opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3102 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-21
Subject: Forest Assistance Programme
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3102

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.03.2017

## Forest Assistance Programme

## 3102.  SHRI NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state :

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  discontinued  the  forest  assistance  programme  in  the country including the Maoist affected districts;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  reintroduce  the  said  programmes  in  Maoist affected districts and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

- (a) to (c) Government of India has not discontinued any forestry scheme or programme in the country including the Maoist affected districts.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3100 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-21
Subject: WPI and CPI
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: RAM KUMAR SHARMA KUSHWAHA

## Government of India Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

## Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3100

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.03.2017

## WPI AND CPI

## 3100.  SHRI RAM KUMAR SHARMA:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  an  increase  in  Wholesale  Price  Index  (WPI)  and  decrease  in  Consumer  Price Index  (CPI)  was  estimated  in  the  country  during  January,  2017  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) the percentage of the said increase and reduction registered during the same period last year, 2016; and
- (c) the reasons for the increase in WPI and decrease in CPI?

## ANSWER miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h ¼Jh lh- vkj- pkS/kjh½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

- (a)    :    Both  Wholesale  Price  index  (WPI)  as  well  as  Consumer  Price  Index  (CPI)  recorded increase for the month of January, 2017 over January, 2016. However, over the month, WPI rose to 184.6 in January, 2017 from 183.3 during December, 2016 while CPI declined to 130.3 from 130.4 during the same period.
- (b)  :  WPI fell by 1.1% in January, 2016 over January, 2015 while CPI rose by 5.7% for the same period. However, WPI fell by 0.79% for January, 2016 over December, 2015 while CPI rose by 0.15%, over the same period.
- (c)   :   WPI for the month of January, 2017 over December, 2016 rose mainly due to rise in index of fuel & power and manufactured products groups while CPI declined due to fall in index of food & beverages group.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3099 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-21
Subject: Culling of Pigs
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: RAVINDRA BABU  PANDULA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, DAIRYING AND FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 3099 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST  MARCH, 2017

## CULLING OF PIGS

## 3099: DR. RAVINDRA BABU

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the tribes which are involved in raising of pigs for meat purpose and for their livelihood in the country including Andhra Pradesh;

(b) whether it is a fact that there was a large scale culling of pigs in the country including Andhra Pradesh recently, if so, the main reasons for such culling;

(c) the steps taken by the Government to avoid such culling of pigs in future;

- (d) whether it is true that the epidemics in pigs cannot be treated like any other epidemic diseases in the country, if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (e)  whether  there  is  any  proposal  with  the  Government  to  allot  land  by  Municipal Corporations and Panchayats for raising of pigs in a scientific way as it is being done in many advanced/developed countries of the world, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE (SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)

- (a) No survey has been undertaken for details of the tribes which are involved in raising of pigs for meat purpose.
- (b) &  (c)  Department  has  no  report  of  any  large  scale  culling  of  pigs  in  the  country including  Andhra Pradesh. However, after the occurrence of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) in Mizoram in March, 2013, infected pigs have been culled. Thereafter,  surveillance  is  being  continued  in  all  the  North  Eastern  States  and  seropositive animals have been culled in the States of Assam, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland and  Manipur.  The  surveillance  of  the  disease  is  being  continued  and  recently  no outbreak/cases have been reported.
- (d) Diseases like  Classical  Swine  Fever  (CFS),  Foot  and  Mouth  Disease  (FMD), Haemorrhagic  Septicaemia  (HS)  in  pigs  are  preventable  with  timely  vaccination.  The Department is implementing Classical Swine Fever Control Programme initially focusing in  the  North Eastern States. Under the programme, vaccination is being routinely done for the control of Classical Swine Fever.
- (e)   Land and its management falls within the legislative and administrative jurisdiction of the State Governments.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3098 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-21
Subject: Pricing of Hip Implants
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS

## DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICALS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3098 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21st March, 2017

Pricing of Hip Implants

3098. SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO: SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT: DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the import price of a popular hip implant is Rs. 8,906 but by the time it is marked on a patient's bill, it costs Rs. 1.29 lakh, a markup of 1,448 per cent and if so, the facts thereof;
- (b) whether such scam is occurring daily but it does not make an impact because it is scattered across the country and if so, the response of the Government thereon;
- (c) whether there have been many discussions on the inflated prices of ortho implants and syringes but no action has been done so far and if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to bring ortho implants and syringes under NLEP to check the said irregularities?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS, ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS AND SHIPPING (SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)

- (a)  &  (b)  National  Pharmaceutical  Pricing  Authority  (NPPA)  through  a  study conducted by the National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC) in respect of pricing of orthopedic implants has found that there is an exorbitant mark-up in the  final  cost  to  the  patient  when  compared  with  the  ex-factory  cost  or  the landed cost.
- (c) & (d) The initial price fixation/price determination is not under purview of the Government. The Government only controls prices of medical devices declared as essential drugs. Out of 23 Medical Devices regulated as 'Drugs' under Drugs & Cosmetics  Act  & Rules  thereunder,  three  devices  namely  'Condom',  'IUD containing copper' & 'Coronary Stents' have been included in the Schedule-I of Drugs  (Price  Control)  Order,  2013  (DPCO,  2013)  and  are  under  price  control. Though, Orthopaedic implants and Disposable Hypodermic Syringes are included in  the  23  medical  devices  notified  as  drugs,  they  have  not  been  included  in National  List  of  Essential  Medicines  (NLEM)  and  in  Schedule-I  of  DPCO,  2013. Accordingly, the ceiling prices of these two medical devices have not been fixed. However,  manufacturers  are  not  allowed  to  increase  their  price  by  more  than 10% per annum. At present, there is no proposal to revise Schedule-I of DPCO, 2013.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3096 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-21
Subject: BS-IV Norms for Vehicles
Ministry: HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES
Asked by: PONGULETI SRINIVASA REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES DEPARTMENT OF HEAVY INDUSTRY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3096 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.03.2017

## BS-IV Norms for Vehicles

3096. SHRI PONGULETI SRINIVASA REDDY:

Will the Minister of HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government  has  decided that only BS-IV  compliant vehicles will be manufactured from April 1, 2017 and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  would  allow  the  registration  of  non-BS-IV  vehicles  after  April, 2017 and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether the Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority (EPCA) has directed that vehicle  nufacturers should exhaust their stock of non-BS-IV vehicles before April, 2017 and the Society of Indian Automobile  Manufacturers are raising the issue of inventory of non-BS-IV vehicles and has said it is impossible for them to meet the April 1 deadline, due to the impact of demonetisation; and
- (d) if so, whether unsold non-BS-IV vehicles would be allowed to register after April 1 or would have to be scrapped?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF  HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES (SHRI  BABUL SUPRIYO)

- (a)  &  (b):  Ministry  of  Road  Transport  &  Highways  has  issued  notification  No.  GSR  643(E) dated 19.08.2015 vide which the mass emission standards for Bharat Stage IV shall come in to force all over the country in respect of four wheeled vehicles manufactured on or after the 1 st April, 2017.
- (c) & (d):  Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has reported that EPCA during its meeting held on 19 th October 2016 informed the SIAM Members that only BS- IV vehicles should be registered from 1 st April 2017.  However, SIAM had clarified during the meeting that they will follow the Govt. of India notification and not manufacture any BS- III vehicles from 1 st April 2017.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3093 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-21
Subject: Online Portal for Complaints
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: LAKHAN LAL SAHU

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

## Government of India Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3093 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.03.2017

## ONLINE PORTAL FOR COMPLAINTS

3093.   SHRI LAKHAN LAL SAHU: (OIH)

## Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has started/proposes to start online portal for registering various types of complaints like electricity, water, hospital, road, etc.;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the time by which the portal is likely to be set up across the country?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h ¼Jh lh- vkj- pkS/kjh½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

(a)  to (c)  : Yes  Madam.  The  integrated  portal  www.consumerhelpline.gov.in  registers  all kinds for consumer complaints including complaints related to Electricity, Water etc. Complaints can be registered through telephonic calls received at the National Consumer Helpline Toll free No. 1800-11-4000 or short code 14404, SMS on 91-8130009809, and Consumer App, in addition to directly registering on the portal itself. The complaints related to Government Departments are moved to Nodal Officers of the Concerned Department/Ministry.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3091 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-21
Subject: Enemy Property
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: V. PANNEER SELVAM, HARI NARAYAN RAJBHAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3091

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21 st     MARCH, 2017/ PHALGUNA 30, 1938 (SAKA)

## ENEMY PROPERTY

3091.

SHRI V. PANNEERSELVAM:

SHRI HARINARAYAN RAJBHAR:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of properties sold by the Custodian of Enemy Property(CEP) in the country since 1978, State-wise including Uttar Pradesh;
- (b) whether the Supreme Court in its recent verdict has suggested transfer of enemy property to the Government;
- (c)  if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the status of the Enemy Property Act,1968 and the Public Premises(Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971; and
- (e) the details of other measures taken by the Government regarding enemy property?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

- (a)   The information in this regard is not readily available with the Office of the  Custodian  of  Enemy  Property  for  India  (CEPI)  and  the  same  is  under compilation.
- (b)  and  (c)  :  As  per  available  information,  the  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  has not  passed  any  verdict  regarding  transfer  of  enemy  property  to  the Government.

## LS.US.Q.No.3091 FOR 21.03.2017

(d)    The  Enemy  Property  Act,  1968  and  the  Public  Premises  (Eviction  of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971 has now been amended by the Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2017 w.e.f. 14.3.2017.

(e) Measures such as identification, declaration, preservation, management and control over enemy properties have so far been taken by the Office of the CEPI.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3090 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-21
Subject: Improvement in Situation of Kashmir
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3090

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21 st  MARCH, 2017/ PHALGUNA 30, 1938 (SAKA)

IMPROVEMENT IN SITUATION OF KASHMIR

3090.

SHRI BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) the extent to which the situation in Kashmir has improved in the current year;

- (b) whether the situation is getting fully normal; and
- (c) if so, the measures  being taken to keep the situation normal permanently?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

- (a) The situation in Kashmir in the current year has improved to a large extent.  The  participation  of  youth  in  violence  has  ceased  and  normal activities  are  going  on  smoothly.  The  month-wise  details  of  Law  &  Order incidence since 8 th  July, 2016 i.e. neutralization of 3 militants in Kashmir upto 15 th  March, 2017 is as under:-
- (b) Barring some  violence-prone  pockets,  the  situation  is presently normal. Efforts are afoot to bring situation under control in these vulnerable pockets.
- (c) Miscreants are being dealt under law and their mentors are arrested/ detained.

| Month     | Month     | July, 2016   | August, 2016   | September, 2016   | October, 2016   | November, 2016   | December, 2016   | January, 2017   | February, 2017   | March, 2017   |
|-----------|-----------|--------------|----------------|-------------------|-----------------|------------------|------------------|-----------------|------------------|---------------|
| No.       | of        | 820          | 747            | 535               | 179             | 73               | 36               | 05              | 49               | 27            |
| Incidents | Incidents | Incidents    | Incidents      | Incidents         | Incidents       | Incidents        | Incidents        | Incidents       | Incidents        | Incidents     |

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3087 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-21
Subject: Goodwill Ambassadors for Organic Farming
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: MOHANBHAI KALYANJIBHAI KUNDARIYA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3087

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21 ST   MARCH, 2017

## GOODWILL AMBASSADORS FOR ORGANIC FARMING

3087.  SHRI KUNDARIYA MOHAN BHAI KALYANJI BHAI:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the  Government  is  considering to  sign  up  regional  personalities/celebrities  as goodwill ambassadors to promote organic farming, drip irrigation, soil health cards and other projects; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a) & (b): Government has nominated Shri Amitabh Bachchan for developing audio visual creative and posters for promoting use of compost (Source:  Ministry of Urban Development).
- ********
Lok Sabha Question No. 3086 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-21
Subject: Drug Price Control Order
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: PREM SINGH CHANDUMAJRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICALS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3086

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 st  March, 2017

## Drug Price Control Order

## 3086.  PROF. PREM SINGH CHANDUMAJRA:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Drug  Price  Control  Order,  2013  has  a  provision  for  price  revision  of essential drugs;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the basis on which such revision is undertaken indicating the revision carried out since its inception;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  lower  the  prices  of  the  essential  medicines during the current year and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether a number of Drugs companies have opposed the move of the Government; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ROAD  TRANSPORT  AND HIGHWAYS; MINISTRY OF SHIPPING AND MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)

- (a) & (b): Yes,  Madam.  The  Drugs  (Prices  Control)  Order  2013  (DPCO,  2013)  has provisions where prices of the Scheduled medicines are revised as per the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) and also as and when the National List of Essential Medicines is revised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare or five years from the date of fixing the ceiling price under this order, whichever is earlier.
- (c): Yes,  Madam.  As  per  the  provisions  of  DPCO,  2013,  the  Government  proposes  to fix/reduce the prices of medicines appearing in Schedule I of DPCO, 2013. Ceiling prices of 680 scheduled formulations listed in the revised Schedule I {i.e. National List of Essential Medicines  2015  (NLEM-2015)}  have  been  notified  in  the  year  2016-17  (upto  10 th March 2017), wherein there was a reduction in prices from the existing market prices in respect of all medicines. Besides, ceiling prices of coronary stents have been notified on 13 th February 2017, which resulted in nearly 85% decrease in prices of Bare Metal Stents and nearly 74% decrease in the prices of Drug Eluting Stents.
- (d) & (e): The  Pharmaceutical  companies,  if  aggrieved  by  the  price  notifications  of National  Pharmaceutical  Pricing  Authority  (NPPA),  can  file  a  review  under  para  31  of DPCO, 2013 to the Government. These are examined on merits after giving Hearing. The final  decisions  are  conveyed  to  the  companies  and  also  uploaded  on  the  website  of  the Department i.e. www.pharmaceuticals.gov.in.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3085 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-21
Subject: Pet Animal Welfare
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: GANESH SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3085

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.03.2017

## Pet Animal Welfare

## 3085. SHRI GANESH SINGH:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the Government is considering to introduce certain provisions to prevent cruelty inflicted on animals kept in various shops for sale;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  it  is  likely  to  be  mandatory  to  maintain  the  records  of  sales,  purchase,  sick animals and death of animals in the pet shops and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the other provision being contemplated for the welfare of pet animals?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

- (a) & (b) Draft Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Pet Shop) Rules, 2016 has been notified in the Gazette of India on 16.12.2016 inviting public comments.
- (c)    As per provisions of the draft Rules, the Pet Shop owners have to maintain the records of sales, purchase, sick animals and death of animals in the pet shops.
- (d)     Provisions  have  been made in the draft Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Pet Shop) Rules, 2016 for welfare of pet animals in terms of space requirement, basic amenities, veterinary care etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3083 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-21
Subject: Research & Development
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: K. KAMARAAJ

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICALS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3083 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21 st  March, 2017

## Research & Development

3083.   DR. K. KAMARAJ:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  of  the  expenditure  incurred  by  the  Public  Sector  Undertakings  (PSUs)  in  the Pharmaceutical  sector  on  Research  and  Development  (R&D)  work  as  compared  to  private sector during each of the last two years;
- (b) whether some of the above PSUs have been declared sick and closed down and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  medicines  produced  by  these  PSUs  are  now  being  imported  by  spending foreign exchange; and
- (d)  if  not,  the  alternative  arrangements  made  by  the  Government  for  the  availability  of medicines in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  FOR  MINISTRY  OF  CHEMICALS  AND  FERTILIZERS,  ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS AND SHIPPING (SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)

(a) to (d)  There are five Public Sector Undertakings functioning under the ageis of Department of  Pharmaceuticals,  namely,  Karnataka  Antibiotics  and  Pharamceuticals  Ltd  (KAPL),  Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd (IDPL), Bengal Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Ltd (BCPL), Rajasthan Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (RDPL) and Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd. (HAL). All these PSUs except KAPL, are sick/ loss making. The Government has decided for closure of IDPL and RDPL and strategic sale of BCPL and HAL. None of these Pharma PSUs is doing any basic research. Department does not maintain any records regarding expenditure incurred by private pharma companies on Research & Development.

The country is almost self-sufficient in case of formulations. The imports are being made on quality and economic considerations and not necessarily on account of non-availability from domestic sources. Manufactures of drugs and Pharmaceuticals are free to produce any drug approved by the Drug Control Authorities.

*****