opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1435 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-12
Subject: Religious Conversion
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: NAGARAJAN P.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1435

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12 TH  FEBRUARY, 2019/ MAGHA 23, 1940 (SAKA) RELIGIOUS CONVERSION

1435. SHRI P. NAGARAJAN:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  large  number  of  individuals/families  are converting from one religion to another religion across the country to save/ safeguard themselves from atrocities/ tortures by other castes/communities by sacrificing their reservation rights in education and jobs;

- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has any proposal to change their community/caste at the time of conversion of religion; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

(a) to (d):   'Public Order' and 'Police' are  State subjects as per the Seventh Schedule  to  the  Constitution.  Hence  prevention,  detection,  registration, investigation and prosecution of offences related to religious conversions are  primarily  the  concern  of  the  State  Governments/UT  Administrations. Action  is  taken  as  per  existing  laws  by  the  law  enforcing  agencies  in States/UTs when instances of violation come to notice.

Some State Governments have enacted laws providing for the prohibition of conversion from one religious faith to any other religious faith by the use of force,  inducement,  fraudulent means, etc.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1433 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-12
Subject: Paisa-Portal
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: (ADV.) JOICE GEORGE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING & URBAN AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1433

## TO BE ANSWERED ON FEBRUARY 12, 2019

## PAISA PORTAL

No. 1433      ADV. JOICE GEORGE

Will  the  Minister  of  Housing  &  Urban  Affairs  be  pleased  to state:-

- (a) whether the Government has recently launched 'paisa'Portal  for  Affordable  Credit  and  Interest  Subvention Access;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  said  portal  is  a  centralised  electronic platform  for  quicker  processing  of  loans  under  the Deendayal Antyodaya YojanaNational Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM);
- (d)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether  it  is  envisioned  to  uplift  urban  poor  folks  by enhancing sustainable livelihood opportunities through skill development; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS [SHRI HARDEEP SINGH PURI]

- (a) to (d) Yes, Madam,

The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs has launched an  online  web  portal  namely,  Portal  for  Affordable Credit  and  Interest  Subvention  Access  (PAiSA),  on

26th November, 2018 to smoothen the process of

- payment of interest subvention to individuals/ groups/ Self Help  Groups  for  setting  up  gainful  self-employment ventures or  micro-enterprises  under  Self  Employment Programme (SEP) component of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana -National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM). PAiSA Portal aggregates banks, States  and  Urban  Local  Bodies  (ULBs)  on  a single platform, facilitating real time exchange of information, and provides a simple mechanism to process interest subvention on monthly basis through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.
- (e) & (f)  The  Employment  through  Skill  Training  &  Placement (EST&P)  component  of  the  Mission  aims  to    provide skills  to  the  urban  poor  to  increase  their  income through structured and market-oriented certified courses  that  can  provide  wage  employment  and/or self-employment  opportunities  which  will  eventually lead to better living standards and alleviation of urban poverty  on  a  sustainable  basis.  So  far  under  DAYNULM, 8,79,767 number of urban poor have been skill trained & certified and 4,71,846  are placed.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1428 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-12
Subject: Illegal Activities
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †1428

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12 TH  FEBRUARY, 2019/ MAGHA 23, 1940 (SAKA)

ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES

†1428. SHRIMATI DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether several cases of criminal tendencies like looting, blackmailing etc.  by  misguiding  the  youth  through  friends  club  being  run  at  several places in the small and big cities of the country have come to light;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;

(c) whether incidents of women forced into illegal trade have also come to light; and

(d) the steps taken by the Government to curb such illegal activities?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

(a) to (d): 'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India and State Governments are responsible  for  prevention,  detection,  registration  and  investigation  of crime  and  for  prosecuting  the  criminals  through  their  law  enforcement agencies.  The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) have issued advisories to the  States  and  UTs,  from  time  to  time,  to  maintain  law  and  order  and ensure that any person who takes law into his/her own hand is punished promptly  as  per  law.  Various  advisories  issued  from  time  to  time  are available at MHA's website www.mha.gov.in.

## L.S.US.Q NO. 1428 FOR 12.02.2019

In order to prevent human trafficking including trafficking of women, MHA  has  provided  financial  assistance  to  States/UTs  for  for  setting  up Anti-human  Trafficking  Units  at  district  level  to  deal  human  trafficking cases.  MHA  has  also  been  providing  financial  assistance  to  States  for holding  Judicial  Colloquiums  and  State  level  Conference  which  aim  at bringing  awareness  amongst  Judicial  officers  and  State  Police  officials about  human  trafficking.  The  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development has a scheme  'Ujjawala' for prevention of trafficking and rescue, rehabilitation, reintegration and repatriation of women and children victims of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1427 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-12
Subject: Surakshit Khadya Abhiyan
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Pratyusha Rajeshwari Singh

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1427

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.02.2019

## SURAKSHIT KHADYA ABHIYAN

## 1427.  SHRIMATI PRATYUSHA RAJESHWARI SINGH:

## Will the Minister of CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  launched  the  Surakshit  Khadya  Abhiyan,  a  countrywide campaign to create mass awareness and capacity building for safe and hygienic food and if so, the details, features and the objectives thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has taken steps to set up necessary infrastructure to achieve the said objectives;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the funds allocated/released for the scheme; and
- (d) the  steps,  including  setting  up  of  a  website,  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to actively involve consumers in the programme and create awareness about hygienic food?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h ¼Jh lh- vkj- pkS/kjh½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (d) : No, Madam. No such initiative as Surakshit Khadya Abhiyan has been launched by the Department of Consumer Affairs.  It has been informed by the Confederation of India Industry (CII) that Surakshit Khadya Abhiyan is a multistakeholder initiative launched by CII in partnership with VOICE, a voluntary consumer organisation and the National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) for strengthening Nationwide Action on safe and hygienic food

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1426 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-12
Subject: Inclusion of Rajaka Community in SC List
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: KONAKALLA NARAYANA RAO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1426 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.02.2019

## INCLUSION OF RAJAKA COMMUNITY IN SC LIST

## 1426. SHRI KONAKALLA NARAYANA RAO:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has received any proposal from the State Government of Andhra Pradesh for inclusion of Rajaka Community in the list of Scheduled Castes and if the details thereof; SO,

(b) whether the Government has taken any steps to consider the request of the State Government of Andhra Pradesh and if the details thereof; and

(c) if not; the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI VIJAY SAMPLA)

(a): Government has laid down modalities, in June, 1999 for deciding claims for inclusion in, exclusion from and other modifications in the lists of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Administration should initiate the proposal duly supported In terms of approved modalities there is no proposal from Government of Andhra Pradesh for inclusion of Rajaka castes in the list of Scheduled Castes.

*8**
Lok Sabha Question No. 1425 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-12
Subject: Security Clearances
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: K. MARAGATHAM, VASANTHI M.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1425

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12 TH  FEBRUARY, 2019/ MAGHA 23, 1940 (SAKA)

SECURITY CLEARANCES

1425. SHRIMATI K. MARAGATHAM: SHRIMATI VASANTHI M.:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  given  security  clearance  to  more  than 1071  proposals  in  11  critical  sectors  like  defence,  telecommunications, information and broadcasting;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether it is true that over 90 per cent of the FDI proposals have come through the automatic route and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government has granted security go ahead to over 4,600 foreign investment proposals in the past four years and if so, the details thereof; and

(e)  whether  the  average  processing  time  for  such  clearance  has  been reduced to 50 days from four months and if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

(a) & (b): Ministry of Home Affairs has given security clearance to more than 1600 proposals in the past two years in critical sectors like defence, arms & ammunition, explosives, telecommunications, information and broadcasting, civil aviation, currency, shipping, etc.

## L.S.US.Q NO. 1425 FOR 12.02.2019

(c): As  per  information  provided  by  Department  of  Industrial  Policy  & Promotion and Reserve Bank of India, FDI through automatic route is under general permission and can be received without any approval, in compliance with the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or issue of security by a person resident outside India) Regulation, 2017. No information  is  available  about  the  number  of  proposals  received  for  FDI under  automatic  route.  Therefore,  information  related  to  percentage  in terms of number of FDI proposals coming through the automatic route is not available.

(d): Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  has  disposed  of  more  than  4,600  security clearance proposals including 134 proposals of foreign direct investment in Government approval route requiring security clearance of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Average  processing  time  for  such  clearance  was  about  71  days  in

************

(e): 2018.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1424 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-12
Subject: Fencing on Indo Pak Border
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: DEVUSINH JESINGBHAI CHAUHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1424

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12 TH  FEBRUARY, 2019/ MAGHA 23, 1940 (SAKA)

FENCING ON INDO PAK BORDER

1424. SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that out of the total 512 km of land border of Gujarat with hostile neighbour Pakistan, only 340 kms length has been  sanctioned  for  fencing  and  out  of  that  work  on  only  262.7  km  has been completed; (b) whether the remaining 262.7 km area is very sensitive and needs urgent fencing and despite the talks/ correspondence being regularly held since April, 2012 between the State Government of Gujarat and the Ministry of Home Affairs, no action has been taken to complete the remaining fencing work; (c) whether the Government is concerned with incidents in the past of so many cases of smuggling of weapons/ contrabands as well as infiltration of anti-nationals; (d)  if  so,  the  action  being  taken  to  fence  the  remaining  border  areas urgently; and (e) the time by which the fencing of 512 km Gujarat border is likely to be completed? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

## L.S.US.Q NO. 1424 FOR 12.02.2019

(a) to (e):      The  total  length  of  India-Pakistan  border  in  Gujarat  is  508 kms, out of which 340 kms only are feasible for construction of physical fencing. 280 kms of physical fencing has been completed and the target for completion of  remaining 60 kms is March 2020. The 168 kms of border which is not feasible for physical fencing is being guarded by BSF through patrolling, round the clock surveillance, laying nakas and using technology etc.    No  infiltration  has  been  reported  from  2015  till  date  in  this  sector. The contraband activity /smuggling of weapons are also being controlled through  effective  domination  of  borders  by  round  the  clock  surveillance viz.,  patrolling,  laying  nakas,  manning  observation  posts  all  along  the International border.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1422 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-12
Subject: Education Loan to Handicapped through NHFDC
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: S.P. MUDDAHANUMEGOWDA, B.V. NAYAK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE & EMPOWERMENT DEPARTMENT OF EMPOWERMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1422

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.02.2019

## EDUCATION LOAN TO HANDICAPPED THROUGH NHFDC

No. 1422 SHRI SP. MUDDAHANUME GOWDA SHRI BVNAIK

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- a a who have availed self employment and education loans at low interest rates from the National Handicapped and Finance   Development Corporation (NHFDC) directly or indirectly find it very
- whether vast   majority of  handicapped beneficiaries difficult to repay their loans to severe financial constraints; owing
- b) if s0, the details thereof;
- whether  the Government would consider full waiver of the existing balance amount in their loan accounts in the case of those beneficiaries who are dead;
- d)
- e)
- if so, the details thereof; and
- the time by which a final decision in this regard is likely to be taken?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE & EMPOWERMENT (SHRI KRISHANPAL GURJAR)

- (a) & (b) National Handicapped and Finance Development Corporation (NHFDC) provides concessional credit to the Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) for selfemployment and higher education across the country.

The financial assistance from NHFDC is made available to the PwDs   indirectly through the implementing   agencies: The funds are released by NHFDC to the implementing   agencies for further disbursement to PwDs\_ The implementing agencies recover the loan from the beneficiaries and repay the same to NHFDC.

not maintain individual beneficiary-wise repayment data: However, the of the corporation from the implementing agencies is 78.17% as

NHFDC do cumulative recovery on 03.02.2019.

- at present NHFDC does not have any operational scheme for
- c) to e) No Madam, waiver of the loans in case of death of beneficiaries:

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1421 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-12
Subject: Increase in MSP of Paddy and Other Kharif Crops
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: ADVOCATE NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1421

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12 TH  FEBRUARY, 2019

## INCREASE IN MSP OF PADDY AND OTHER KHARIF CROPS

1421.  ADV. NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has recently increased the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Paddy and other Kharif crops;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the extent to which the Government will have to incur additional expenditure as a result of hike in MSP; and
- (d) whether the cost is covered under the Budget provisions for food subsidy and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) & (b): The  Government  has  increased  the  Minimum  Support  Prices  (MSPs)  for  all mandated kharif crops including paddy for 2018-19 Season on 4 th July 2018.  This decision of the Government was a historic one as it redeemed the promise of the pre-determined principle of fixing the MSPs at a level of at least 150 per cent of the cost of production announced by the Union Budget for 2018-19.

MSP of paddy (common) has been increased by Rs.200 and fixed at Rs.1750 per quintal and of Paddy (Grade A) has been increased by Rs.180 and fixed at Rs.1770 per quintal for 2018-19 season.  Details of MSPs of Kharif crops are given at Annexure .

- (c) & (d): Paddy/rice  is  procured  for  distribution  under  Public  Distribution  System  (PDS). The difference between the economic cost of the grains/cereals procured and their central issue prices under PDS is the subsidy outgo which is borne on the Budget.  The additional financial implication on account of higher MSP for paddy for 2018-19 is Rs12,167 crore as estimated by Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) on account of the operationalisation of the principle of keeping MSPs at a level of atleast 150 percent of the cost of production.

Government has made budget allocation of Rs.1,40,098 crore in 2018-19(RE) for food subsidy payable to Food Corporation of India (FCI) and other procurement agencies on food grains transaction under National Food Security Act (NFSA).  Further an allocation of Rs.31,000 crore  has  been  made  in  2018-19  (RE)  for  subsidy  payable  to  State  Governments  on Decentralized Procurement (DCP) of Foodgrains under (NFSA).

Besides, Government procures pulses, oilseeds, cotton, jute &copra based on assessed requirement through designated nodal procurement agencies.  Government provides guarantee based on which the procurement agencies conduct their operations and the losses incurred by them in the process in borne on the Budget.

- ***********
Lok Sabha Question No. 1420 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-12
Subject: Loans to SCs
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: FAIZAL P.P. MOHAMMED

## LOANS TO SCs

## 1420. MOHAMMED FAIZAL:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has implementing any scheme to give special impetus for providing loans to Scheduled Castes in the country: been
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1420 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.02.2019

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI VIJAY SAMPLA)

(a) to (c): Yes, Madam. Department of Social Justice and Empowerment provides concessional financial assistance in the form of loans through National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) and Industrial Financial Corporation of India (IFCI) under Credit Based Schemes and Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes (VCF-SC) respectively.

The funds disbursed beneficiary covered under the schemes of NSFDC and the scheme of VCF-SC of IFCI during the last four years (2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18) respectively are given as under and

## NSFDC

| Financial Year   |   Amount Disbursed (Rs. in crore) | Beneficiaries Covered (Numbers)   |
|------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| 2014-15          |                            270.27 | 70.885                            |
| 2015-16          |                            378.94 | 71,915                            |
| 2016-17          |                            478.98 | 82,105                            |
| 2017-18          |                            600.88 | 1,08.340                          |
| TOTAL            |                           1729.07 | 3,33,245                          |

## VCF-SC

| Financial Year   |   Amount Disbursed (Rs: in crore) | Beneficiaries Covered (Numbers)   |
|------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| 2014-15          |                              1    |                                   |
| 2015-16          |                             69.15 | 15                                |
| 2016-17          |                             45.12 | 18                                |
| 2017-18          |                             53.46 | 18                                |
| TOTAL            |                            168.73 | 52                                |