opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3711 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Budget Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: G. HARI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3711 ANSWERED ON 19.03.2018

## BUDGET TOURISM

## 3711. SHRI G. HARI:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is planning to use budget touring to boost tourism in the country;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  move  could  add  to  a  domestic  tourism  boom  in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  India's  tourism  sector  grew  over  10%  in  the  six months ending September, 2017 compared to about 8% in the corresponding period during the previous year; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI K.J. ALPHONS)

(a) to (c): The  Ministry  of  Tourism  promotes  India  as  a  holistic destination  catering  to  all  segments  of  tourists  including  budget travellers both in the international as well as domestic markets.

The  Ministry  of  Tourism  under  a  voluntary  scheme  approves Homestays/Bed  &  Breakfast  establishments  and  Guest  Houses  as per Guidelines to provide standardized services and facilities which primarily  cater  to  the  budget  tourists.  Additionally,  the  Ministry  of Tourism also classifies/re-classifies hotels in various star categories which cater to tourists of various budget segments. The guidelines  of  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  for  approval/classification/reclassification  of  operational  hotels  stipulate  that  hotels  of  1,  2,  3 and  4  star  categories  availing  subsidy/tax  benefits/other  benefits from  the  Central/State  Government  would  be  subject  to  a  lock-in period of 8 years so that these hotels continue to serve as budget category hotels.

The  Ministry  of  Tourism  launched  the  'Swadesh  Darshan Scheme' for integrated development of theme based tourist circuits and the 'National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage  Augmentation  Drive'  (PRASHAD)  Scheme  to  beautify  and improve amenities and infrastructure at pilgrimage sites to cater to religious, mass  and  niche  tourism in a holistic  manner.  The Domestic Tourist Visits (DTVs) from 2014 to 2016 are:

| Year   |       DTVs |   Growth (%) |
|--------|------------|--------------|
| 2014   | 1282801629 |         12.3 |
| 2015   | 1431973794 |         11.6 |
| 2016*  | 1613551505 |         12.7 |

* Provisional

(d) and (e): The  number  of  Foreign  Tourist  Arrivals  in  India during  April  to  September,  2017  were  42.76  lakhs  (provisional) registering growth of 16.8% over same period of previous year.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 3710 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Development of Majuli Island
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: MAULANA BADRUDDIN AJMAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3710 ANSWERED ON 19.03.2018

## DEVELOPMENT OF MAJULI ISLAND

## 3710. SHRI BADRUDDIN AJMAL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has sanctioned funds for the development of the Majuli Island in Assam as a heritage and Eco-Tourism destination during the last three years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, year-wise;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  allocated  any  funds  to  the Government of Assam for development of other tourist places of Assam to attract tourists during the said period; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI K.J. ALPHONS)

(a) to (d): Yes, Madam.  The  details  of projects sanctioned  by Ministry  of  Tourism  to  Assam  including,  Majuli  Island,  during  last three years are as under:

(Amt. in Rs. crore)

|   Sl. No. | Scheme                   | Name of the Project                                                                   |   Amt. Sanctioned |
|-----------|--------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|
|         1 | Swadesh Darshan 2015-16  | Development of Wildlife Circuit: Manas- Probitora- Nameri- Kaziranga- Dibru- Saikhowa |             95.67 |
|         2 | Heritage Circuit 2016-17 | Development of Heritage Circuit: Tezpur- Majuli- Sibsagar                             |             98.35 |
|         3 | PRASHAD 2015-16          | Development of Kamakhya Temple and Pilgrimage Destination in and around Guwahati      |             33.98 |

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3708 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Upgradation of National Museums and Children Museums
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: ANJU BALA, Tejpratap Singh,Yadav, B. SREERAMULU

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3708 FOR ANSWER ON 19/03/2018

## PERFORMANCE OF SAIL

3708.  SHRIMATI K. MARAGATHAM:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether SAIL is expected to make profit from next year onwards on the back of continued improvement in global commodity market and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the loss of SAIL has come down drastically during the year 2016-17 and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the  loss  was  on  account  of  slow  down  in  the  sector  and  if  so,  the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR STEEL

(SHRI VISHNU DEO SAI)

(a) The improvement in the global commodity market would positively impact the performance  of  SAIL  from  next  year  onwards.  However,  the  same  would  also  be dependent on many factors such as increase/decrease in international/domestic steel prices, coking coal prices, demand and supply scenario, etc.

(b) In the FY 2016-17, the Loss before Tax and after Tax at Rs. 4851 crore and Rs.  2833  crore  has  come  down  drastically  by  31%  and  30%  respectively,  over corresponding period of last year (CPLY) as given below:-

Rs./Crore

| Particulars                  |   2015-16 |   2016-17 |
|------------------------------|-----------|-----------|
| Profit(+)/Loss(-) before Tax |     -7008 |     -4851 |
| Profit(+)/Loss(-) after Tax  |     -4021 |     -2833 |

(c) During FY 2014-15 and 2015-16, the loss was mainly on account of surge in imports into India thereby posing a severe challenge to the domestic Steel Industry in the form of over supplies and predatory pricing by steel surplus countries such as China, Korea, Japan and CIS countries. In addition, SAIL had losses from FY 201516 due to the following reasons:-

- o Lower Net Sales Realisation of steel products.
- o Increase in the imported coal prices, particularly 2016-17 onwards.
- o Adverse  impact  of  levy  of  contribution  to  District  Mineral  Foundation  (DMF) and National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET).
- o Higher  usage  of  imported  coal  in  the  blend  due  to  lower  availability  of indigenous coal.
- o Increase in salaries & wages.
- o Higher interest charges and reduction in interest earning on deposits.
- o Higher depreciation due to capitalisation of new facilities.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 3707 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Deemed-to-be-University
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3707 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2018

## Deemed -to -be -University

## 3707. SHRIMATI RAKSHATAI KHADSE:

Will	the	Minister	of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be	pleased	to	state : (a)	 whether	 the	 University	 Grants	 Commission(UGC)	 is	 taking	 serious	 steps	 against flouting	 of	 its	 orders	 to	 deemed-to-be-university	 which	 continues	 to	 use	 tag	 of 'university'; (b)	 if	 so,	 the	 details	 of	 such	 institutes	 for	 which	 Deemed-to-be-University	 has	 been granted	and	the	Institutes	using	the	University	tag	flouted	such	tags;	and (c)	the	action	being	taken	by	the	UGC	against	these	institutions?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a):	The	Hon'ble	Supreme	Court	of	India	vide	its	Order	dated	03.11.2017	in		Civil	Appeal No.	in	17869-17870/2017	directed	the	University	Grants	Commission	(UGC)	to		restrain Deemed	 to	 be	 Universities from using the word	 'University' with their	 name. Accordingly,	 all	 Deemed	 to	 be	 Universities	 were	 directed	 not	 to	 use	 the	 word 'University'	with	their	name	as	suffix.	In	addition,	the	names	of	14	Institutions,	whose name	contained	the	word	'University',	have	been	re-notified	by	the	Ministry.	After	the Hon'ble	Court	judgment,	no	Deemed	to	be	Universities	are	using	the	word	'University'

with	their	name. (b)	&	(c):	In	view	of	(a)	above,	do	not	arise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3705 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Setting up of MSME Units
Ministry: MICRO,SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: ASHWINI KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3705 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2018

## SETTING UP OF MSME UNITS

## 3705.      SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR:

Will the Minister of MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises set up in Haryana especially in Karnal and the number of persons employed in those units at present;
- (b)   the  details  and  the  number  of  vacancies  lying  vacant  in  each  unit  at present; and
- (c) the steps taken/being taken to fill those vacancies?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SHRI GIRIRAJ SINGH)

- (a): The  number  of  Micro,  Small  and  Medium  Enterprises  registered  and number of persons employed therein on Udyog Aadhaar Memorandum Portal as on  12 th March,  2018  in  Haryana  are  55,784  and  6,88,754  respectively.  The number  of  Micro,  Small  and  Medium  Enterprises  registered  and  number  of persons  employed  therein  on  Udyog  Aadhaar  Memorandum  Portal  as  on  12 th March, 2018 in Karnal are 3,645 and 30,525 respectively.
- (b)&(c): MSMEs are basically private owned and the vacancies therein are managed  by  these  enterprises  as  per  the  business  requirements  from  time  to time.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3704 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Seasonal Employment in Tourism Sector
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: SHASHI THAROOR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3704 ANSWERED ON 19.03.2018

## SEASONAL EMPLOYMENT IN TOURISM SECTOR

## 3704. DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the major issue of seasonal unemployment that plagues the tourism industry in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  contemplated  any  measures  to combat this issue;
- (c)
- (d)
- if so, the details thereof; and
- if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI K.J. ALPHONS)

(a) to (c): As per the UNWTO  publication of 2014 on Measuring Employment  in  Tourism  industries-  Guide  with  best  practices,  tourism employment is often characterized by many factors including seasonality.    Tourism  is  labour  intensive  and  involves  a  collection  of activities, services and industries comprising transportation, accommodation,  eating  establishments,  retail  shops,  entertainment businesses  and  other  hospitality  services  provided  to  individuals  or groups traveling away from home for leisure, business or other purposes.

In order to take care of seasonality in tourist inflows, the Ministry of  Tourism  promotes  India  as  a  365  days  destination  in  the  source markets.  For  this  Ministry of Tourism  has  taken  the  initiative  of identifying, diversifying, developing and promoting the niche products of the  tourism  industry  such  as  Cruise,  Adventure,  Medical  &  Wellness, Golf, Polo, Meetings Incentives Conference and Exhibitions (MICE), EcoTourism,  Development  of  Camp  Sites,  Caravan  Tourism,  Campaign Parks, Film Tourism, etc.

(d): Does not arise.

***********
Lok Sabha Question No. 3702 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Demonetisation effect on Labour Payments
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3702

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH  MARCH, 2018

## DEMONETISATION EFFECT ON LABOUR PAYMENTS

3702.  SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI:

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

- (a) whether there is a dip in employment during the last three years and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether 70 percent of women and 21 percent of men have been reported as unemployed during the last few months of 2015-16 financial year and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether almost 15 percent of employed women and 8 percent of men did not receive/ get any payment due to demonetisation effect and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government  has  any  proposal to clear their dues and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- (a) & (b): As per the results from last three available Labour force surveys on Employment-Unemployment conducted by Labour Bureau, Ministry of Labour &  Employment,  the  estimated    Worker  Population  Ratio  (WPR)    based  on Usual and Principal Subsidiary Status (UPSS)  approach for persons aged 15 years and above in  the country was 51.0% in 2012-13, 53.7% in 2013-14 and 50.5% in 2015-16. The estimated unemployment rate on all India basis aged 15 years and above on usual principal & subsidiary status approach was 3.0% for male, and 5.8% for female during 2015-16 in the country.
- (c) & (d): Information related to payments affected due to demonetization is not maintained centrally.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3700 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Modernisation of Yatri Niwas
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: HARISH DWIVEDI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†3700 ANSWERED ON 19.03.2018

## MODERNISATION OF YATRI NIWAS

†3700. SHRI HARISH CHANDRA ALIAS HARISH DWIVEDI:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the  number  of  Government  owned  hotels/Yatri  Niwas  in  the country, location-wise and State/UT-wise including Uttar Pradesh;
- (b) whether  the  standard  of  hotels/Yatri  Niwas  run  under  the Indian Tourism development corporation of the Government of India are in accordance with the international standards;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government has formulated/proposes to formulate any  scheme  for  the  modernization  of  the  hotels/Yatri  Niwas and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI K.J. ALPHONS)

(a): At present, India Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. (ITDC) is running the following hotels:-

|   Sl. No. | Name of Hotel              | State / UT             |
|-----------|----------------------------|------------------------|
|         1 | The Ashok Hotel            | New Delhi              |
|         2 | Samrat Hotel               | New Delhi              |
|         3 | Hotel Jammu Ashok          | Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir |
|         4 | Hotel Patliputra Ashok     | Patna , Bihar          |
|         5 | Hotel Kalinga Ashok        | Bhubaneswar, Orissa    |
|         6 | Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel | Mysore, Karnataka      |

Joint Venture Hotels of ITDC are as follows:

|   Sl. No. | Name of Hotel           | State / UT                  | Joint Venture Ratio      |
|-----------|-------------------------|-----------------------------|--------------------------|
|         1 | Hotel Ranchi Ashok      | Ranchi, Jharkhand           | ITDC:BSTDC (51:49)       |
|         2 | Hotel Donyi Polo Ashok  | Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh | ITDC: State Govt.(51:49) |
|         3 | Hotel Pondicherry Ashok | Puducherry                  | ITDC: State Govt.(51:49) |

(b) to (d): Hotels  of  ITDC  maintain  good  standards  for  hosting International  guests  from  across  the  world.  The  hotels  provide hospitable,  hygienic  and  the  best  services  in  accordance  with industry norms. Further, the Ashok Hotel and Samrat Hotel in New Delhi, are ISO 22000:2005 certified.

Upgrading services and facilities and renovation of the hotels is an ongoing process undertaken by ITDC to maintain the required standards.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3699 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Steel Manufacturers
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: RAVNEET SINGH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3699 FOR ANSWER ON 19/03/2018

## STEEL MANUFACTURERS

3699.  SHRI RAVNEET SINGH:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  undertaken  any  joint  International  studies  to evaluate the effectiveness of steel manufacturers in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government believes that a massive infrastructure redevelopment needs to take place in the steel industry to help the businesses in this sector and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government has evaluated the need for investment in recycling steel to improve cost efficiencies and if so, details thereof along with its perspective in the State of Punjab?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR STEEL

- (a) No, Madam.
- (b) Yes,  Madam.  The  National  Steel  Policy  (NSP)  2017  has  projected  the requirement of crude steel capacity of 300 MT by the year 2030-31, which requires extensive  mobilization  of  natural  resources,  finances,  manpower  and  infrastructure including land.
- (c) As per the NSP 2017, the steel production through the electric furnaces, who are major users of scrap and recycled steel, have been envisaged to contribute about 35 - 40% by the year 2030-31. Recycling steel scrap shall increase the availability and  shall  improve  cost  efficiencies  in  producing  steel  in  India.  This  has  been  duly considered in the NSP 2017.

Information regarding investment in the State of Punjab, is not available.

********

(SHRI VISHNU DEO SAI)
Lok Sabha Question No. 3698 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Sale of Equity by Public Sector Oil Companies
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: SADASHIV KISAN LOKHANDE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3698

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 th  MARCH, 2018

## SALE OF EQUITY BY PUBLIC SECTOR OIL COMPANIES

3698.  SHRI SADASHIV LOKHANDE: पेट्रोल ियम और प्राक ृ तिक गैस मंत्री Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state: (a)  whether  the  public  sector  oil  companies  are  selling/proposes  to  sell  their

- equity/share to private sector oil companies; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor, company-wise?

## ANSWER

पेट्रोल ियम और प्राक ृ तिक गैस मंत्री (श्री धमेन्द्र प्रधान)

## MINISTER OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a) & (b): No proposal to sell equity/shares of Public Sector Oil Companies to private sector oil Companies is under consideration in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3697 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Price of Natural Gas
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: GOWDAR MALLIKARJUNAPPA SIDDESHWARA

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3697 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 th  March, 2017

## Price of Natural Gas

## 3697:   SHRI G M SIDDESHWARA:

## पेट्रो ल ियम एवं प्राक ृ तिक गैस मंत्री

## Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Oil  and  Natural  Gas  Corporation  has  requested  the  Government  to  accord  full autonomy on total gas pricing on the gas produced in the country to boost local output and develop a vibrant gas market;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto;

(c) whether the Government considers to allocate the gas produced indigenously to meet the local needs first and then market the remaining gas, if so, the details thereof along with the stand of Government in this regard; and

(d) the details of price of natural gas in the country along with the rate at which it is supplied to various sectors of the economy, sector-wise?

## ANSWER

## पेट्रो ल ियम एवं प्राक ृ तिक गैस मंत्रािय मंत्री ( धमेन्द्र प्रधान )

## MINISTER OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN):

(a) & (b) : Government of India notified 'New Domestic Natural Gas Pricing Guidelines, 2014' on 25.10.2014.   This pricing mechanism is formula based and has been worked out considering the volumes  and  prices  prevailing  at  major  international  markets  such  as  Henry  Hub,  National Balancing Point, Alberta and Russia.  The formula has been finalized considering the requirements of producing and consuming sectors, and has tried to make a fine balance between their interests. The  prices  are  notified  after  every  six  months  in  accordance  with  said  guidelines.  Further,  on representations  from  various  operators  including  ONGC,  Government  has  provided  pricing  & marketing  freedom  under  Discovered  small  Field  policy  (DSF),  Gas  discoveries  in  deep  water, Ultra  Deep-water  and  High  Pressure-High  Temperature  areas,  Hydrocarbon  Exploration  and Licensing Policy (HELP) and Coal Bed Methane (CBM) contracts.

(c)   Allocation of gas produced from the domestic fields is being carried out as per the relevant policy  guidelines  issued/amended  by  the  Government from  time  to  time.    Government  has  also issued  policy  guidelines  for  commercial  utilization  of  gas  produced  by  National  Oil  Companies (NOCs) from their nominated blocks.

(d)    The  current  price  of  Natural  Gas  as  notified  under  the  'New  Domestic  Natural  Gas  Pricing Guidelines, 2014 for the period from October, 2017 to March, 2018 is USD 2.89/MMBTU on Gross Calorific  Value  (GCV).  As  per  the  above  said  guidelines,  the  price  determined  under  these guidelines is applicable to all sectors uniformly.

*********
Lok Sabha Question No. 3696 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Mobile Addictions in Students
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: ASADUDDIN OWAISI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3696 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH  MARCH, 2018

## Mobile Addictions in Students

3696. SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

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

- (a)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  large  number  of  children  are  using  Mobile  and  other gadgets for games and other purposes especially from nursery to IV standards;
- (b)  if  so,  whether  by  using  these  gadgets  their  fingers'  grip  is  loosing  as  they  are unable to grip pencil or pen for longer time and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted or proposes to conduct any study/survey on children below 10 years in regard to their grip to pencil or pen in schools; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken or being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

(a)  to  (d):  Ministry  of  Human  Resource  Development  has  no  specific  information regarding use of mobile and other gadgets by children. However, National Council for Educational Research & Training has developed Information and Communication Technology (ICT) curriculum for teachers and students in school education. As a part of this curriculum, social and ethical issues related to use of internet has been dealt with.  The  focus  of  the  curriculum  is  on  safe  and  secure  use  of  web  space  by students  and  teachers.  Central  Board  of  Secondary  Education  (CBSE)  does  not compile data regarding use of mobile phones in nursery to fourth standard. Moreover CBSE has banned the use of mobile phones in school premises vide circular no. 02/2009 dated 29 th July, 2009.

*****