opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 20 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-16
Subject: VRS to MTNL Employees
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: K. ASHOK KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.20 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 TH  NOVEMBER, 2016

## VRS TO MTNL EMPLOYEES

20. SHRI K. ASHOK KUMAR:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  administrative  functioning  cost  particularly  on  salary  and  other remuneration of employees of MTNL is about 78 per cent of its revenues which is far above the industry average;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  Telecom  Commission  has  proposed  a  voluntary  retirement scheme (VRS) for MTNL employees who are 50 years of age;
- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  revenue  likely  to  be  saved  by  MTNL  as  a result of implementation of the VRS Scheme; and
- (e) the present status of the proposal?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a)&(b) The  employee  expenditure  of  MTNL  for  2015-16  is  67%  of  its  total income.  This is higher than that of private Telecom Service Providers.  The major reason is due to Department of Telecommunication manpower which moved to MTNL on its formation.
- (c)&(d) The Telecom Commission approved in the meeting held on 30.4.2016 a Voluntary  Retirement  Scheme  (VRS)  for  around  5312  employees  (20%  of  existing workforce) of MTNL who are more than 50 years of age primarily whose services may be dispensed without detriment to the company. Care will be exercised to ensure that highly skilled and qualified workers and staff are not given the option and management will reserve the right not to accept the VR of highly skilled employees to retain the talent. The proposal would save MTNL around Rs. 2,701 crore (NPV Rs. 2,080 crore) over a period of 10 years on account of salary and pension contribution.
- (e) On approval of Telecom Commission, a Draft Cabinet Note has been prepared and is under consideration.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 18 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-16
Subject: Public Transport in Delhi
Ministry: URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: DILIP PATEL

No. 18

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 18

TO BE ANSWERED ON NOVEMBER 16, 2016

## PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN DELHI

SHRI DILIP PATEL:

Will the Minister of URBAN DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has put in place a roadmap for improving public  transport  system  in  Delhi  and  other  Capital  cities  of  the country during the Twelfth Plan period;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the efforts made so far and the progress achieved by Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

(a) to (c): No  Madam.  Urban  Transport  is  inter-twined  with  Urban Development, which is a State subject.  As such the initiatives including planning and execution of urban transport systems are taken up by the States/ Union Territories/Urban Local Bodies.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 17 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-16
Subject: Development of Sports Under Skill India Initiative
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: PRALHAD VENKATESH JOSHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.17 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.11.2016

## DEVELOPMENT OF SPORTS UNDER SKILL INDIA INITIATIVE

## 17. SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI:

## Will  the  Minister  of  SKILL  DEVELOPMENT  AND  ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Ministry has taken any initiative for the development of sports under the Skill India Initiative;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government has taken any steps in consonance with the recommendations  of  the  National  Skill  Development  Council  on  the  skill  gaps  in  the sector; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY)

(a)  to  (d)  Yes  Madam.    Government  of  India  has  taken  various  initiatives  for  the development  of  Sports  sector,  through  imparting  skill  training.  Under  this  initiative, Government  has  mandated  NSDC  to  constitute  Sector  Skill  Council  (SSC)  for  the Sports sector through the representative of sport industries, academia, sector experts etc.  to  access  skill  needs/  skill  gaps  of  various  job  roles  and  develop  job  specific standards  called  Qualification  Packs  (QP)  -  National  Occupational  Standards  (NOS). Skill gap study on sports sector has been carried out during 2010-11. On the basis of the report, 4 QPs namely Fitness trainer, Life guard-Pool and Beach, Sports Coach and Sports Masseur have been developed by the Sports Sector Skill Council. As of now 49 training  partners  have  been  affiliated  through  Sport  SSC.  Under  non-PMKVY,  around 6000 candidates were trained through various training centres during the year 2015-16.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 16 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-16
Subject: Secretary Level Talks
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: T.G. VENKATESH BABU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.16 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.11.2016

## SECRETARY LEVEL TALKS

16.     SHRI VENKATESH BABU T.G.:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)     whether Secretary-level talks were held afresh between India and Pakistan;
- (b)     if so, the details along with the outcome thereof;
- (c)      whether  any  steps  are  being  taken  to  resolve  border  and  other disputes, bilateral relations between the two nations and ensure peace and tranquility along the region;
- (d)
- if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e) The  Foreign  Secretaries  of  India  and  Pakistan  met  on  the sidelines of the 'Heart of Asia' Senior Officials Meeting on 26 April 2016 in New Delhi wherein, it was clearly conveyed to Pakistan that it cannot be  in  denial  on  the  impact  of  terrorism  on  the  bilateral  relationship. Government also emphasised the need for early and visible progress on the  Pathankot terrorist  attack investigations, the  Mumbai case trial in Pakistan  and  the  listing  of  JeM  leader  Masood  Azhar  in  the  UN  1267 Sanctions Committee. Humanitarian issues including those pertaining to fishermen  and  prisoners,  and  people  to  people  contacts  including religious tourism were discussed. Government also pressed for consular access  to  Kulbhushan  Jadhav,  the  former  Naval  officer  abducted  and presently held in Pakistan's custody.

Government  remains  committed  to  working  towards  a  normal relationship with Pakistan by addressing all outstanding issues through peaceful bilateral means in an environment free of terror and violence. In this regard, Government of Pakistan has been conveyed on a number of  occasions  that  it  needs  to  honour  its  commitment  not  to  allow  its territory or territories under its control to be used against India, and to respect the sanctity of the International Boundary and Line of Control.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 14 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-16
Subject: Ban on Migration of Women
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: KRISHNAN NARAYANASAMY RAMACHANDRAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.14 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.11.2016

## BAN ON MIGRATION OF WOMEN

14.      SHRI K.N. RAMACHANDRAN:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Union Government is considering to ban migration  of  women  from  India  to  the  Gulf  countries  to  work  as housemaids;  and
- (b)     if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

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

- (a)     No.
- (b) In  view  of  complaints  of  exploitation  and  harassment  of  the housemaids  by  unscrupulous  agents  and  employers  in  the  Gulf countries, the Government has taken additional measures to safeguard the interests of Indian female workers migrating to ECR countries.  As  per  extant  guidelines,  the  minimum  age  of  ECR category  female  workers  proceeding  for  overseas  employment  to ECR countries is 30 years. Their emigration for overseas employment is permitted only through the six designated state-run recruitment agencies or through the Foreign Employer registered on e-Migrate system.  In case of Foreign Employer, attestation of work contract  by  the  Indian  Mission  in  the  destination  country  and submission of a bank guarantee of US $ 2500 is mandatory before the  emigration  clearance  is  granted  by  the  Office  of  Protector  of Emigrants.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 12 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-16
Subject: Atomic Threat to India
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: S.P. MUDDAHANUMEGOWDA, C.S. PUTTARAJU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.12 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.11.2016

## ATOMIC THREAT TO INDIA

12.     SHRI S. P. MUDDAHANUME GOWDA: SHRI C. S. PUTTA RAJU:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)     whether some top ranking Pakistani leaders in the recent past have threatened use of atom bomb against India;
- (b)     if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)      the  steps taken/being taken by the Union Government in this regard?

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

- (a) Yes.
- (b) Pakistan's  Federal  Minister  of  Defence  Khwaja  Muhammad Asif  in  a  recent  interview  to  a  Pakistani  television  channel  while responding  to  a  question  whether  Pakistan  would  use  nuclear weapons in case of a war, stated that 'in defence of Pakistan, for the safety of the country, we may use nuclear weapons, if required'. He has made similar statements in the past as well.
- (c) Government monitors all developments which have a bearing on national security and takes all necessary steps to safeguard the nation's security.
- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 11 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-16
Subject: Extension of Retirement Age for Judges
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: RAMSINH PATALYABHAI RATHWA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.11

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY THE 16 TH  NOVEMBER, 2016.

## Extension of Retirement Age for Judges

## 11.   SHRI RAMSINH RATHWA :

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any proposal for extension of retirement age of High Court Judges is under consideration of Government;
- (b)   if so, the details thereof;
- (c)   whether Standing Committee on PPG and Law and Justice has recommended the extension of the retirement age of High Court Judges from  62 to 65 years; and
- (d)   if so, the reaction of the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW AND JUSTICE AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY)

(a)  to  (d)  :  The  Constitution  (One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Amendment)  Bill,  2010  which provided for increasing the retirement age of High Court Judges from 62 years to 65 years was introduced  in  the  Lok  Sabha  on  25.08.2010.  Thereafter,  the  Bill  was  referred  to  the Parliamentary Standing Committee for examination  and  report, which recommended that the proposed Bill in its present form should be passed without delay. The Bill could not be taken up for consideration and passing in the Parliament and lapsed with the dissolution of the 15 th Lok Sabha.
Lok Sabha Question No. 10 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-16
Subject: Level of Poverty and Number of Poor People
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: ELUMALAI VELLAIGOUNDER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 10 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.11.2016

## LEVEL OF POVERTY AND NUMBER OF POOR PEOPLE

## 10. SHRI V. ELUMALAI:

- Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state: (a) whether as per the report of NITI Aayog, the level of poverty and the number of poor people in the country have come down; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) the norms/criteria adopted for deciding the level of poverty in this report and the current criteria for the same; and (d) whether there is any proposal to review these norms/criteria and if so, the details thereof and if
- not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND MINISTRY OF HOUSING & URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION

## (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

(a) to (d): The official poverty estimates are based on data of Large Sample Surveys on Household Consumer Expenditure carried out by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) of the Ministry of  Statistics  and  Programme  Implementation.  These  surveys  are  normally  conducted  on quinquennial basis. The latest data of Large Sample Survey on Household Consumer Expenditure has been collected by NSSO in its 68 th round conducted in 2011-12. No new equivalent survey has been done by NSSO since 2011-12. Therefore, no new poverty estimates are possible unless there is a change in the official poverty line. At present the official poverty line remains the Tendulkar line at which the existing estimates relating to 2011-12 have been computed and released through a Press Note issued on 22 nd July 2013.

*********
Lok Sabha Question No. 9 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-16
Subject: Land Pooling
Ministry: URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 9

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 th  NOVEMBER, 2016

## LAND POOLING

- No. 9     SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL:

Will the Minister of URBAN DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a):  the  present  status  of  the  Land  Pooling  Policy  of  the  Government  in Delhi;

(b): the details of the bottlenecks in the implementation of this policy;

(c): the steps taken to remove the bottlenecks and implement the policy without any delay?

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT

(RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a): The land pooling policy was notified by the Central Government as 'Chapter 19: Land Policy' in Master Plan for Delhi-2021 vide notification no. 2687(E) dated 05.09.2013.
- (b) & (c): Declaration of the villages, falling in land pooling area, as (i) development area under Section 12 of Delhi Development Act, 1957 by the Lieutenant Governor, Delhi after seeking the views of Municipal Corporations  of  Delhi  (MCDs),  and  (ii)  urban  areas  under  Section  507  of Delhi  Municipal  Corporation  Act,  1957  by  the  concerned  MCDs  after  the approval  of  Government  of  National  Capital  Territory  of  Delhi,  is  a statutory requirement for implementation of the policy.  DDA has taken up steps for the same and the matter has been reviewed in the Ministry.
- ………….
Lok Sabha Question No. 8 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-16
Subject: Amendment in Foreign Policy
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: ANIRUDHAN SAMPATH, RAJESHBHAI NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA

- 8.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.8 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.11.2016

## AMENDMENT IN FOREIGN POLICY

- DR. A. SAMPATH: SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any proposal to amend its Foreign Policy;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Union  Government  has  formulated  any  diplomatic plan/vision for the next twenty years;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the steps taken/to be taken by the Union to clear foreign policy with India's short/long term national interests clearly defined?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## ANSWER (SHRI M. J. AKBAR)

(a) to (e) Government of India's foreign policy, at present and in the foreseeable  future,  continues  the  pursuit  of  ensuring  a  peaceful  and stable international order with the most propitious climate for India's economic growth and development in an ever-changing global environment. To this end, the Government has taken steps to revitalise our traditional ties with foreign countries, re-energise our strategic and commercial  relations  with  existing  and  new  partners  and  reconnect with NRI and PIO populations abroad. The importance of our immediate periphery in our foreign policy is reflected in the 'Neighbourhood first' policy of the Government. High level visits to all countries in the region, sometimes after a gap of several years or decades have imparted new energy  to  bilateral  ties.  Our  engagement  has  focused  on  greater connectivity, cooperation in all domains and broader people-to-people contacts.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 7 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-16
Subject: New Memu Train
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 7 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.11.2016

## NEW MEMU TRAIN

- †7.  SHRIMATI DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Railways propose to run MEMU train from Vapi station of  Mumbai  central  division  to  Keem,  Ankaleshwar  and  Bharuch stations of Baroda division every fifteen minutes keeping in view the industrial development of the area; and

- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) &  (b) Presently, Vapi is connected  to  Kim  by  04  pairs of Mail/Express  and  03  pairs  of  Passenger  trains,  Ankaleshwar  by  21 pairs of Mail/Express and 03 pairs of Passenger trains and Bharuch by 40 pairs of Mail/Express and 03 pairs of Passenger trains, which are considered  adequate  for  the  present  level  of  traffic.    However,  at present, there is no proposal to connect Vapi with Kim, Ankaleshwar and  Bharuch  stations  by  MEMU  train  service  due  to  operational  and resource constraints.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 6 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-16
Subject: Indians Stranded in Iraq
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.6 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.11.2016

## INDIANS STRANDED IN IRAQ

6. SHRI PRABHAKAR REDDY KOTHA:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether some Indian workers are stranded in Erbil in Iraq as their visa has lapsed and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether any representation has been received by the Ministry in this regard and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  rescue  the  Indians and bring them back to India?

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

- (a) Yes.  As  reported  by  the  Indian  Consulate,  Erbil,  Iraq,  55  Indian workers were stranded in Erbil, Iraq, as their visas had lapsed. This had happened  because  their  employers  did  not  renew  their  visas  and residency  permits.  As  per  local  rules  effective  from  March  2016,  any individual  who  has  overstayed  the  visa  can  exit  Kurdistan  only  after payment of a penalty of US$ 800/- per month for the period of overstay.
- (b) The Indian Consulate in Erbil has recently received representations  from  the  stranded  Indian  nationals  and  an  NGO  from Telengana.
- (c) The Consulate had approached the host Government for repatriation of these Indian nationals who have over-stayed their visas. The issue was taken up by the Consul General during his meetings with the Prime Minister and the Interior Minister of Kurdistan. As a result of these efforts, a group of 19 Indian nationals has travelled back to India on November 10, 2016, without payment of any overstayal penalty. The Consulate is also contacting the remaining 36 individuals to reconfirm their  consent  to  be  repatriated  to  India  so  that  the  host  Government may be requested to facilitate their repatriation.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-16
Subject: Independent Bio Technology Regulatory Authority
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: A.T. (NANA) PATIL, DEVJI MANSINGRAM PATEL

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16/11/2016

## INDEPENDENT BIO-TECHNOLOGY REGULATORY AUTHORITY

- 5 SHRIAT NANA PATIL SHRI DEVJI M PATEL:
- whether the Government proposes to review the BRAI Bill and t0 create an independent biotechnology authority to deal with the issue of all genetically modified organisms in agriculture, pharmaceuticals and bio-diversity sector;
- (6) if so, the details thereof;
- (c if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the corrective steps taken by the Government to have a regulatory frame work in the matter?

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased t0 state:

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES

(Y,S Chowdarv)

- (a)&(6) Yes Madam: The Biotechnology Regulatory Authority Bill (BRAI) Bill, 2013 lapsed with tenure of XV Lok Sabha and will be reviewed   taking into consideration of recent developments in " genetic   engineering   technologies for   reintroduction   through  appropriate legislative process:
- Does not arise.
- India already has functional regulatory framework under the Rules for the Manufacture, Use. Import,  Export and Storage of Hazardous Micro-organisms Genetically   Engineered Organisms Or Cells (Rules, 1989) of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA): 1986 to deal with biosafety assessment and use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in the field of agriculture, pharmaceuticals and   biodiversity sector. has been strengthened by the establishment of  Biosafety   Support Unit   (BSU) t0 improve scientific   process   of  Risk Assessment and Risk Management (RARM) and guidelines and data requirements for food / feed and environmental safety assessment. update
Lok Sabha Question No. 4 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-16
Subject: Allotmentin Catering Units
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.11.2016

## QUOTA FOR WOMEN IN RAILWAY CATERING UNITS

4. SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has introduced a new policy for providing sub quota  of  33  per  cent  to  women  in  catering  units  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) the number of catering units in the Railways;
- (c) the steps taken to ensure that women participation does not fall below a specific level in such units; and
- (d) the plan of the Railways to popularize this policy so that more women are encouraged to apply for such positions?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a):  Yes,  Madam. In compliance of announcement in Rail Budget 2016-17, provision has been made in Catering Policy for 33% sub quota for women, in allotment of each of the reserved category, of minor catering units at all categories of stations.

- (b):  As on 31.03.2016, there were 347 mobile and 9853 static catering units available in the Railways.
- (c) & (d): For the purpose of reservation, one Division of a Zonal Railway is considered as one unit for which a one time station-wise exercise will be done for the whole Division and reservation percentage will be progressively achieved as and when either new units are provided or old units get vacated.

****