opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3365 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-22
Subject: Funds to States
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL, SADASHIV KISAN LOKHANDE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3365 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.03.2017

## FUNDS TO STATES

## 3365.    SHRI  SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL: SHRI SADASHIV LOKHANDE

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of amount allocated to various States in the financial year 2016-17 and 2017-18, State and UT-wise;
- (b) whether the Government has granted special category status to some states;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the criteria therefor;
- (d) whether the Government has received proposals for grant of special category status to some more States; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof, state-wise and the reaction of the Government thereto?

## 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) Earlier, the Planning Commission was involved in the allocation of Central Assistance to State and Union Territory Plans (CASP) during the process of finalization of Annual Plan of States which is now not  a  mandate  of  NITI  Aayog.  The  State-wise  allocation  under  different  schemes  is  now  made  by  the concerned Ministry/ Department where the scheme rests.
- (b)  &  (c)    Special  Category  Status  for  plan  assistance  has  been  granted  in  the  past  by  the  National Development Council (NDC) to some States that are characterized by a number of features necessitating special consideration.  These features include: (i) hilly and difficult terrain (ii) low population density and / or sizeable share of tribal population (iii) strategic location along borders with neighbouring countries (iv) economic and infrastructural backwardness and (v) non-viable nature of state finances. Special Category Status  have  been  granted  based  on  an  integrated  consideration  of  these  criteria.  The    11  States  granted Special Category Status are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and Uttarakhand.
- (d) & (e )  Government had received requests for according Special Category Status from Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana and Jharkhand. These states do not satisfy the criteria for grant of special category status based on an integrated consideration of the existing NDC criteria for grant  of  Special  Category  Status  to  States.  Further,  the  Fourteenth  Finance  Commission  (FFC)  in  its recommendations has not made any distinction between General Category States and Special Category States in the horizontal distribution of shareable taxes amongst the States.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3363 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-22
Subject: Safety of Women in Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: ALOK SANJAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3363 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.03.2017

## SAFETY OF WOMEN IN TRAINS

†3363. SHRI ALOK SANJAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  passengers  of  the  general  class  can  get information of the seats available in the bogies from stations before starting their journey and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b)  whether  any  system  has  been  developed  for  the  women travelling alone to give status of being safe from their bogies and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a): No, Madam. Since no seats/berths are allotted in unreserved coach and also the fact that unreserved tickets are not train specific, it is practically not feasible to give information of the seats available in unreserved bogies.
- (b):  Railways have introduced Security Help Line number 182, 1800-11-322  and  Twitter  Handle  of  Ministry  of  Railways  and Zonal  Railways  for  the  women  travelling  alone  to  give  the status of being safe from their bogies.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3362 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-22
Subject: Derecognition of Political Parties
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: JANAK RAM, ANIRUDHAN SAMPATH

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3362

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 22 nd  MARCH, 2017

## Derecognition of Political Parties

+3362. SHRI JANAK RAM: DR. A. SAMPATH:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state: (a) whether measures are being taken to derecognize those political parties which have been non-functional and suspected of being involved in money laundering; and (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) and (b): The Election Commission has informed that the de-recognition of a political party is  governed  by  the  provisions  of  Paragraphs  6C  and  16A  of  the  Election  Symbols (Reservation  and  Allotment)  Order,  1968.  While  Paragraph  6C  relates  to  de-recognition based  on  poll  performance,  Paragraph  16A  provides  for  withdrawal  of  recognition  on  the ground of refusal or failure to abide by the provisions of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) or lawful directions given by the Commission in connection with elections. However, there is no provision for de-recognition on the ground of money laundering.

However,  the  Election  Commission  has  further  informed  that  the  Commission  had recently conducted verification to review the existence of the unrecognized political parties registered  with  the  Commission  that  had  not  contested  any  Assembly  or  Parliamentary election or any bye election during the last ten years. On the basis of the reports of the Chief Electoral Officers of the State concerned, the Commission has delisted 255 political parties during the period from February to December, 2016.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3360 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-22
Subject: Institute of Mass Communication
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: SHARAD TRIPATHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFROMATION AND BROADCASTING LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3360

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.03.2017

## INSTITUTE OF MASS COMMUNICATION

3360. SHRI: SHARAD TRIPATHI

## Will the MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of centres/campuses of Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) set up in the country;
- (b) whether the Government propose to set up new campuses/centres of IIMC place-wise, State-wise/Union Territory-wise including Uttar Pradesh and if the details thereof;
- (c) the time by which new campuses/centres are likely to be opened /scheduled to start functioning; and
- (d) if not; the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING {COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (RETD.)}

(a) to (d): The Indian Institute of Mass Communication is located at New Delhi, with its five Regional Centres at Dhenkanal (Odisha), Amravati (Maharashtra), Aizawl (Mizoram), Jammu (J&K) and Kottayam (Kerala): The Centres at Amravati and Aizawl became operational from the academic session 2011-12 whereas the Centres at Jammu and Kottayam have become operational from the academic session 2012-13. These Centres are functioning at temporary premises provided by the respective State Governments, free of cost.

Under the 12th Five Year Plan, the process of construction of permanent campuses at Amravati (Maharashtra), Aizawl (Mizoram); Jammu (J&K) and Kottayam (Kerala) is underway as the respective State Governments have handed over the identified land to IIMC free of cost;

There is no other proposal at present to establish any other centre of IIMC
Lok Sabha Question No. 3358 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-22
Subject: Installation of Doppler Weather Radars
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3358

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

## INSTALLATION OF DOPPLER WEATHER RADARS

## 3358. SHRI NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  had  proposed  in  the  year  2006  to  install four  Doppler  Weather  Radars  (DWR)  system  at  four  locations  in Odisha and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the said  DWR  system  has  been  installed  and  made operational;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the time by which the DWR system are likely to be installed?

## ANSWER

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

- (a-d)  Yes  Madam,  Government  had  planned  for  4  four  Doppler  Weather Radars (DWRs), out of which three were to be commissioned along the coast line at Paradip, Gopalpur and Balasore. As on today two coastal DWRs at Paradip and Gopalpur are commissioned.

As per the emerging priorities from time to time, DWR for Sambalpur is  included  in  the  future  procurement.  The  DWR  installation  at

Balasore is under review.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3356 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-22
Subject: Rake Points
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: DEVENDRA (ALIAS) BHOLE SINGH SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3356 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.03.2017

## RAKE POINTS

## t 3356.  SHRI DEVENDRA SINGH BHOLE :

## Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  in  the  absence  of  required  infrastructure  in  the existing rake point, provision of new rake points and the two points  rakes,  supply  and  allocation  of  chemicals,  fertilizers and foodgrains are adversely affected;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- ( c)    whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  build  new  rake points  in  Kanpur  Dehat  District  of  Uttar  Pradesh  which  can help in timely supply and allocation of chemicals and fertilizers; and
- (d)    if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) No,  Madam.  Existing  facilities  are  adequate  to  meet  the demand of fertilizers and foodgrains traffic.
- (b)
- Does not arise.
- (c) No,  Madam.  Existing  rake  point  at  Bhimsen  is  adequate  to meet  the  requirement  of  Chemical  and  Fertilizers  in  Kanpur Dehat District of Uttar Pradesh.
- (d)
- Does not arise.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3354 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-22
Subject: Installation of Escalators
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: PASHUPATI NATH SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3354 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.03.2017

## INSTALLATION OF ESCALATORS

## †3354. SHRI PASHUPATI NATH SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is considering installation of automated stairs at Dhanbad railway station and if so, the time by which it is likely to be completed; and
- (b) whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  extend  Dhanbad railway station and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) Two  number  of  escalators  (automated  stairs)  are  working  at Dhanbad Railway Station. There is no proposal to increase their number at present.
- (b) Dhanbad is an A1 category station. This station has already been identified  for  development  under  Adarsh  station  scheme.  All Minimum Essential Amenities have been provided at this station. At  present  details  of  sanctioned  and  ongoing  works  are  as under:-
-  Renovation of existing portico.
-  Improvement in lighting and fans.

-  Provision of Integrated enquiry system.
-  Raising of platform no. 2 & 3.
-  Provision of 4  bay  platform  shed  at  platform  no.  8  and additional 10 numbers of water booths.
-  Provision  of  steel  structure  entry  gate  with  retro  reflection signage on gate, circulating area and station with all platforms.
-  Provision of 3 nos. of Automatic Chlorinator.
-  Provision of Divyang toilets on each platform.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3352 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-22
Subject: Misappropriation of Funds
Ministry: URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT, KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE, ADVOCATE NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3352

TO BE ANSWERED ON MARCH 22, 2017

## MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS

No. 3352   SHRI ARVIND SAWANT: SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE: ADV. NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR:

Will the Minister of URBAN DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received any complaint in regard
- to  misappropriations  of  funds  the  allocated  to  the  selected smart cities;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof,  State-wise  along  with  the  action
- taken/being taken in this regard by the Government;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  revise  the  prescribed targets for the development of the cities and if so, the details
- thereof along with the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the Ministry has requested to increase funds for smart
- cities project and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government has finalised any monitoring device to ensure  prompt  execution  of  the  mission  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): No, Madam.
- (b): Does not arise.
- (c): No, Madam.
- (d): No, Madam.
- (e): The implementation of the Smart Cities Mission is being done by a City-level Special Purpose  Vehicle  (SPV), a limited company  incorporated  under  the  Companies  Act,  2013.  The SPV  will  have  to  comply  with  all  the  regulatory/monitoring mechanisms set out in the Company Law.

At  the  National  level,  the  implementation  of  Smart  Cities

Mission is being monitored by an Apex Committee headed by Secretary,  Ministry  of  Urban  Development.   At  State  level, State level High Powered Steering Committee (HPSC) chaired by  the  Chief  Secretary  has  been  established.  There  is  a provision under Smart Cities Mission Guidelines to establish a Smart  City  Advisory  Forum  at  the  city  level  to  advise  and enable  collaboration  among  various  stakeholders  and  will include  the  District  Collector,  MP,  MLA,  Mayor,  CEO  of  SPV, local youths, technical experts etc.

Apart from these, progress of Implementation is being reviewed regularly through Video Conference Secretary (UD) every month. Besides, Ministry of also monitoring  the  progress  of the Mission  regularly by Urban Development  Nominee  Directors  on  the  Boards  of  SPVs  are in respective cities.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3351 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-22
Subject: Skill Development Centre for Physically Handicapped
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: SONA RAM CHOUDHARY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3351 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.03.2017

## SKILL DEVELOPMENT CENTRE FOR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED

## 3351. COL. SONARAM CHOUDHARY:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  start  Skill  Development  Centres designed especially for orphan children, physically handicapped persons and widows;
- (b) if so, whether skills have been identified for the training of the above categories so as to make them self-employed and make them self-reliant; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) Ministry's  flagship  programme  namely  Pradhan  Mantri  Kaushal  Vikas  Yojna (PMKVY)  is  for  all sections of the society including the orphan  children, physically handicapped  persons  and  widows.  Further,  there  are  certain  incentives  under  PMKVY  to encourage  participation  of  candidates  from  special  group  and  special  areas  in  the  skill training,  Women  candidates  and  PwDs  are  provided  with  conveyance  allowance  for  nonresidential  trainings,  in  accordance  with  the  Common  Norms.  There  is  also a  provision  for allowances  for  boarding  and  lodging  for  residential  trainings.  Similarly,  post  placement support of Rs. 1450 per month per trainee is applicable for special group including woman and PwDs for 2 or 3 month post training depending on placement within or outside the district of the domicile of the candidate.

PMKVY  (2016-20)  incentives  Training  Centres  (TCs)  for  facilitating  placement  of trained candidates. The last 20% payment to training partner would be made only after wage employment of self-employment to atleast 70% of the trained candidates. TCs are mandated to  organise  placement/Rozgar  Mela  every  six  months  with  the  support  from  Sector  Skill Council (SSCs) and to ensure participation of local industry. TCs are also mandated to have a dedicated mentorship-cum-placement cell for industry linkage and placement assistance to candidates.  The  candidates  are  also  encouraged  to  join  the  industry  as  an  apprentice  to ensure skill enhancement of the trainees as per the industry requirement. Self employment through appropriate bank linkages is also promoted as part of the total placements under the scheme.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3350 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-22
Subject: Barwadih-Chirmiri Rail Line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SUNIL KUMAR SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3350 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.03.2017

## BARWADIH - CHIRMIRI RAIL LINE

## t 3350.     SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH :

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware about the time and area of the land acquired for Barwadih-Chirmiri Rail Line and the extent to which the construction work has been completed;
- (b) if so, the date of approval and commencement of the scheme, the total amount released so far for this rail line and the amount spent so far for this project since its inception;
- (c)  whether this project has been suspended and if so, the details of the decision or order under which it has been suspended; and
- (d) if not, the time by which it is likely to be completed along with the details of the current status of progress thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) to (d):  Barwadih-Chirimiri (Ambikapur) (182 km.) new line project was  included  in  Railway  Budget  2013-14  at  a  cost  of ` 1137  crore subject  to  requisite  approval.    Niti  Aayog  had  given  'In  principle'

approval to the project subject to the condition that Railways get land free  from  concerned  State  Governments  and  approach  Coal  India Limited with a request to develop this project as a joint venture. The project  could  not  be  taken  forward  as  neither  State  Governments  of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh nor Coal India Limited have responded to either  share  the  cost  of  the  project  or  take  the  project  as  a  Joint Venture.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3348 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-22
Subject: Generation of Revenue from Advertisement
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: P. KUMAR, SUSHMITA DEV

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3348 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.03.2017

## GENERATION OF REVENUE FROM ADVERTISEMENT

3348. SHRI P. KUMAR: KUMARI SUSHMITA DEV:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Railway has appointed any global consultancy firm to assist  them in mopping  up advertising revenue in the next few years;
- (b) if so, the terms  and conditions of the  agreement and the details of  areas,  in  which  the  firm  is  likely  to  guide  Railway  to    generate revenues; and
- (c) the details of views suggested by the consultancy firm and  the action taken by the Railways on  those points.

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) & (b): Ministry of Railways has appointed RITES, a Railway Public Sector  Undertaking  as  consultant  for  increasing  non-fare  revenue which has appointed Ernst & Young as  Professional  Media  Market Evaluation  Agency  (PMMEA).  The  main  deliverable  for  them    are, inter alia:
-  To  undertake  assessment  of  specific  advertisement  value  of existing  and  possible  new  Static  and  Mobile  Assets,  which includes  sample  assets  spread  across  all  16  Zonal  Railways representing all categories of stations and trains.

- To assess the sensibilities of the market and reactions towards the advertising potential of the static and mobile assets of the IR
-  through PMMEA.
-  Realistic assessment of advertisement revenue potential  for IR in various horizon years to be validated by actual earnings accrued by  formulating    a  Pan  -  India    Railway  Commercial  Publicity Revenue Enhancement Scheme  (PIRCPRES) involving select static  and  mobile    assets  to  ascertain  the  veracity  of  the assessment exercise.
-  An effective strategy for optimal exploitation of the advertisement  potential  on  IR,  including  preparation  of  creative template concepts /designs for identified products.
-  Detailed Modus Operandi for implementation, including formulating  a  standard  catalogue  of  category  wise  Guard  Rules and  preparation  of  Standard  Bid  documents/RFP,  creation  of websites for e-tendering etc.
-  Provide hand holding support in preparation of bid documents for e-tendering,  bid  process  management  of  PIRCPRES  leading  to successful  award  of  contracts,  including  pre-bid  suggestions /views from potential bidders.

(c):  Based  on  the  inputs  of  the  consultants,  the  bid  process  has started with the objective of augmenting Non-Fare Revenue.

*****