials;
- (iii) Production optimization and product-mix improvement ;
- (iv) Improvement in techno-economic parameters;
- (v) Waste management;
- (vi) Strict control on demurrage expenses;
- (vii) Reduction in inventory of finished/semi-finished products, stores & spares and raw materials, etc;
- (viii) Reduction  in  logistic  cost  for  transportation  of  Raw  Materials  and  Finished Steel;  and
- (ix) Reduction in specific power and water consumption.

(d)&(e): The entire process of the strategic disinvestment is to be carried out with the help  of  Transaction  Adviser  (TA),  Legal  Adviser  (LA)  and  Asset  Valuer  (AV)  who would advice on appropriate mechanism of disinvestment.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 176 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-17
Subject: World-Class Infrastructure
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: NAGARAJAN P.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 176 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.07.2017

## World-Class Infrastructure

## 176. SHRI P. NAGARAJAN:

Will  the  Minister  of  HUMAN  RESOURCE  DEVELOPMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  earmarked  large  amount  of  funds  for building world-class research infrastructure and  facilities in higher education institutions across the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  amount  earmarked  for  each  State  and  each  institution,  State/UTwise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

(a) to  (c):  Government  is  committed  to  supporting  research  in  the  higher educational institutions through  initiatives  like  IMPRINT  and  Uchhatar Avishkar  Yojana,  which  are  in  addition  to  the  funding  provided  by  the Department of Science and Technology (DST). For setting up world class research infrastructure, additional funding will be also  possible  through  the  Higher  Education  Financing  Agency  (HEFA).  The IITs have also proposed to develop their labs under the Vishwajeet project. Further,  funding  would  be  based  on  competitive  basis  and  there  is  no allocation for States or Institutions.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 175 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-17
Subject: Setting up of Industries
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: MEKAPATI RAJAMOHAN REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL POLICY & PROMOTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 175. TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE  17 TH  JULY, 2017.

## SETTING UP OF INDUSTRIES

## 175.   SHRI M. RAJA MOHAN REDDY:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state:

## वाणिज् यवव द्यग ं ्री

- (a) whether the Government proposes to set up new industries in various States including the State of Andhra Pradesh in near future; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State/ UT-wise?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज् यवव द्यग ााज् यं ्रीस् वतं ््रभााा(स्रींतंरीिरंमलााीरीतंाांि( THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRIMATI NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) & (b): The primary responsibility of industrial development rests with the State Governments and Union Territories.  Central  Government encourages setting up of industries through various policy measures.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 172 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-17
Subject: Minimum Wages for Women
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 172

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.07.2017

## MINIMUM WAGES FOR WOMEN

†172. SHRI ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)the total number of women labourers engaged in various industries/trade of unorganised non-agricultural sector who are being given equal wages for equal amount of work;
- (b)the  number  of complaints received regarding the issue of  nonimplementation of Equal Remuneration Act, 1976; and
- (c)the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  strict  implementation  of  the said Act?

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## ANSWER (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

- (a): Under  the  provisions  of  the  Minimum  Wages  Act,  1948,  the wages fixed by the appropriate Government are equally applicable to both male and female workers and the Act does not discriminate on the basis of  gender.  Further,  the  Equal  Remuneration  Act,  1976      provides  for payment  of  equal  remuneration  to  men  and  women  workers  for  same work or work of similar nature without any discrimination.
- (b) & (c): In the Central sphere, the enforcement of the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 is entrusted to the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) who heads the Central Industrial Relations Machinery (CIRM). In cases where the State Governments are 'appropriate Government', the enforcement  of  provisions  of  the  Act  is  done  by  the  State  Labour Departments.

Central Government is regularly monitoring the implementation of the Act. The enforcement data such as Inspections/Prosecutions/Convictions  made  under  the  Act  in  Central Sphere for the last three years is given at Annexure.

*                                                       *******

ANNEXURE ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (b) & (c) OF LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION NO.172 FOR 17.7.2017 BY SHRI ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE, HON'BLE MP REGARDING MINIMUM WAGES FOR WOMEN:

The enforcement data under the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 in Central sphere:

|   S.No. | Particulars                     |   2014-15 |   2015-16 |   2016-17 |
|---------|---------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|       1 | Number of Inspections Conducted |      1643 |      2340 |      4117 |
|       2 | Number of Prosecutions Launched |       535 |       178 |       301 |
|       3 | Number of Convictions           |       762 |       472 |       317 |

- -------
Lok Sabha Question No. 171 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-17
Subject: EPF Coverage to Contract Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: PONNUSAMY VENUGOPAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 171 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.07.2017

## EPF COVERAGE TO CONTRACT WORKERS 171. DR. P. VENUGOPAL:

Will  the  Minister  of  LABOUR  AND  EMPLOYMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a)whether  a  sub-committee  of  Central  Board  of  Trustee  of  EPF  has noted  that  the  coverage  of  contract  workers  had  increased  from 89.25 lakh to 1.02 crore and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)whether a large number of contract workers in the country are still deprived of PF benefits and if so, the details thereof along with the corrective  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  in  this regard;
- (c)whether  many  Central  Government  departments/organizations  do not come under the purview of the EPF & MP Act, 1952; and (d)if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

- (a): The Sub-Committee of Central Board of Trustees of Employees'  Provident  Fund  (EPF)  on  Contract  Workers  in  its  5 th meeting  held  on  18.01.2017  noted  that  the  coverage  of  contract workers was 1.07 crore  as compared to 1.02 crore  on 07.11.2016.
- (b) to (d): The Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions (EPF and MP) Act, 1952  is not applicable to the following categories of establishments:-

Contd..2/-

- (i) Establishments belonging to or under the control of the Central Government  or  a  State  Government  and  whose  employees  are entitled  to  the  benefit  of  contributory  provident  fund  or  old  age pension  in  accordance  with  any  Scheme  or  rule  framed  by  the Central  Government  or  the  State  Government  governing  such benefits.
- (ii) Establishments set up under any Central, Provincial or State Act and whose employees are entitled to the benefits of contributory provident fund or old age pension in accordance with any scheme or rule framed under the Act governing such benefits.

However, contract employees engaged in Government Departments/Organisations  through  contractors  covered  under  the EPF and MP Act, 1952 are provided Social Security under the Act.

In  order  to  extend  social  security  benefits  to  all  the  eligible workers  in  the  country,  Employees'  Enrolment  Campaign,  2017  was conducted by EPFO during the period from 01.01.2017 to 30.06.2017.

******