opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 521 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-06
Subject: Consumer Protection Act
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: (ADV.) JOICE GEORGE

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 521

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2018

## CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT

521. ADV. JOICE GEORGE:

## 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  Consumer  Protection  Act  in  its  present  form  is  an  inefficient  piece  of legislation, not keeping pace with the new market dynamics, multi-layered delivery chains, and innovative and often misleading advertising and marketing machinery;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  of  the  opinion  that  the  Act  doesn't  grant  the  authority  to proceed against any person guilty of a violation under the Act or take suo motu cognisance of an unfair trade practice or an action undermining the rights of a consumer;
- (d) if  so,  whether  the  Government  is  planning  any  enactments  in  this  regard  to  protect  and enforce the rights of consumers; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## 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) & (b) : The  existing  Consumer  Protection  Act  was  enacted  in  1986.  Since  then,  the consumer  markets  for  goods  &  services  have  undergone  a  lot  of  changes.  The  modern  market place contains a plethora of increasingly complex products and services. The emergence of global supply chains, rise in international trade and the rapid development of e-commerce have led to new delivery  systems  for  goods  and  services  and  have  provided  new  opportunities  for  consumers. Equally,  this  has  rendered  the  consumer  vulnerable  to  new  forms  of  unfair  trade  and  unethical business practices. Misleading advertisements, tele-marketing, multi-level marketing, direct selling and e-tailing pose new challenges to consumer protection and will require appropriate and swift executive interventions to prevent consumer detriment. There is a need to make interventions when necessary to counter unfair trade practices.
- (c) : The  three  tier  Consumer  Fora  established  under  the  Act  are  empowered  to  give relief of a specific nature and to award, wherever appropriate, compensation to consumers.  The three tier Consumer Fora set up under the Act are not empowered to take suo-moto cognizance of any unfair trade practice.
- (d) & (e): The Government introduced the Consumer Protection Bill, 2018 in the Lok Sabha on 05.01.2018. The Bill provides for establishment of an executive agency, to be called the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), which will be empowered to investigate, recall, refund and impose penalties, besides working towards promotion of consumer rights including consumer education.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 520 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-06
Subject: Checking of Food Wastage at Hotels
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: R. VANAROJA

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

## Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 520 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2018

## CHECKING OF FOOD WASTAGE AT HOTELS

## 520. SHRIMATI VANAROJA R.:

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  is  considering  to  bring  a  law  to  check  food  wastage  at  hotels  and restaurants;
- (b) whether it  is  true  that  the  hotels  and  restaurants  have  been  asked  to  take  steps  like  providing training to staff to create awareness among customers on food wastage; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## 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) & (b) : No Madam.

- (c)

- :

Question does not arise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 516 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-06
Subject: Farming Activities by Machine
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: ANOOP MISHRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 516

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06/02/2018

## FARMING ACTIVITIES BY MACHINE

## 516. SHRI ANOOP MISHRA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether as per the study of Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal, the  majority  of  farming  activities  is  being  done  by  machine  and  human  power  is shrinking in the farming sector;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise including Madhya Pradesh; and
- (c) the reaction of the Government thereto?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f'k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h

## (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) & (b): Yes, the share of mechanical power sources such as tractors increased from 6.8 to 45.8%, electric motors increased from 14 to 26.8%, power tillers increased from 0.3  to  0.8%  during  the  period  1971-72  to  2012-13.  The  share  of  human  power (agricultural  worker  power)  came  down  from  15.4%  in  1971-72  to  5.0%  in  2012-13. Similarly,  the  share  draught  animals  in  total  farm  power  availability  in  India  reduced from 45.4 to 5.1% during 1971-72 to 2012-13.

The  combined  share  of  agricultural  workers  and  draught  animals  in  total  farm power  availability  in  India  reduced  from  61  to  10%  during  1971-72  to  2012-13.  The percentage  of  agricultural  workers  to  total  workers  decreased  from  59.10  to  54.60% during 1991 to 2011; and it is expected that this figure may go down to 40.60% by 2020.

In  Madhya  Pradesh,  tillage,  sowing  and  threshing  operations  are  mechanized  to levels of 40%, 15% and 60%, respectively.

- (c) The  mechanization  improves  the  timeliness  in  farm  operations,  save  time  and labour, reduces drudgery, cut down production cost in the long run, reduces post-harvest losses. Increase of the machine power and reduction of the human power in agriculture may be considered as good sign of development. In general, farm productivity improves with increase in the power input to the agriculture.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 515 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-06
Subject: Reservation for Differently Abled in Central PSUs
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: P.K.SREEMATHI TEACHER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF EMPOWERMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE & EMPOWERMENT (Divyangjan)

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 515 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2018

## Reservation for Differently Abled in Central PSUs

## 515. SHRIMATI PK SREEMATHI TEACHER:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the differently abled people are eligible for reservations for like Railways and Nationalized banks recruitment in Central PSUs and
- (6) if so, the details of eligible percentage of reservation and orders, if any, in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

(SHRI KRISHANPAL GURJAR)

- (a) & (b) As per Section 34(1) of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities reservation in vacancies for persons with benchmark disabilities Act; 2016, four percent disability or more) is applicable to all Central (persons with disabilities 40% Railways and Nationalized banks Government establishments including Central PSUs like having
Lok Sabha Question No. 514 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-06
Subject: Seed Banks
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: RITI PATHAK

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

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 514

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6 TH  FEBRUARY, 2018

## SEED BANKS

## 514.   SHRIMATI RITI PATHAK:

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

- (a) the details of the Government seed banks being operated in the country, Statewise;
- (b) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  set  up  and  promote  the  said  seed  banks  at districts/block/division level;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has conducted any study to find out the ways to make these seed banks easily accessible to the farmers; and
- (e) if so, the details and findings thereof along with the details of success achieved by the Government under the programmes?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a): There are 22 seed banks functioning in the country including one at national level with National Seeds Corporation and 21 in different States namely Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala,  Madhya  Pradesh,  Maharashtra,  Odisha,  Punjab,  Rajasthan,  Tamil  Nadu,  Telangana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.  These seed banks supply seeds to the farmers during contingency situation like flood, drought etc.

- (b) & (c): At  present,  there  is  no  proposal  with  the  Government  to  set  up  seed  banks  at districts/block division level.

(d) & (e): A study has been conducted by the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta in November, 2007 for evaluation of the Central Sector  Scheme  on Development and Strengthening of Infrastructure Facilities for production and Distribution of Quality Seeds which included  establishment  maintenance  of  Seed  Banks.  The  report  recommended  that  the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation Farmers Welfare identify risk prone areas and calculate total  seed  requirement  to  cater  to  exigencies  and  earmark  places  in  relatively  risk  free  zone taking  into  account  connectivity  factors  for  setting  up  of  seed  banks.    The  report  further suggested that the network of Seed Banks should be under the control of the Department of Agriculture,  Cooperation  &  Farmers  Welfare  through  a  single  agency  like  National  Seed Corporation or State Department of Agriculture, and that the State Seed Corporations act as nodes in the management of the seed banks in the country.  The State Governments have been reserving quantities of seed every year as per their assessment of requirements in the event of natural calamities.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 512 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-06
Subject: Promotion of Electric Vehicles
Ministry: HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES
Asked by: INNOCENT

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 512 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2018

## Promotion of Electric Vehicles

## 512. SHRI INNOCENT

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

- (a) whether the Government is considering to fine tune the plan to promote e-vehicles in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the surplus electricity available in the country presently will be used in promoting evehicles; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  &  (b):    With  a  view  to  provide  impetus  to  domestic  manufacturing  of  hybrid  &  electric vehicles (collectively termed as XEVs), the Government of India approved the National Mission on Electric Mobility in 2011 and subsequently National Electric Mobility Mission Plan 2020 was unveiled in 2013.  This Mission Plan has been designed mainly considering the Fuel Security and Environmental Pollution in the country.

In  order  to  promote  manufacturing  of  hybrid  and  electric  vehicles  and  to  ensure  sustainable growth of the same and as a follow up of the mission, Department of Heavy Industry formulated a  scheme  namely  FAME  India  [Faster  Adoption  and  Manufacturing  of  (Hybrid  &)  Electric Vehicles in India] for the initial period of two years starting from 1 st April 2015 (Phase-I).

As  per  the  Gazette  Notification  of  FAME  India  Scheme,  the  scheme  shall  be  reviewed appropriately based on the outcome and experience gained in the Phase-I of this scheme.  The Phase  1  of  FAME  Scheme,  which  was  initially  for  a  period  of  2  years  commencing  from  1 st April, 2015, has however been extended till 31 st March, 2018.  Further, the benefits available to 'Mild Hybrid' technology under the scheme stands excluded with effect from 1 st April, 2017.

In the extended period of the FAME Scheme, Department of Heavy Industry has decided to give a  fresh  thrust  to  e-mobility  in  public  transport.    Accordingly,  an  Expression  of  Interest  was issued for providing a concerted push to e-mobility.  Financial incentives for purchase of electric buses,  three  wheelers  and  four  wheelers  and  for  setting  up  charging  infrastructure  for  public transport and shared mobility will be given from the Scheme under this special thrust.

(c)&(d):    Ministry  of  Power  informed  that  the  Electric  Vehicles  and  Plug-in  Hybrid  Vehicles need to draw electricity from the grid for charging of their batteries used for powering them.  The country has sufficient capacity at present to meet the current requirement.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 510 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-06
Subject: Import of Agricultural Commodities
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: ELUMALAI VELLAIGOUNDER, G. HARI

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 510

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6 TH  FEBRUARY, 2018

## IMPORT OF AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES

510. SHRI V. ELUMALAI:

SHRI G. HARI:

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

- (a) whether it is true that the Government will soon come out with a formula to increase or decrease import of agricultural commodities and to allow their export or restrict it by fixing  a benchmark price and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the MSP which is assured by the Government to farmers is fixed every year for 24 commodities and the main items are rice, wheat, pulses and oil seeds and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is true that a committee would be empowered to consider changes in import duties  and  impose  quantitative  restrictions  on  trade  based  on  domestic  and  international production and demand trends;
- (d) whether  pulses  production  will  be  sustained  and  the  country's  import  dependence  on pulses will come down substantially;
- (e) whether it is also true that the Government has decided to abolish the curb imposed on export of pulses; and
- (f) 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 GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a): There is no such proposal under consideration in Government.
- (b): Yes,  Madam.  MSP  is  fixed  by  Government  for  24  commodities.  The  commodities  on which MSP is fixed every year are paddy, jowar, bajra, maize, ragi, arhar, moong, urad, cotton, groundnut  in  shell,  sunflower  seed,  soya  bean,  sesamum,  niger  seed,  wheat,  barley,  gram masur, rapeseed/ mustard, safflower, toria, copra, de-husked coconut and jute.
- (c): Government has constituted an Inter Ministerial Committee to review prices, availability, export,  import  etc.  of  essential  agriculture  commodities  on  weekly  basis  and  suggest  the suitable trade policy measures, if any, to protect the interests of the farmers and consumers.
- (d): Ministry of Agriculture has been implementing National Food Security Mission- Pulses since 2007-08  with  the objective to increase  production of  pulses  and  reduce  import dependency on this commodity. A record production of pulses at 22.95 million tons has already been achieved in 2016-17 (4 th Advance Estimates).
- (e) & (f): Restrictions  on  export  of  all  varieties  of  pulses  including  organic  pulses  have been removed w.e.f. 22.11.2017.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 509 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-06
Subject: SSF Officers
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: PARVESH SAHIB SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 509

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 06 TH  FEBRUARY, 2018/ MEGHA 17, 1939 (SAKA) SSF OFFICERS

509.  SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  the  number of Secretariat Security Force (SSF) officers providing security cover to Government buildings;

(b) the number of officers who have more than 15/20/30 years of service;

(c) whether the Government is considering to promote the constables who have put in over 15/20/30 years of service as a way to motivate the SSF officers; and

(d) the other measures the Government is taking to motivate the officers?

ANSWER:

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a): At present there are 744 officials in Secretariat Security Force (SSF) for providing security cover to Government buildings.

(b): 42  SSF  officials  have  completed  15  years  of  service,  365  SSF  officials have completed 20 years of service and 268 SSF officials have completed 30 years of service.

(c) & (d): The  SSF  officials  are  given  timely  promotion  to  their  next  grade against  vacant  posts,  as  and  when  they  become  eligible  as  per  recruitment rules. Further, on completion of 10/20/30 years of service, a financial upgradation  to  the  immediate  next  higher  grade/  level  is  also  given  to  them under  the  Modified  Assured  Career  Progressions  Scheme  (MACPS)  of  the Government alongwith all consequential facilities/benefits.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 508 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-06
Subject: Affordable Medicines
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: HARIOM SINGH RATHORE

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 508 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6 th  February, 2018

## Affordable Medicines

## 508. SHRI HARIOM SINGH RATHORE:

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

- (a) whether the Government has been implementing a policy to achieve the objective of providing affordable medicine to all;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether any financial assistance is presently being given to the State Governments and private institutions for the same and if so, the details thereof?

## 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): The  Pharmaceutical  Policy  announced  by  the  Government  from  time  to time envisages making available quality medicines at reasonable prices to the masses.
- (c):  No  financial  assistance  is  at  present  being  given  to  the  State  Governments  and private institutions by the Department. However, the Department is operating a scheme namely Cluster Development Programme for Pharma Sector (CDP-PS) in Public Private Partnership made through Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) through one time grant -inaid to be released for creation of identified infrastructure and common facilities in the form of Common Facility Centers (CFC). This would help the manufacturers to reduce their  cost  of  production  which  would  result  in  making  available  quality  medicines  at reasonable prices to the masses. Another scheme namely Pharmaceuticals Promotion and  Development  Scheme  (PPDS)  is  also  being  operated  to  provide  grant-in-aid  to Associations/Institutes etc. for promotion,  development and export promotion in Pharmaceutical Sector.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 507 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-06
Subject: Bulk Drugs from China
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: GOWDAR MALLIKARJUNAPPA SIDDESHWARA

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 507 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6 th  February, 2018

## Bulk Drugs from China

## 507. SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWARA:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that India is dependent on China for bulk drugs, ingredients and chemicals needed for the Indian pharmaceutical industry and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the factors which have contributed to such dependence on China;
- (c) whether the Government plans to reduce the dependency on China for bulk drugs in a time-bound manner; and
- (d) if so, the steps taken/being taken in this regard?

## 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):  Yes,  Madam.  The  details  of  India's  imports  of  Active  Pharmaceutical  Ingredients from top five countries are as under:

| Years   |   Total import (Rs. cr) |   Imports from China (Rs. cr) |
|---------|-------------------------|-------------------------------|
| 2014-15 |                 19833.2 |                         12758 |
| 2015-16 |                 21226   |                         13853 |
| 2016-17 |                 18372.5 |                         12255 |

(Source: DGCIS Kolkata)

As per DGCIS Kolkata, during the year 2016-17, the share of China in the total bulk drugs imported into the country was approximately 66 per cent.

- (b):  The  country  imports  bulk  drugs/Active  Pharmaceutical  Ingredients  (APIs)  for producing medicines including certain essential medicines. As India is a signatory to the WTO and TRIPs agreement, as such the import restrictions have been removed. It may be mentioned that most of the imports of the Bulk Drug/APIs being done in the country are because of economic considerations.
- (c) & (d): The policies formulated by government from time to time are made so that the country's  dependence  from  imports  are  minimised.  In  this  direction,  the  Government had on 29.01.2016 notified the withdrawal of exemption in customs duties which were earlier  given  to  certain  categories  of  drugs  and  bulk  drugs  to  provide  a  boost  to  the domestic manufacturers. Further, the government has removed bottlenecks in environment clearance etc. which the manufacturers are facing, in order to give a boost to domestic manufacturing of bulk drugs.