opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2733 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-03
Subject: Wages and Facilities to Contract Labourers
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SANKAR PRASAD DATTA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2733 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.01.2018

## WAGES AND FACILITIES TO CONTRACT LABOURERS

2733. SHRI SANKAR PRASAD DATTA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that a large number of contract labourers are working in the Railways;
- (b) if so, the number thereof as on date, Zone-wise;
- (c)  whether  these  labourers  are  paid  wages  and  provided  facilities according to the prescribed rules; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2733 BY SHRI SANKAR PRASAD DATTA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 03.01.2018 REGARDING WAGES AND FACILITIES TO CONTRACT LABOURERS.

(a): Yes, Madam.

(b): Contract labourers are engaged  by contractors themselves directly  depending  upon  nature  and  quantum  of  outsourced  work. Approximate number of contract labourers is given below, zone-wise:-

| Zonal Railway      | No. of contract labourers   | Zonal Railway     | No. of contract labourers   |
|--------------------|-----------------------------|-------------------|-----------------------------|
| Central            | 14732                       | Western           | 7328                        |
| Eastern            | 6971                        | East Central      | 4550                        |
| Northern           | 8406                        | East Coast        | 4218                        |
| North Eastern      | 459                         | North Central     | 1836                        |
| Northeast Frontier | 1429                        | North Western     | 942                         |
| Southern           | 6125                        | Southeast Central | 9339                        |
| South Central      | 9043                        | South Western     | 5319                        |
| South Eastern      | 8000                        | West Central      | 5468                        |
| Total              | Total                       | Total             | 94,165                      |

(c): Yes, Madam.

(d): Railways as principal employer ensures that the contract labourers are provided facilities by the contractor as per the provisions of Labour Laws including the Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970 and minimum wages as notified by the Central/State  Governments  under  the  Minimum  Wages  Act,  1948. Suitable instructions have been issued to the Zonal Railways that the cases  of  violation  of  the  above  laws,  if  any,  should  be  dealt  with  in accordance with the extant provisions.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2732 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-03
Subject: Implementation of DPP
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: KIRRON KHER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2732

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3 RD  JANUARY, 2018

## IMPLEMENTATION  OF  DPP

2732.  SHRIMATI  KIRRON  KHER:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) the  number  of  Requests  For  Information  (RFIs)  that  have  been  received  since implementation of the Defence Procurement Procedures (DPP);
- (b) whether the Government proposes to put in place provisions to ease requirements for transfer of technology and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  taken  steps  to  shorten  the  process  of  defence contracts; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

र  ा रा य मं ी

(DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)

(डा. सुभाष भामरे)

(a) to (d): The capital procurement process for defence including issues relating to Request For Information (RFI), Request For Proposal (RFP) and Transfer of Technology  (ToT)  is  governed  by  Defence  Procurement Procedure (DPP). RFI process has been elaborated in detail as the first step of the acquisition process and its objectives have been clearly defined in the extant DPP-2016. Further in the procurement cases involving ToT, the Request  For  Proposal  (RFP)  includes  the  requirement  for  indigenous manufacturing.

:  2  :

DPP-2016 contains the following provisions to cut down the procurement cycle and also to make it simpler and user friendly:-· Broad  timeframe  for  completing  procurement  activities  has  been reduced from 80-117 weeks to 70-94 weeks in multi  vendor cases and from 92-137 weeks to 82-114 weeks in resultant Single Vendor cases. · Acceptance  of  Necessity  (AoN)  validity  has  been  reduced  to  six months (from one year) for 'Buy' cases and to one year (from two years) for 'Buy & Make (Indian)' cases. · Draft  Request  for  Proposal  (RFP)  has  to  accompany  Statement  of Case (SoC) for AoN. · Guidelines for Change of Name of Vendor have been incorporated and Guidelines  for  Handling  of  Complaints  have  been  notified  to  address

- avoidable delays on this account.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2731 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-03
Subject: Electronic Manufacturing Cluster
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: R. PARTHIPAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2731

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.01.2018

## ELECTRONIC  MANUFACTURING CLUSTER

## 2731                 SHRI R. PARTHIPAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government is planning to establish Electronic Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) for providing facilities and amenities for manufacturing mobiles and allied products;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the EMC's will provide more opportunities for the sector; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ALPHONS KANNANTHANAM)

(a) and (b):   Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India had notified Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC) scheme in October, 2012 to provide support for creation of state-of-art infrastructure along with common facilities and amenities for attracting investments in various verticals of Electronics Systems Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) sector including manufacturing of mobile and allied products. The scheme was open for receipt of application upto 21 st October, 2017.  Under EMC scheme, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology has accorded final approval to eighteen (18) Greenfield EMCs in twelve (12) states across the country.

(c) and (d):     Yes, Sir.  So far, 100 electronics manufacturing units have booked land for setting up of their manufacturing facilities within these approved Electronics Manufacturing  Clusters.  Out  of  which,  10  manufacturing  units  have  started  production activities with an investment of Rs. 3660 crore employing around 7400 persons.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2730 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-03
Subject: Socio-Economic Survey
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †2730 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.01.2018

## Socio-Economic Survey

## †2730. SHRI RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  conducted/proposes  to  conduct  any  Socioeconomic survey/assessment with regard to the minorities in the country;
- (b) if so, the details of such assessments made during the last three years and the current year;
- (c) whether  the  Government  had  held  talks  with  various  stakeholders  during the assessment of the schemes formulated for them;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) other  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  the  standards  of living of minorities in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)

- (a) & (b): No, Madam. However, in respect of Muslims, a study was conducted earlier by a high level committee (popularly known as Sachar Committee). The findings  are  available  on  the  website  of  the  Ministry  of  Minority  Affairs  at, 'www.minorityaffairs.gov.in'.

(c)  to  (e):  The  Government  interacts  with  concerned  stakeholders  while reviewing  schemes meant for the welfare of minorities. This  is  a  continuous process.  To  improve  the  standards  of  living  of  minorities  in  the  country,  the Government is implementing a number of schemes / programmes.  Details of the schemes / programmes / initiatives of the Ministry of Minority Affairs and those  covered  under  the  Prime  Minister's  New  15  Point  Programme  (PM's New 15-PP) for the welfare of minorities as well as follow-up action taken by the  Government  on  the  recommendations  of  Sachar  Committee  that  are envisaged  to  improve  the  standard  of  living  of  minorities  in  the  country,  are available on the website of Ministry of Minority Affairs at, 'www.minorityaffairs.gov.in'.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2729 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-03
Subject: GPS Enabled Device in Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2729 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.01.2018

## GPS ENABLED DEVICE IN TRAINS

2729.  SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARSWATI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Railways is  contemplating to provide a GPS enabled device  in  trains  to  let  the  passengers  track  their  train  on  local  time basis;

(b) if so, the time by which the said facility is likely to be implemented in all trains;

(c) whether the said device has been tested successfully; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## ANSWER (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) & (b): Yes, Madam.  Ministry of Railways in collaboration with Indian Space  Research  Organisation  (ISRO)  is  implementing  Real-Time  Train Information System (RTIS) which involves tracking of train by placing GPS / GAGAN (GPS  Aided  Geo  Augmented  Navigation  System)  based …..2/-

devices on locomotives.  In Phase-I, the RTIS project will cover about 2700  electric  locomotives  in  which  the  GPS  device  will  be  installed. This phase is planned to be completed by December, 2018.  Remaining locomotives will be covered in subsequent phases.

(c)  &  (d):  Yes,  Madam.    The  trials  for  this  system  have  been  done  on New Delhi - Guwahati and New Delhi - Mumbai Rajdhani trains on six electric  locomotives.    A  reliable  and  high  level  (about  99.3%)  of  real time reporting of arrival departure timing updates has been observed, which is considered adequate to meet the RTIS requirements.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2728 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-03
Subject: Process of Promotion
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: KULAMANI SAMAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2728

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3 RD  JANUARY, 2018

## PROCESS  OF  PROMOTION

2728.  DR. KULAMANI  SAMAL:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Armed Forces Tribunal has imposed fine on a retired Vice Admiral for his nepotism role in the process of promotion;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the cases of complaint relating to impropriety in promotion process in the departments / wings of Defence have been reported; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken / being taken in this regard?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

र  ा रा य मं ी

(DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)

(डा. सुभाष भामरे)

- (a) & (b): Hon'ble Armed Forces Tribunal (Principal Bench), New Delhi in its  order  dated 31 st July  2017  in  OA  No.1112/2015 filed by  Cdr  SS Luthra (Retd) has imposed a fine of Rs.5 Lakh on Vice Adm PK Chatterjee (Retd).
- (c) & (d): Such cases, if received, are being dealt by Indian Navy under the provision of Section 23 of Navy Act, 1957.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2727 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-03
Subject: Extension of Train No. 12447/12448
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SHYAMA CHARAN GUPTA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2727 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.01.2018

EXTENSION OF TRAIN NO. 12447/12448

†2727. SHRI SHYAMA CHARAN GUPTA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is planning to extend train No. 12447/12448, Hazrat Nizamuddin Uttar Pradesh Sampark Kranti Express  from  Manikpur  Junction  to  Allahabad  Chheyki  Junction  of Jhansi zone under the north  central railway in public interest; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) No, Madam.
- (b) Does not arise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2726 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-03
Subject: Track Management System
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: REKHA ARUN VERMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2726

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.01.2018

## TRACK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

†2726. SHRIMATI REKHA VERMA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  set  up  track  management system to assess the impact of freight trains carrying heavy goods of Railways and to ensure successful repairing of rail tracks;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)  the  details  of  other  measures  taken  to  ensure  long  life  of  rail tracks?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a)  to  (c)  There  is  no  proposal  to  set  up  railway  Track  Management System  especially  for  assessing  the  impact  of  movement  of  heavy goods  trains  on  tracks.  The  Track  Management  System  already implemented  on  Indian  Railways  is  utilised  for  monitoring  track inspection, maintenance, track machine working and judging track degradation based on inputs from track recording cars and other

inspections under prevailing operating conditions.  The repair of track is  planned  based  on  degradation  of  track  and  laid  down  schedules. Wheel Impact Load Detectors have been installed at limited locations to monitor impact load on track due to rolling stock.

Indian  Railways  have  a  system  of  scheduled  inspections  by  Railway officials which,  inter alia,  includes  daily  inspection  by  Keyman, inspections  at  stipulated  periodicity  by  various  designated  officials and measurement/monitoring of track parameters by Track Recording Cars  (TRCs)  and  Oscillation  Monitoring  Systems  (OMS)  for  ensuring long life of railway tracks.

Improved track structure consisting of pre-stressed Concrete Sleepers,  60kg,  90  UTS  (Ultimate  Tensile  Strength)  rails,  fan-shaped layout on pre-stressed Concrete Sleepers (PSC), Steel Channel Sleepers  on  girder  bridges  is  being  used  while  carrying  out  primary track  renewals.    Further,  it  has  been  decided  to  lay  Thick  web switches,  Weldable  Cast  Manganese  Steel  crossings  on  identified routes.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2723 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-03
Subject: Development of Chabahar Port
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2723

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.01.2018

## DEVELOPMENT OF CHABAHAR PORT

## 2723. SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the   regions   of   India   which   are   likely   to   get   benefitted   on   account   of development of Chabahar port;
- (b) whether strategically and diplomatically, acquiring this port is important in view of the fact that China is also keen to get it;
- (c) if so, the facts thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has analysed the security concerns involved therein, especially since the port is close to Pakistan; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e) Chabahar   port's   location   on   the   south-eastern   coast   of   Iran   is expected to open up greater opportunities for promotion of trade and commerce, especially from the ports along India's western coast, with Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia and beyond.

India's participation in the development of Chabahar Port will provide India an alternative and reliable access route into Afghanistan utilizing India's earlier investment in Zaranj-Delaram road built in Afghanistan, and also a reliable and more direct sea-road access route into Central Asian Region. Chabahar Port's location at the Arabian Sea means that it would be able to skirt any challenges posed by developments in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz.

The development of Chabahar port is also important because of the denial of direct land route access for transit and trade between India and Afghanistan. In fact, the first shipment of wheat assistance to Afghanistan was realised though Chabahar port in November 2017. This has demonstrated that Chabahar port is a viable and secure alternative for promoting regional connectivity among India, Iran and Afghanistan.

- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2720 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-03
Subject: Modernisation of Army Cantonments
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2720

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3 RD  JANUARY, 2018

## MODERNISATION  OF  ARMY  CANTONMENTS

2720.  SHRI  SUSHIL  KUMAR  SINGH:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government have identified a number of cantonments for pilot project under a scheme of modernising and developing various Army cantonments in the country on the lines of smart city;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the names and details of cantonments included under this scheme; and
- (c) the details of funds allotted for such projects and the time by which these projects are likely to be completed?

<!-- formula-not-decoded -->

(a) to (c): Seven  Cantonments  viz.  Ambala,  Deolali,  Delhi,  Ferozepur, Meerut,  Pune  and  Secunderabad  have  been  identified  in  pilot  phase  for upgrading civic amenities by introducing smart solutions in their functional domain.

No  specific funds have  been  allotted.    Government  has  been releasing ordinary Grant-in-aid (General)  and special Grant-in-aid for capital assets to the Cantonment Boards as per budget availability and the Boards have been undertaking various activities as per fund availability to introduce smart solutions.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2717 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-03
Subject: New Rail Line from Madhupur to Dhanbad
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: PASHUPATI NATH SINGH, RAVINDRA KUMAR RAY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2717 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.01.2018

## NEW RAIL LINE FROM MADHUPUR TO DHANBAD

†2717.      SHRI PASHUPATI  NATH  SINGH: DR. RAVINDRA KUMAR RAY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state :

- (a) whether at present, distance of railway line from Madhupur to Dhanbad (East Central Railway) is about five kilometers;
- (b)  if  so,  whether  the  distance  will  remain  only  one  kilometer  from Madhupur to Dhanbad via Budhudih, Ahilayapur, Parvalpur, Taratand, Tundi when a new railway line is laid;
- (c) if so, whether the Railways proposes to lay a new Rail Line to reduce the above mentioned distance;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a):  No, Madam. Present shortest distance from Madhupur to Dhanbad by rail is 119 Km.
- (b) to (e): In no way the distance between Madhupur and Dhanbad can be shortened to 01 kilometer.

At present there is no proposal with the Railway for laying of a direct new line from Madhupur to Dhanbad. However, a survey has been taken up in 2017-18 for laying of new line from Dhanbad to Giridih (50 Km) and Giridih - Madhupur (38 Km) is already connected with rail.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2716 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-03
Subject: Jerusalem as Capital
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: THOKCHOM MEINYA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2716 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.01.2018

## JERUSALEM AS CAPITAL

2716. DR. THOKCHOM MEINYA:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the USA has recognised Jerusalem as part of Israel and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether India has taken any diplomatic stand in this regard and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether India still continues to recognise the Palestine cause vis-avis its independence and sovereignty; and

- (d) if so, the details thereof and reasons for the continuance or noncontinuance of the earlier foreign policy?

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

(a) Yes. On 6 December 2017, US President Donald Trump announced that the US is officially recognizing Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel. He also stated that the US will begin preparation to move their Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

(b) to (d) Government has stated that 'India's position on Palestine is independent and consistent. It is shaped by our views and interests and not determined by any third country'. India believes that the solution to the Palestinian issue should be based on relevant UN Resolutions resulting in a sovereign, independent, viable and united State of Palestine living within secure and recognized borders, side by side at peace with Israel. India has voted in favour of a resolution co-sponsored by Turkey and Yemen on Status of Jerusalem brought at UNGA on 21 December 2017.

*****