opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1203 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-23
Subject: Industrial Biotechnology
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: SANKAR PRASAD DATTA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1203 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23/ 11/2016

## Industrial Biotechnology

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has invited proposals on industrial biotechnology; and (b) if so, the details thereof and the response received in this regard, so far?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (Y.S. CHOWDARY)

- (a)Yes Madam . Three 'Call for Proposals' on areas related to Industrial Biotechnology w ereissued in the current year by the Department of Biotechnology .
- (b)The details of the ' Call for Proposals' are as follows:

## 1. Call for proposal son ' River Cleaning '

This call was to support biotechnological scientific research/ demonstration projects on river for providing various possible river clean up options. The last date for submission was 15 th May, 2016.

In response to this call for proposal s, a total of203 R&D proposals were received. Out of these, about 10 R&D project proposals have been recommended by Expert Committee for financial support by DBT.

## 2. Expression of I nterest on ' Water for Health '

Department  of  Biotechnology  and  Netherlands  organization for  Scientific  Research  (NWO)  an organization  of  Ministry  of  Education,  Culture  and  Science,  Netherlands  and  STW  (Technolo foundation) expressed interest in collaborating in the area of Water for Health .

Under the call forproposal s, four joint proposals were received . A proposal on 'Local Treatment of Urban Sewage Streams for Healthy Reuse (LOTUS) was mutually agreed for funding .

## 3.Municipal Solid Waste to Energy under Swachh Bharat Mission

This call was to support development and demonstratio n of innovative and cost effective M unicipal Solid W aste (MSW) management processes/technologies that could address to generate energy to make the process economic and suitable for integrated MSW management. The last date for submission 31 st October, 20 16.90 proposals have been received in response to the call and are being evaluated .
Lok Sabha Question No. 1202 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-23
Subject: Sefety of Runaway Children at Stations
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: GEETHA KOTHAPALLI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1202 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.11.2016

## SAFETY OF RUNAWAY CHILDREN AT STATIONS

1202. SHRIMATI KOTHAPALLI GEETHA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the railways stations are not safe for runaway children;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the corrective steps being taken in this regard?

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

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1202 BY SHRIMATI KOTHAPALLI GEETHA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 23.11.2016 REGARDING SAFETY OF RUNAWAY CHILDREN AT STATIONS.

(a)  to  (c):  No,  Madam.  The  Ministry  of  Railways,  in  coordination  with Ministry of Women and Child Development and National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, have issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)  which  includes  a  protocol  for  rescue  of  young  children  found abandoned on railway stations or trafficked through trains. The SOP has been  implemented  on  20  railway  stations  and  it  is  been  decided  to implement it on additional 15 railway stations.

Accordingly, Ministry of Women and Child Development in coordination with  Ministry  of  Railways,  have  set  up  Child  Help  Desks/Kiosks  at  20 nominated  Railway  Stations  which  are  manned  by  representatives  of the organization nominated by Ministry of Women and Child Development.  The  runaway/missing/abandoned  children  are  rescued from stations by Child Help Group comprising of Station Superintendent/Station Master, Station House Officer (SHO)/ Government Railway Police (GRP), Inspector/Railway Protection Force (RPF),  Sr.  Section  Engineer  (Works),  and  in  trains  by  GRP,  RPF, Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) & Ticket Collector (TC). The children so  rescued  are  handed  over  to  these  Child  Help  Desks/Kiosks  and  in turn  to  Child  Welfare  Committee  (CWC)  in  coordination  with  GRP.  In addition, RPF supplements the efforts of GRP of the State concerned in rescuing the children from trafficking and to ensure safety & security of children  at  stations.  During  the  year  2015  and  2016  (Upto  October), 7575 and 9722 children including runaway children rescued at Railway Stations and on trains and handed over to their parents/GRP/NGOs/CWCs.  In addition, Security Helpline No.182 is also operational over Indian Railways for the security related assistance to the passengers in distress.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1200 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-23
Subject: China-Pak Relation
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: NARANBHAI KACHHADIA

†

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1200 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.11.2016

## CHINA-PAK RELATION

## 1200. SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  growing  relations  between  China  and  Pakistan has become a cause of concern for India in the past few years;
- (b)
- if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether India has conveyed its concern to China and Pakistan; and
- (d) if so, the reactions received from both the Governments in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) to (d) The  Government  is  aware  of  China's  assistance  to Pakistan including in the sectors of hydroelectric projects, highways, motorways, ports, export processing zone and economic corridors  in  Pakistan.  China  also  provides  defence  assistance  to Pakistan, including training and defence equipment and technology. China  is  assisting  Pakistan  in  the  development  of  the  so  called 'China-Pakistan  Economic  Corridor  (CPEC)'.  Some  of  the  proposed projects  under  CPEC  are  in  Pakistan  Occupied  Kashmir  (PoK). Government's consistent position is that Pakistan has been in illegal occupation of parts of the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir since 1947.  Government  has  conveyed  to  the  Chinese  side,  including  at the  highest  level,  its  concerns  about  their  activities  in  PoK  and asked them to cease these activities.

Government  keeps  a  constant  watch  on  all  developments having  a bearing  on India's security and  takes  all  necessary measures to safeguard it.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1199 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-23
Subject: Survey of Railway Lines
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: HARI NARAYAN RAJBHAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1199 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.11.2016

## SURVEY OF RAILWAY LINES

† 1199.   SHRI HARINARAYAN RAJBHAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways has fixed any target to lay new rail lines during the last three years;
- (b) if so, the State-wise details thereof, including Uttar Pradesh;
- (c) the details of the achievements made so far out of the fixed target;
- (d) whether there is decline in the laying of new lines and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Railways to achieve the targets?

## ANSWER

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

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

*****

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1199 BY SHRI HARINARAYAN RAJBHAR TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 23.11.2016 REGARDING SURVEY OF RAILWAY LINES

(a)  to  (c):      Targets  for  laying  of  new  rail  lines  are    not  fixed  State-wise. However,  year-wise  details  of  targets  fixed  and  achieved  (in  Kms)  for commissioning of new railway lines during the last three years are as under:-

| Year     |   Target (Revised) |   Achieved |
|----------|--------------------|------------|
| 2013-14* |                450 |        450 |
| 2014-15  |                300 |        380 |
| 2015-16  |                500 |        813 |

*Track linking

- (d):      There  is  a  marginal  decline  of  laying  new  lines  in  2014-15,  due  to enactment of new land acquisition act and subsequent delay due to framing of rules by States and procedure involved.
- (e):   To improve the achievement of laying of new lines, the following steps have been taken:-
- (i)  Making higher fund allotment for new line projects that increased from ` 7982  Crores  in  2014-15  to ` 12927.46  Crores  in  2015-16  and  further  to ` 13204 Crores in 2016-17.
- (ii)    Delegation of Powers to the field officers for tenders and estimates: The zonal Railways have now been delegated full powers with respect to works  contracts  and  powers  for  sanctioning  of  estimates  have  been enhanced.  This  has  also  resulted  in  cutting  down  time  for  estimate sanctions and tender finalization.
- (iii)      Initiative  for  formation  of  Joint  Venture  Company  with  State governments  which  makes  the  States  a  partner  in  growth  of  Railway infrastructure in the States.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1198 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-23
Subject: Jobs on Compassionate Grounds
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: SAKSHI SWAMI MAHARAJ

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1198

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.11.2016)

## JOBS ON COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS

## †1198. DR. SWAMI SAKSHIJI MAHARAJ:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is any provision in Government sector to provide jobs on compassionate grounds to the dependant of persons died in harness;
- (b) if so, the details of the rules laid down in this regard;
- (c) whether there is any provision to provide the job to the dependant in a stipulated time;
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the  Ministry-wise/Department-wise  number  of  cases  pending  during  the  last  three years along with the time by which these are likely to be disposed of?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office. (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) & (b):   Yes Madam. As per extant instructions, compassionate appointments can be made upto  a  maximum  of  5%  vacancies  falling  under  direct  recruitment  quota  in  a  year  in  any Group  'C'  post.    The  guidelines  for  making  compassionate  appointments  have  been  laid down  in  the  Department  of  Personnel  &  Training  OM  No.  14014/6/94-Estt.(D)  dated 09.10.1998  as amended  from  time  to  time. All the instructions  on  compassionate appointment have been consolidated vide the Department of Personnel & Training OM No. 14014/2/2012-Estt.(D) dated 16.01.2013.

- (c) & (d):  No Madam.  However, as per guidelines on compassionate appointment, subject to availability  of  vacancy  an  application  for  compassionate  appointment  is  to  be  considered without any time limit.
- (e):      The  Department  of  Personnel  and  Training  lays  down  the  policy  of  compassionate appointment which is implemented by the Ministries/Departments.  The details regarding the cases under consideration for compassionate appointments in the respective Ministries/Departments and those already made by them is not centrally maintained.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1197 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-23
Subject: Offices for Haj
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: KAMLA DEVI PATLE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No.1197 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.11.2016

## Offices for Haj

## 1197.  SHRIMATI KAMLA DEVI PAATLE:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the names of the places in the country where offices have been opened for identification of Haj pilgrims;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  received  any  representation  regarding  the inconvenience  being  caused  to  the  Haj  pilgrims  of  Chhattisgarh  and  the adjoining areas because of distant location of the Haj office at Nagpur;
- (c) if so, the action taken by the Government in this regard;
- (d) whether the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh has also written any letter in this regard; and
- (e)  if so, the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)

- (a) Presently, Hajis depart for Haj pilgrimage from 21 Embarkation Points across the  country.  These  are  located  at  Ahmedabad,  Aurangabad,  Bengaluru, Bhopal, Calicut, Chennai, Gaya, Goa, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mangaluru, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Ranchi, Srinagar and Varanasi.
- (b) and  (c)  A  letter  was  received  in  the  Haj  Committee  of  India,  Mumbai  in November,  2015  regarding  Raipur  to  be  introduced  as  new  Embarkation Point for the pilgrims of Chhattisgarh State. The matter was taken up with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, which is the nodal Ministry in respect of air charter operations for Haj pilgrims. However, it was not found feasible to introduce a new Embarkation Point for Haj pilgrims during Haj 2016.
- (d) and (e) Haj matters have been transferred from Ministry of External Affairs to Ministry of Minority Affairs with effect from 1 st October, 2016. No letter from the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh is available in the records of the Ministry of Minority Affairs on this issue.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1196 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-23
Subject: Constitution of Committee
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: K. GOPAL

## MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1196

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.11.2016)

## CONSTITUTION OF COMMITTEE

1196. DR. K. GOPAL:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government  is considering to constitute a committee  to review representations from employees who have been asked to retire compulsorily in public interest;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether there is a sense of unease among senior civil servants at the Centre as a result of said decision; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office. (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a)  to  (d):      Review  of  performance  is  a  continuous  process  under  FR  56(j),  Rule  48  of CCS(Pension) Rules and the AIS Rules. All cadre authorities have been asked to constitute Representation  Committees  in  case  of  receipt  of  representation  from  any  Government servant,  whom  the  Appointing  Authority  has  decided  to  retire.  Two  members  of  the Committee have  been  nominated  by  the  Cabinet  Secretariat  and  the  third  member  will  be nominated by the Cadre Controlling Authority.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1195 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-23
Subject: MPLAD Fund
Ministry: STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
Asked by: BHAGWANTH KHUBA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1195

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 23 RD  NOVEMBER, 2016

## MPLAD FUND

## 1195.   SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA:

Will the Minister of STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government received any request to reconsider the guidelines framed in respect of spending of funds under the MPLAD scheme;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether many Members of Parliament are facing problems of two districts after delimitation and there are problems in release of funds as a result thereof; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the corrective steps taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATISTICS  AND  PROGRAMME  IMPLEMENTATION

[SHRI  D.V. SADANANDA GOWDA]

(a) & (b): The Guidelines on MPLADS are revised from time to time inter-alia  on  the  basis  of  feedback  from  MPs,  States,  District Authorities,  etc., recommendations and advice from Parliamentary Committees, recommendations and advice of Comptroller & Auditor General  /  Public  Accounts  Committee,  internal  examinations  and discussions in the Ministry, etc. in order to improve the design and implementation of the scheme.

The updated Guidelines on MPLADS as on June 2016 and subsequent amendments are available in the public domain, including  on  the  official  website  of  Ministry  of  Statistics  and Programme Implementation (www.mospi.nic.in).

(c): No, Madam.

The  annual  entitlement  of  Rs  5  crore  is  released,  in  two  equal instalments of Rs 2.5 crore each, by Government of India directly to the  District  Authority  of  the  Nodal  District  of  the  Member  of Parliament concerned.

Para 4.6 of the Guidelines on MPLADS provides that if a Lok Sabha constituency  is  spread  over  more  than  one  district,  funds  for  the constituency shall be released to the opted Nodal District Authority, who will be responsible for transfer of funds to the other districts within  the  constituency  as  per  the  requirement  of  funds  in  those districts.

(d): Does not arise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1194 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-23
Subject: Third Party Interference
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Y. S. AVINASH REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1194 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.11.2016

## THIRD PARTY INTERFERENCE

## 1194.     SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways have noticed any third party interference in the Railway contract works of Nadikudi-Srikalahasti Railway Line Construction and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  railway  workmen  are  being  troubled while carrying out their work;
- (c) whether the Railways have been in receipt of any complaints in this regard;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the remedial measures being taken by the Railways in curtailing the third party interference in the matter?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a)to (e): It has come  to  notice that the works  of  NadikudiSrikalahasti  New  Broad  Gauge  Railway  Line  construction  were interfered by certain local people.  However, railway workmen were

not troubled in carrying out their works.  Only the contractors have verbally brought the issue to notice and the same also been covered widely in local newspapers.  As law and order is a State subject, the issue has been brought to the notice of District Administration and necessary protection was provided by State Government immediately.  The work is now progressing as planned.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1192 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-23
Subject: Women Researchers
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: DILIP KUMAR MANSUKHLAL GANDHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1192 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23/11/2016

## WOMEN RESEARCHERS

†1192.  SHRI DILIPKUMAR MANSUKHLAL GANDHI:

## Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó Ùðüëðó be pleased to state:

(a) the total number of women researchers in the country in comparison the total number of researchers;

(b) whether  the  number  of  per  capita  research  applications  received  in  the  country  is  very  low  in comparison to the countries which are engaged in advance research;

(c) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor;

(d) whether  domestic  and  foreign  patent  filed  on  per  million  people  in  the  country  is  very  less  in comparison to other countries;

(e) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor; and

(f) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (SHRI.Y. S. CHOWDARY) òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó +ÉÉè® ÑðöÆãðó òãðìððÐð ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó (gÉÉÒ ´ÉÉ<Ç. AºÉ. SÉÉèvÉ®ÉÒ)

(a) As per the latest available statistics, 27,532 (14.3%) women researchers are engaged in R&D  activities in comparison to the total 1.93 lakh researchers in the country.

(b) & (c): Yes, Madam. As per the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) latest statistics, India registered far fewer research applications (Patents) than other top filing nations. In 2014, India registered 42,854 patents in comparison to China (928,177), USA (578,802), Japan (325,989), Republic of Korea (210,292), Germany (65,965) and Russian Federation (40,308) etc. The main reason for less number of patent application filing are lack of awareness on patent system, its benefits among individuals, academic institutions & industries and low spending on   research and development by private sector.

(d) to (f): Yes, Madam. As per the WIPO statistics, the domestic and foreign patents filed in India per million population is far less than other countries. During the year 2014, India registered 33.2 patents per million population in comparison to 4205.8 by Republic of Korea, 2566.8 by Japan, 1782.6 by USA and 680.3 by China, etc. To strengthen the IPR system in the country the Government has brought out a new National IPR Policy 2014 and has taken various steps to encourage patent filing such as generating awareness programmes among stakeholders, encouraging potential applicants and organising knowledge Expo and Design Summit for filing patents in collaboration with WIPO etc.

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