opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 5812 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-10
Subject: Steel Development Fund
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: MANOJ RAJORIA

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5812

## FOR ANSWER ON 10/04/2017

## STEEL DEVELOPMENT FUND

5812.  DR. MANOJ RAJORIA:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  financial  assistance  provided  from  the  Steel  Development fund  and  plan  fund  of  the  Union  Government  to  encourage  R&D  activities  both  in public and private steel sectors during the year 2014-15 and 2015-16;
- (b) whether the aforementioned financial assistance has been helpful in achieving the desired results; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR STEEL

(SHRI VISHNU DEO SAI)

- (a) The details of the financial assistance provided from Steel Development Fund (SDF) and Plan fund for R&D activities in steel sector for the years 2014-15 & 201516 are given below:-

(in Rs. Crore)

|   Sl.No. | Year    |   SDF |   Plan Fund |
|----------|---------|-------|-------------|
|        1 | 2014-15 |  7.62 |        2.03 |
|        2 | 2015-16 |  5.68 |       10.26 |

(b)&(c): Some R&D projects taken up during these period have been completed and yielding  benefits  to  the  iron  and  steel  industry  in  terms  of    improvement  in productivity, reduction in energy consumption and pollution etc.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 5811 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-10
Subject: Admission of Poor Students in Kendriya Vidyalayas
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: PONNUSAMY VENUGOPAL

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5811 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.04.2017

## ADMISSION OF POOR STUDENTS IN KENDRIYA VIDYALAYAS

## 5811. DR. P. VENUGOPAL:

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

- (a) whether it is true that the Government is considering to evolve a two or three slab  income  group  to  facilitate  and  ensure  that  the  economically  poorest students get priority over others for admission in Kendriya Vidyalayas;
- (b) whether  it  is  also  true  that  the  proposal  being  mooted  is  for  the  special dispensation quota provided to Members of Parliament; and
- (c) if so the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Admissions  in  Kendriya  Vidyalayas  (KVs)  are  decided  on  the  basis  of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) Admission Guidelines giving priority to wards of transferable Central Government employees. It does not have any income slab as criterion for deciding admissions. However, as per provisions of Right of Children to Free  and  Compulsory  Education  (RTE)  Act,  2009  KVS  already  provides  for reservation of 25% seats in class-I at entry stage to the children belonging to SC / ST  /  OBC  non  creamy  layer  /  EWS  /  BPL    and  differently  abled  children  taken

together. (b) & (c) Keeping in view the needs of low income groups of the society, the Hon'ble Members  of  Parliament  have  been  requested  to  recommend  only  those  children whose  parents  have  an  annual  income  below  Rs.  5  lakhs,  for  consideration  for

- admission in the KVs under their special dispensation quota.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5810 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-10
Subject: District Industries Centres
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL POLICY & PROMOTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5810. TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE  10 TH  APRIL, 2017.

## DISTRICT INDUSTRIES CENTRES

## 5810.  SHRI ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: वाणिज् यवव द्यग ं ्री

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  revive  the  District  Industries centres;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any such proposal for the next year has been approved; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज् यवव द्यग ााज् यं ्रीस् वतं ््रभााा(स्रींतंरीिरंमलााीरीतंाांि( THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRIMATI NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) to (d): District  Industries  Centers (DICs) are offices  of  State Governments. Different Committees have made recommendations to revitalise DICs. However, at present Government of India has no such scheme.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5809 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-10
Subject: Funds Provided under MDMS
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: BAHADUR SINGH KOLI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5809 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.04.2017

## Funds Provided under MDMS

## †5809.   SHRI BAHADUR SINGH KOLI:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  made  any  cut  in  the  allocation  of  funds  to  various States including Rajasthan under the Mid- Day Meal Scheme during the last three financial years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  allocate  additional  funds  to  Rajasthan  for making payment to the Food Corporation of India for the procured foodgrains; and
- (d) if so, the time by which the allocation is likely to be made by the Government?

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

- (a):  No, Madam.
- (b):  Does not arise.
- (c)  &(d):    The  State  Government  of  Rajasthan    submitted  a  proposal  vide  letter  dated 10.05.2016 indicating committed liability of ` 3615.00 lakhs for previous years towards the payment of cost of  foodgrains to FCI, cooking cost, honorarium to cook-cum-helpers and monitoring and management evaluation. The said proposal was examined and central assistance of ` 3615.00 lakhs has been sanctioned to State Government on 27.6.2016. No other proposal from the State Government is under consideration in this regard.
Lok Sabha Question No. 5805 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-10
Subject: Mining by NMDC
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: SHER SINGH GHUBAYA, S.P. MUDDAHANUMEGOWDA, CHINTAMANI MALVIYA

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5805 FOR ANSWER ON 10/04/2017

## MINING BY NMDC

5805.  SHRI SHER SINGH GHUBAYA:

- SHRI S.P. MUDDAHANUME GOWDA: PROF. CHINTAMANI MALVIYA: Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state: (a) whether the existing mining capacity has declined in comparison to the targets fixed and actual targets achieved by NMDC; (b) if so, the details thereof and the corrective measures being taken by NMDC to achieve its mining targets; (c) whether the NMDC proposes to acquire coal mines abroad; and (d) if so, the details thereof including quantum of investment proposed to be made therein, country-wise? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STEEL (SHRI CHAUDHARY BIRENDER SINGH) (a)&(b): No, Madam. (c)&(d): No, Madam.  There is no proposal under consideration in NMDC to acquire coal mines abroad.
- ********
Lok Sabha Question No. 5804 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-10
Subject: Technical Institute
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: RAMSINH PATALYABHAI RATHWA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5804 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.04.2017

## Technical Institute

## 5804. SHRI RAMSINH RATHWA:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  prepared  any  action  plan  to  set-up  new technical institutes or to upgrade existing institutes in the field of education in the country;
- (b) if  so,  whether  those  areas  have  been  selected  where  this  scheme  is  to  be implemented; and
- (c) the amount declared for above scheme by the Government and the details of the amount allocated under this scheme for the current financial year?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## (DR. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

(a)  to  (c):  Yes,  Madam.  Under  the  Technical  Education  Quality  Improvement Program (TEQIP-III) project funded by World Bank, initiatives for improving the quality of technical education would be implemented in 19 educationally backward states from April 2017 onwards for three years. Under this, the engineering colleges and  their  affiliating  technical  universities  prepare  the  Institution  Development Proposals (IDPs) which are approved after due evaluation. Further, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad has been converted to Indian Institute of Technology, Dhanbad during the academic year 2017-18 without any financial implication.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5801 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-10
Subject: Minority Status
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: NEELAM SONKER

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5801 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.04.2017

## Minority Status

## †5801.  SHRIMATI NEELAM SONKER:

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

- (a) whether any of the Central Universities have been awarded the status of minority universities in the country and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;
- (b) the criteria adopted for according minority status to these universities;
- (c) the details of the facilities provided to these minority status universities;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to award minority status to any universities this year; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

- (a)  to  (e):  The  minority  status    of  two  Central  Universities,  namely  Aligarh  Muslim  University (AMU) and Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) is sub-judice before the Hon'ble Supreme Court  of India and the High Court of Delhi respectively.

At present, there is no proposal to award minority status to any Central University.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5799 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-10
Subject: Irregularities of Funds in Cultural Institutions
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: ADVOCATE NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5799

## TO BE ANSWERED ON April 10, 2017

## IRREGULARITIES OF FUNDS IN CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS

## 5799 ADV. NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR

## Will the Minister of CULTURE be please to state:

- (a)    whether  it  is  a  fact  that  some  serious  irregularities,  mismanagement  of  funds  in Cultural institutions in the country have come to the notice of the Government;
- (b)    if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any inquiry into the irregularities and if so, the details of the outcome;
- (d)  whether the Government has initiated any proceedings against those found   guilty and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)      the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  enhance  the  reputation  of  the  premier cultural institutions?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CULTURE AND TOURISM

## (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) to (e) : The information is being collected and will be laid on the Table of   the House.
Lok Sabha Question No. 5798 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-10
Subject: Documentation of Tribal Medicinal Practices
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5798

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.04.2017

## DOCUMENTATION OF TRIBAL MEDICINAL PRACTICES

5798.   SHRIMATI RAKSHATAI KHADSE :

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

- (a)    whether the Government proposes to preserve our rich and ancient heritage in terms of the medicinal practices adopted by the tribals particularly those living in remote areas who have  been  able  to  protect/resist  many  diseases  and  have  remained  healthy  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (b)      whether  the  Government  has  identified/assessed  any  existing  documented  tribal's medicine practices in Ayurveda and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)          whether  the  Government  proposes  to  create/build  documentations  of  the  tribal's medicine, medicinal practices and the traditional use of herbs and medicinal plants which are not yet documented; and
- (d)     if so, the details thereof along with the other steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI JASWANTSINH BHABHOR)

- (a) to (d) :- Government has constituted an Expert Committee on Tribal Health under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.   The Committee has since submitted a draft report which is under the consideration of the Government.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5797 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-10
Subject: Sponge Iron Plants
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: HARIOM SINGH RATHORE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5797 FOR ANSWER ON 10/04/2017

## SPONGE IRON PLANTS

5797.  SHRI HARIOM SINGH RATHORE:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

- (a) the  number  of  sponge  iron  plants  established  both  in  public  and  private sectors  and  employment  opportunities  created  therefrom  in  the  country,  State/UTwise including Rajasthan;
- (b) whether there is any provision for grant of job reservations for the local people in the said plants particularly in backward and tribal areas of the country; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

|                       | ANSWER                          |
|-----------------------|---------------------------------|
| THE MINISTER OF STEEL | (SHRI CHAUDHARY BIRENDER SINGH) |

(a)to(c): Steel being a deregulated sector, the role of  the Government is limited to that  of  a  facilitator  for  the  growth  of  steel  industry  in  the  country.    Any  decision relating to setting up of steel plant in the private sector, recruitment of employees for running  the  plant  etc.  are  therefore,  taken  by  the  individual  investors  based  on various  commercial  considerations.  State  wise  details  on  number  of  Sponge  Iron Plants in the country during 2015-16 are at Annexure. Guidelines on recruitment etc. including reservation criterion continue to apply for Public Sector Undertakings in the Steel Sector.

********

ANNEXURE State Wise Details of Indian Sponge Iron Industry, 2015-16*

| State                  | No of Units   |
|------------------------|---------------|
| PRIVATE SECTOR :-      |               |
| Jharkhand              | 64            |
| Odisha                 | 83            |
| West Bengal            | 41            |
| Chhattisgarh           | 50            |
| Goa                    | 3             |
| Maharashtra            | 8             |
| Gujarat                | 1             |
| Rajasthan              | 0             |
| Andhra Pradesh         | 7             |
| Karnataka              | 31            |
| Tamil Nadu             | 7             |
| Telangana              | 12            |
| Total Private Sector   | 307           |
| PUBLIC SECTOR :-       |               |
| Telangana              | 1             |
| Rajasthan              | 0             |
| Total Public Sector    | 1             |
| Total : Public+Private | 308           |

Source: JPC *Provisional

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 5796 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-10
Subject: Impact of Ban on Liquor on Tourism Industry
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: SAUGATA ROY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5796 ANSWERED ON 10.04.2017

## IMPACT OF BAN ON LIQUOR ON TOURISM INDUSTRY

5796. PROF. SAUGATA ROY:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  ban  on  liquor  in some parts of the country has affected the tourism industry in any way;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  remove  the  ban  on liquor in tourism centres;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  action  to  ensure standard liquors in all tourism centres; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) & (b): The  Ministry  of  Tourism  does  not  compile  information with regard the effect of ban on liquor in some parts of the country on the tourism industry.

(c): No, Madam.  The subject is within the purview of the State list of the 7 th  Schedule of the Constitution of India.

(d) & (e):

Does not arise. *******
Lok Sabha Question No. 5795 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-10
Subject: Foreign Students in IITs
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: ASADUDDIN OWAISI

## MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5795 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.04.2017

## Foreign Students in IITs

## 5795. SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

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

- (a) whether Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have decided to allot ten per cent additional seats to foreign students in these institutions;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the examination centres have been identified for these students in foreign countries;
- (d) if so, the details of the countries so identified;
- (e) the other changes made in regard to admission in IITs for Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled  Tribes(SCs/STs)  and  Persons  with  Disability  (PwD)  category candidates;
- (f) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  Directors  of  IITs  have  opposed  this  move  of outsourcing students in IITs; and
- (g) if so, the reasons put forward by them and other steps taken or being taken by the Government for smooth conducting of admission in IITs?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

(a) to (e) :  Foreign students have been allowed to register for JEE (Advanced) 2017 and  the  seats  allotted  to  them  are  supernumerary  with  a  cap  of  10%  of  total number  of  seats  in  each  course.  It  has  also  been  decided  to  conduct  JEE (Advanced)  2017  examination  in  6  examination  centres  abroad,  namely  Addis Ababa  (Ethiopia), Colombo  (Sri Lanka), Dhaka  (Bangladesh), Dubai  (UAE), Kathmandu (Nepal) and Singapore.  For SC/ST students the qualifying marks in the 12 th  Class exam have been relaxed from 75% to 65%.

- (f) : No, Madam.

- (g) : Does not arise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5792 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-10
Subject: Pipeline Gas Connection
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: KIRIT SOMAIYA

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5792 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.4.2017 PIPELINE GAS CONNECTION

## 5792.     DR. KIRIT SOMAIYA:

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

## isVªksfy;e vkSj izkd`frd xSl ea=h

- (a)  whether  the  Mahanagar  Gas  Limited  (MGL)  has  not  given  pipeline  gas  connection  to  the thousands  of  families  of  Hanuman  Nagar,  Mumbai  despite  several  representations  from various public representatives and the locals residents;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  status  of  such  representations/complaints    and corrective action taken/being taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (c) whether the Government has persuaded/proposes to persuade the matter with MGL and if so, the details thereof along with action taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## पेट्रोलियम और प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्रािय में राज्  य मंत्ररी ( स्  विंत्र प्राार ) ( श्ररी धमेन्द  र प्रधान )

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a) to (c):  Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) and Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL) have informed that they have not received any representations/complaints regarding PNG connections for Hanuman Nagar area. MGL has also informed that there are two Hanuman Nagar in Mumbai viz. Hanuman Nagar, Vikroli (W), and Hanuman Nagar, Bhandup (W), Mumbai.

MGL has further informed that these are predominately slums and as per technical and safety norms, it may not be feasible to connect and provide piped gas supply in these slum areas.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5791 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-10
Subject: Issue of Degree to Students
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: PRALHAD VENKATESH JOSHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 5791 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.04.2017

## Issue of Degree to Students

5791. SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI: Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the University Grants Commission has directed all the universities to issue degrees to the students within six months of the student qualifying for the degree;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

- (c) whether the Ministry received any representation against the universities who have failed to award the degree within the specified time period; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Dr. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

(a)  to  (d):  The  University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)  receives  representations  and references from different stakeholders in higher education regarding the issue of delay in award of degrees to the students by some  universities. Acting on such representations  and  references,  the  UGC,  vide  its  instruction  letter  dated  19 th May, 2016,  has  reiterated  Para.  4.4  of  UGC  (Grants  of  Degrees  and  other  Awards  by Universities) regulations, 2008 which mandates that the degrees should be issued to the  students  within  180  days  of  the  date  by  which  these  students  are  expected  to qualify and become eligible for such degrees and requested the Vice- Chancellors of all the Universities, to comply with such mandatory provision.

- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5789 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-10
Subject: Health Safety Scheme
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5789 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.04.2017

## HEALTH SAFETY SCHEME

## 5789. SHRI PRABHAKAR REDDY KOTHA:

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

- (a)whether  the  Government  has  extended  or  proposes  to  extend  the benefits  under  the  ESIC  and  EPF  for  construction  workers  in  a phased manner; and
- (b)if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken in this regard?

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## ANSWER (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

(a) & (b): The employees of construction agencies/offices of builders were  already  covered  under  section  1  (5)  of  the  Employees'  State Insurance (ESI) Act.  With effect from 01.08.2015, the benefits of the ESI Scheme to the construction site workers located in the implemented areas have also been extended. Similarly, the Employees'  Provident  Fund  &  Miscellaneous  Provisions  (EPF  &  MP) Act, 1952 is applicable to all the establishments engaged in building and  construction  industry  and  employing  20  or  more  persons  w.e.f. 31.10.1980.

Accordingly,  the  social  security  benefits  under  EPF  &  MP Act as well as ESI Act are admissible to construction workers.

******