opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1307 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Social Security to Labourers of Private Contractors
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: KIRIT SOMAIYA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1307 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2017

## SOCIAL SECURITY TO LABOURERS OF PRIVATE CONTRACTORS

1307. DR. KIRIT SOMAIYA:

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

- (a)whether  is  it  true  that  employees  of  various  private  contractors  at Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bengaluru Airports do not enjoy the social security facilities and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)whether it  is  also  true  that  the  airport  operators  outsource  various  jobs such  as  security  services,  transport  operation,  housekeeping,  traffic management to private contractors and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)whether the casual and contract workers employed by these Contractors do not get PF, ESIC and other facilities as per the guidelines; and
- (d)if so, the details thereof along with precaution and internal check system executed at the above airports by the Labour Commissioner, PF Commissioner and airport operators in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

- (a): Social  security  facilities  are  extended  to  the  employees  of various  private  contractors  at  Mumbai,  Delhi,  Hyderabad  and  Bengaluru Airports and whenever any complaint is received appropriate legal action is taken.
- (b): Yes, the airport operators have outsourced various jobs such as security services, transport operation, housekeeping, and traffic management to various private contractors.
- (c) & (d): PF and ESIC facilities are extended to the contractual employees  at  these  Airports.  The  officers  of  Central  Industrial  Relations Machinery  (CIRM)  conduct  regular  inspections  including  complaint  based inspections  at  these  Airports  to  ensure  compliance  of  the  provisions  of various labour laws.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1306 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Extraction of Natural Gas in KG Block
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: BALASUBRAMANIAM SENGUTTUVAN

## Government of India Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1306 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 th  JULY, 2017

Extraction of Natural gas in KG Basin

1306:  SHRI B. SENGUTTUVAN:

पेट्रोलियम एवं प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्री

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

- (a) whether the official panel headed by Chief Justice AP Shaw enquiring into the extraction by Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) of the natural gas that moved from the ONGC wells has held that the RIL has unjustly gained by harvesting the gas that did not belong to them and must return the benefit to the Government and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) whether the Ministry has pursuant to the report of Chief Justice A.P. Shaw, directed RIL and its partners in KG-D6 block to pay US $ 1.55 billion within a month for pumping out natural gas  that  flowed  from  the  ONGC  gas  fields  to  their  off  the  eastern  cost  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

## पेट्रोलियम एवं प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्रािय में राज्य मंत्री ( स्विंत्र प्रभार ) ( धमेन्द्र प्रधान )

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

- (a) & (b) Government constituted a single member committee comprising of Shri Ajit Prakash Shah,  former  Chief  Justice  of  Delhi  High  Court  to  look  into  the  dispute  between  Reliance Industries  Limited  (RIL)  and  ONGC  regarding  ONGC  blocks  (KG-DWN-98/2  &  Godavari PML) and RIL block (KG-DWN-98/3) in Krishna Godavari Basin relating to gas migration.  The Committee had in its Report concluded, inter-alia, that there has been unjust enrichment to the contractor  of  the  block  KG-DWN-98/3  due  to  production  of  the  migrated  gas  from  ONGC's blocks KG-DWN-98/2 and Godavari PML.

The Government has accepted the recommendations of the Committee and consequently, it has been  decided  by  the  Government  to  claim  restitution  from  the  contractor  for  the  block  KGDWN-98/3 for the unjust benefit received and unfairly retained.   A notice in this regard was issued by this Ministry  on 3 rd November, 2016.  Government through this notice has directed RIL to remit an amount of USD 1,552,071,067 (computed provisionally) being net amount of restitution  receivable  along  with  interest  upto  31.3.2016  and  USD  174,905,120  towards  the revised  additional  cumulative  Profit  Petroleum  receivable  upto  31.3.2016  to  the  Government. RIL vide its Notice of Arbitration dated 11.11.2016 has invoked arbitration disputing the claim of  the  Government of unjust benefit and restitution claimed in the aforesaid Ministry's notice dated 3.11.2016.  The matter is pending before arbitral tribunal for adjudication.

*********
Lok Sabha Question No. 1304 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Illicit Trade
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: JYOTIRADITYA MADHAVRAO SCINDIA, KAMAL NATH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL POLICY & PROMOTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1304.

TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE  24 TH  JULY, 2017.

## ILLICIT TRADE

## 1304.  SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA: SHRI KAMAL NATH:

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

- (a) whether  several trade organizations including the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) have urged the Government to take adequate steps to tackle the menace of illicit trade in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether the Government has assessed the estimated loss to industries/sectors due to illicit trade; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to check the menace of illicit trade?

## 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) & (b): Government agencies receive information alleging illicit trade of various items  from  various  sources  from  time  to  time.  The  Federation  of Chambers of Commerce and Industry has also come out with a report titled  'Invisible  Enemy  -  A  threat  to  our  National  Interests:  Extent, Causes  and  Remedies'.  Some  of  the  suggestions  contained  in  the report are already part of continuous improvement process undertaken by  the  government from  time  to  time  as  per  the  information  received from the Department of Revenue.
- Illicit trade being an illegal activity, no accurate assessment is possible. The  field  formations  handling  such  matters  are  sensitized  through  a number  of  Alert/Modus  Operandi  Circulars  to  take  necessary  action
- (c) & (d): under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1303 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Reservation in Private Universities
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: HARI BABU KAMBHAMPATI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1303 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2017

## Reservation in Private Universities

1303. DR. KAMBHAPATI HARIBABU:

Will	the	Minister	of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be	pleased	to	state : (a) whether the Government has any proposal for reservation of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled	Tribes	in	Private	Universities; (b)	if	so,	the	details	thereof;	and (c)	if	not,	whether	the	Government	is	planning	on	formulating	the	representation	policy

- in	this	regard?

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

(a)	to	(c):	State	Private	Universities	are	established	by	the	Act	of	their	respective	State Legislatures.	 The	 reservations	 policies	 in	 these	 Universities	 are	 regulated	 as	 per	 the provisions	mentioned	in	the	Act. As	 regards	 private	 Deemed	 to	 be	 Universities,	 at	 present,	 there	 is	 no	 such proposal	under	consideration	of	the	Government.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1302 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Merger of DGFT with CBEC
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: VINOD KUMAR BOIANAPALLI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1302 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 th  JULY, 2017

## MERGER OF DGFT WITH CBEC

## 1302. SHRI B. VINOD KUMAR

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is working on a proposal to merge the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) with the Central Board for Excise and Customs (CBEC) to promote ease of doing business for exports and imports;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the present status of the said proposal?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx jkT; ea=h ¼Jherh fueZyk lhrkje.k½ ¼Lora= izHkkj½

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a): No, Madam.

(b)&(c): Do not arise in view of reply to (a) above.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 1299 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: DG Supplies & Disposals
Ministry: MICRO,SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: R.P. MARUTHARAJAA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1299 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2017

## DG SUPPLIES & DISPOSALS

## 1299.   SHRI R.P. MARUTHARAJAA:

will  the  minister  of  MICRO,  SMALL  AND  MEDIUM  ENTERPRISES  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received applications from various federations/quarters in regard to products manufactured by various enterprises covered under the Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals.
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  the  decision  taken  by  the  Government  on  the  issue relating to product made from recycled paper;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  appointed/deputed  officials  to  coordinate with  the  Directorate  General  of  Supplies  and  Disposals  and  if  so,  the  details thereof, and
- (d) whether the Government invites response on its website in this regard and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTR OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SHRI HARIBHAI PARATHIBHAI CHAUDHARY)

- (a) & (b): This ministry has not received any such applications. As per the information  available  from  Supply  Division  of  Department  of  Commerce, DGS&D have been concluding rate contracts for plain copier paper, maplitho paper,  offset  printing  paper,  paper  plain  white  and  cream  wove,  computer stationary.
- (c): No Sir.
- (d): After the expiry of the rate contracts, these items are now available on Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal. Technical specifications for writing and printing papers have been uploaded on GeM Portal.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1293 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Identification of Degree Certificates
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: K. ASHOK KUMAR

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.1293 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2017

## Identification of Degree Certificates

## 1293. SHRI K. ASHOK KUMAR:

- Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a)  whether  the  University  Grants  Commission  has  directed  all  universities  and educational institutes to introduce identification mechanisms in degrees and certificates awarded by them; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c)  whether  the  universities  and  educational  institutions  have  also  been  asked  to inscribe the name of the institution in which a student is enrolled as well as the mode of
- delivery; 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): Yes, Madam. The University Grants Commission (UGC) vide its letter dated 21 st March, 2017  had requested all the Universities to introduce identification mechanisms like photograph and Unique ID/Aadhaar number in students' certificates. UGC also requested all the Universities to inscribe the name of institution in which a student is enrolled for a program of study as well as the mode of delivery (regular, parttime  or  distance).  A  copy  of  the  letter  dated  21 st March,  2017  is  available  at http://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/8481300\_UGC-letter-reg-identification-mechanisms(2).pdf .

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1291 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Special Cell for Tribals in Police Stations
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: SULTAN  AHMED

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS) LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1291 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2017

## SPECIAL CELL FOR TRIBALS IN POLICE STATIONS

## 1291. SHRI SULTAN AHMED:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Government has taken note of the Data of NCRB that Atrocities against tribals has been increasing day by day, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to set up special cells in police stations located in tribal dominated areas and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the funds spent for the social security schemes for tribals in the country during the last three years, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): According to the data furnished by Ministry of Home Affairs regarding State/ UT- wise Cases  Registeredunder  the  Scheduled  Castes  and  the  Scheduled  Tribes  (Prevention  of Atrocities) Act, 1989 under 'Crimes against Scheduled Tribes (STs)', a total of 6826 casesin 2014;6275 cases in 2015 and 6570 (provisional) cases in 2016 were registered.
- (b): As per Ministry of Home Affairs, there is no proposal to set up special cells in police stations located in tribal dominated areas.

(c):Under  the  Scheme,  'Development  of  Particularly  Vulnerable  Tribal  Groups  (PVTGs)', proposals were approved by the Project  Appraisal Committee (PAC) of Ministry of Tribal Affairs and funds released during last three years, for social security programmes, to States submitting proposals for the same,  as per Annexure enclosed.

****

Annexure Funds released for Social Security Programmes under the scheme of Development of PVTGs

| Name of the State   | Name of the Programme            | Year (Rs. in lakhs)   | Year (Rs. in lakhs)   | Year (Rs. in lakhs)   |
|---------------------|----------------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
|                     |                                  | 2014-15               | 2015-16               | 2016-17               |
| Rajasthan           | Jan Shree BimaYojana             | 16.50                 | 16.50                 | 16.50                 |
| Gujarat             | Jan Shree BimaYojana             | 25.00                 | 50.00                 | 35.00                 |
| Odisha              | Jan Shree BimaYojana             | 25.50                 | 43.28                 | 73.00                 |
| Chhatisgarh         | Pradhanmantri Jeevan JyotiYojana | -                     | -                     | 50.00                 |
|                     | Total                            | 67.00                 | 109.78                | 174.50                |
Lok Sabha Question No. 1290 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Foreign Students in IITs
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: MANSHANKAR NINAMA, BHARAT SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1290 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2017

## Foreign Students in IITs

†1290. SHRI MANSHANKAR NINAMA: SHRI BHARAT SINGH:

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

- (a) whether  from  this  year  the  Indian  Institutes  of  Technology  (IITs)  have decided  to  conduct  its  entrance  examinations  in  foreign  countries  for giving admissions to foreign students;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether additional quota is proposed to be fixed for foreign students or they would be part of the presently total existing seats; and
- (d) if  so,  whether  maximum  number  of  admissions  to  foreign  students  in Indian  Institutes  of  Technology  (IITs)  has  been  fixed,  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d):  Foreign students have been allowed to appear in JEE(Advanced) 2017 examination,  which  was  also  conducted  at  six  centres  abroad,  namely  Addis Ababa  (Ethiopia),  Colombo  (Sri  Lanka),  Dhaka  (Bangladesh),  Dubai  (UAE), Kathmandu (Nepal) and Singapore. The seats allotted to them are supernumerary  with  a  cap  of  10%  of  total  number  of  seats  in  each  course, without reducing the availability of seats for the Indian students.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1286 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: New Industrial Policy for NER
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: K. MARAGATHAM, SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL POLICY & PROMOTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1286. TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE  24 TH  JULY, 2017.

## NEW INDUSTRIAL POLICY FOR NER

## 1286.  SHRIMATI K. MARAGATHAM: SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI:

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

- (a) whether the States of North-East region are demanding extension of NorthEast Industrial Promotion Policy (NEIPP) for another next 10 years ;
- (b) if so, the details thereof including the investment made under NEIPP-2007 ;
- (c) the proposals received by the Government towards infrastructure development of North-East States and the new policy proposal therein; and
- (d) the  details  of  Government  proposal  to  thrust  the  economic  development  to balance the tilt of GST of this region?

## 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): Yes, Madam.
- (b): As informed by State Governments of North Eastern Region including Sikkim, investment made during 1.4.2007 to 31.03.2017 is Rs.19097.67 crore.
- (c): Proposals under 'Modified Industrial Infrastructure Upgradation Scheme' were received  in  this  Department  during  2016-17  from  State  Governments  of Nagaland and Mizoram.
- (d) : Proposal  to  provide  budgetary  support  to  existing  industrial  units  covered under NEIIPP, 2007 in the post GST regime is under consideration.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1285 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Price of LPG
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: DODDAALAHALLI KEMPEGOWDA SURESH, HARISHCHANDRA DEORAM CHAVAN, NALIN KUMAR KATEEL

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1285 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 TH  JULY, 2017

## PRICE OF LPG

## 1285.   SHRI D.K. SURESH: SHRI HARISHCHANDRA CHAVAN: SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL:

## isVªksfy;e vkSj izkÑfrd xSl ea=h

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

- (a) whether the price of LPG cylinders has gone up after implementation of GST and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the poor people are facing great difficulties due to increase in the price of LPG and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  steps  taken  to  bring  down  the  price  of  LPG cylinder in the country;
- (c) the corrective action taken/being taken by the Government in this regard;
- (d) whether the Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies are reportedly charging higher initial security  for  providing  the  composite  cylinders  domestically  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof along with security charged in this regard; and
- (e) whether the OMCs have taken/ propose to take action to manufacture composite cylinders domestically and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## isVªksfy;e vkSj izkÑfrd xSl ea=h ( Lora= izHkkj ) ¼Jh /keZsUnz iz/kku½

## MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a) to (c): After launch of DBTL, the LPG consumers registered with Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) namely, IOC, BPC and HPC get the Domestic LPG cylinders at market determined price and receive LPG subsidy directly into their bank accounts as per their entitlement.

There  is  an  increase  of  Rs.26.88  per  14.2  kg  Domestic  LPG  Cylinder  due  to  the implementation of GST with effect from 1 st July, 2017 since there was 0% VAT in Delhi on Domestic LPG. However, the prices vary from state to state, since many states had VAT rates ranging between 0 - 5% on Domestic LPG.

- (d) & (e): Marketing  of  LPG  through  composite  cylinders  is  not  yet  started  by  Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).  OMCs do not manufacture cylinders, including composite cylinders, themselves.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1284 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Beach Tourism Zones
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: C. N. JAYADEVAN, RABINDRA KUMAR JENA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1284 ANSWERED ON 24.07.2017

## BEACH TOURISM ZONES

## 1284. SHRI C.N. JAYADEVAN:

SHRI RABINDRA KUMAR JENA:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  scheme  to  develop  beach tourism  in  India  keeping  in  mind  the  vast  coastline  of  the country;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof ;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  laid  down  any  guidelines  or policy  regarding  promotion  of  beach  tourism  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has undertaken any steps to ensure/improve the quality of the beaches in terms of cleanliness; and
- (e) whether NITI Aayog has any proposal to develop five exclusive beach tourism zones in the country and if so, the details of the proposed beaches along with the steps taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): The Ministry of Tourism has launched Swadesh Darshan Scheme  in  2014-15  for  integrated  development  of  Theme-Based tourist Circuits in the country. Coastal Circuit which includes interalia  beach  destinations  has  been  identified  as  one  of  thirteen thematic circuits for development under this scheme. The Ministry of Tourism promotes India as a holistic destination as part of its ongoing activities by releasing advertising campaigns in various media under the Incredible India brand-line, through its website, production of publicity and promotional material and through promotional  activities  undertaken  by  the  overseas  India  Tourism offices  to  promote  tourism  products  and  destinations  including Beach Tourism. (d): Cleanliness and maintenance of beaches is the responsibility of the respective State Governments/ UT administrations. However, Ministry  extends  Central  Financial  Assistance  under  the  Swadesh Darshan  scheme  for  Beach  Cleaning  Equipment  as  one  of  the admissible components to promote cleanliness of beaches. NITI  Aayog  informs  that  there  is  no  specific  proposal  to

(e): develop Beach Tourism Zones.

*******