opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 4667 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-23
Subject: Steel Scrap Policy
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: Arun Sao

## 4667.

- (
- ( ख) क्या स्र ै प क े वर उक्त नीतत की मुख्य विशेषताओं क े  अनुसार स्थावपत ककए गए हैं और यदद हां , तो तत्संबंधी ब्यौरा क्या है और यदद नहीं , तो इसक े  क्या कारण हैं ;

## श्री अरूण सावः

क्या इस्पात मंत्री यह बताने की क ृ पा करेंगे ककिः

- क) क्या सरकार देश में इस्पात स्र ै प नीतत को कायाान्वित करने की योजना बना रही है और यदद हां , तो तत्संबंधी ब्यौरा क्या है और इसे कब तक पेश ककए जाने की संभािना है ;
- ( ग) उपरोक्त नीतत में शाममल की जाने िाली संभावित िस्तुओं का ब्यौरा क्या है
- ;
- ( घ) क्या  सरकार  ने  स्र ै प  की  बबरी  पर  कोई  प्रोत्साहन  रामश  तनधााररत  की  है  और  यदद  हां , तो तत्संबंधी ब्यौरा क्या है और यदद नहीं , तो इसक े  क्या कारण हैं ; और
- ?
- ( ङ) स्र ै प क े वरों को मंजूरी देने में शाममल मंत्रालयों क े  नाम क्या हैं

## उत्तर

इस्पात मांत्री

(श्री धमेंद्र प्रधान)

- (क) से (ग): जी हां। इस्पात स्र ै प पुनर्ारण नीतत को ददनांक 7 नबंबर, 2019 की अधधसूर्ना संख्या 354  क े   माध्यम  से  भारत  क े   राजपत्र  में  अधधसूधर्त  ककया  गया  है।  यह  नीतत  विमभवन  स्त्रोतों  से उत्पाददत  फ े रस  स्र ै प  तथा  विमभवन  उत्पादों  क े   िैज्ञातनक  प्रसंस्करण  तथा  पुनर्ारण  को  सुविधाजनक बनाने  और  बढािा  देने  क े   मलए  एक  रूपरेखा  उपलब्ध  कराती  है।  यह  नीततगत  रूपरेखा  एक  संगदित, सुरक्षित तथा पयाािरण की दृन्टि से उधर्त तरीक े  से संग्रहण, विखण्डन तथा श्रेडडंग करयाकलापों क े  मलए मानक ददशातनदेश उपलब्ध कराती है। यह नीतत विखंडन क ें वरों और प्रसंस्करण क ें रों की स्थापना क े  मलए ददशातनदेश  और  उत्तरदातयत्ि,  एग्रीगेिरों  की  भूममका  तथा  सरकार,  वितनमााता  और  मामलकों  क े उत्तरदातयत्ि  तनधााररत  करती  है।  इस्पात  स्र ै प  पुनर्ारण  नीतत  क े   अनुसार,  देश  में  स्र ै प  क ें रों  की स्थापना क े  मलए सरकार की भूममका उद्यममयों और तनिेशकों क े  मलए अनुक ू ल माहौल सृन्जत करने क े मलए एक सुविधाप्रदाता की है। उद्यममयों द्िारा स्र ै प क ें रों  को  स्थावपत  करने  का  तनणाय  िाणणन्ययक आधारों पर मलया जाता है।
- (घ): सरकार ने स्र ै प की बबरी पर कोई प्रोत्साहन तनधााररत नहीं ककया है। यह स्र ै प की बिकी क े
- समय लागू ददशातनदेशों और प्रर्मलत बाजार की विद्यमान पररन्स्थततयों द्िारा अमभशामसत होगा।
- (ङ): स्र ै प क ें रों को रायय/संघ रायय-िेत्र सरकारों की प्राधधक ृ त एजेंमसयों द्िारा अनुमोददत ककया जाता है।

****

## लोक सभा अताराांककत प्रश्न सांख्या 4667

## 23 मार्च, 2020 को उत्तर क े  ललए

## इस्पात स्र ै प नीतत
Lok Sabha Question No. 4664 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-23
Subject: Gold Monetisation Scheme
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Basanta Kumar Panda

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4664

TO BE ANSWERED ON: Monday 23 rd  March, 2020

## GOLD MONETISATION SCHEME QUESTION

## 4664 SHRI BASANTA KUMAR PANDA

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has introduced 'Gold Monetisation Scheme';
- (b) if  so,  the details thereof along with the details in respect of Odisha including Nuapada and Kalahandi districts; and
- (c) the total gold collected so far under the said scheme?

## ANSWER Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance (Shri Anurag Singh Thakur)

- (a)  Yes,  Sir,  The  Gold  Monetization  Scheme  (GMS)  has  been  introduced  vide  RBI's  Master Direction No. DBR.IBD No. 45/23.67.003/2015-16 dated 22.10.2015 (as amended up to August 16, 2019) which is available on RBI website www.rbi.org.in under 'Notifications' tab.
- (b)  The  Gold  Monetization  Scheme  (GMS)  was  launched  by  Hon'ble  Prime  Minister  on November 5, 2015. The objective of GMS is to mobilize the idle gold held by households and institutions  in  the  country;  and  put  this  gold  to  productive  use  e.g.,  by  making  domestically owned available gold for the gems and jewellery sector; and, over time to reduce the country's dependence on the import of gold. Under GMS the depositors will have two options for deposit. First, Short Term Bank Deposit (STBD) which is for 1-3 years and it is run by Banks. Second, Medium and Long Term Government Deposit (MLTGD) which is for 5-15 years and is run by Central government.

Details in respect of Odisha, till 29 th February, 2020 is as below:

| Name of Bank        | Type of Deposits                       |   No. of depositors |   Total gold deposited (in Kg) |
|---------------------|----------------------------------------|---------------------|--------------------------------|
| State Bank of India | Medium Term Government Deposits (MTGD) |                  12 |                            9.2 |

No deposits have been mobilsed under GMS 2015 in Naupada and Kalahandi districts of Odisha

- (c) A total 20.78 tons of gold has been mobilized till 29 th February, 2020 under the GMS.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 4662 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-23
Subject: Education in Rural Areas
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Kunar Hembram

/g3

(a) to (d): The  Department  of  School  Education  and  Literacy  is  implementing  Samagra Shiksha  which  envisages  the  'school'  as  a  continuum  from  Pre-school,  primary,  upper primary, secondary to Senior Secondary levels. Under Samagra Shiksha, various interventions have been targeted to promote education, which include opening of schools in the  neighbourhood  as  defined  by  the  State,  provision  of  free  text-books  up  to  Class  VIII, uniforms to all girls and SC, ST, BPL boys up to class VIII, provision of gender segregated toilets  in  all  schools,  teachers'  sensitization  programmes  to  promote  girls'  participation, construction    of    residential    quarters    for    teachers    in    remote/hilly    areas/in  areas  with difficult terrain.

In  addition,  there  is  a  provision  for  twinning  of  schools  under  which  wellfunctioning  Private  or  Government  Schools  in  urban  or  semi-urban  areas  are  linked  with schools located in rural areas for interaction and exchange of experience. Under the exchange

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA /g3 MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT /g3 DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY /g3

/g3

LOK SABHA /g3 UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4662 /g3 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2020

/g3

## Education in Rural Areas

## †4662. SHRI KUNAR HEMBRAM:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  formulated  any scheme  for  attracting  the  children  to schools   in  rural areas  in  West  Bengal;
- (b)  if so,  the  details  thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  formulated  any scheme for promoting the merit/capacity of rural children; and
- (d)  if so,  the  details  thereof?

## A N S W E R

## /g3 (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

programme, the students from rural schools are  brought to schools in urban areas for one week and vice-versa for greater exposure.

Further, for promoting the merit/capacity of students, including those in rural areas, meritorious students belonging to the Economically Weaker section can avail the benefit of Scholarship  under  National  Means-cum-Merit  Scholarship  Scheme.  The  scholarships  are awarded to meritorious students, whose parental income from all sources is not more than Rs. 1,50,000/- per annum to arrest their drop out at class VIII and encourage them to continue the study at secondary stage. One lakh fresh scholarships of Rs.12000/- per annum per student are awarded to selected students of class IX  every year and their continuation/renewal  in classes X to XII for study in a State Government, Government-aided and Local body schools under the scheme.

*****

/g3
Lok Sabha Question No. 4661 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-23
Subject: Quality Engineering Education
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Khagen Murmu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4661

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2020

## Quality Engineering Education

## †4661. SHRI KHAGEN MURMU:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  increase  the  number  of  the existing  Indian  Institutes  of  Technology  to  promote  quality  engineering education in the country;
- (b) if  so, the locations and the States where these institutes are proposed to be set up; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

(a) to (c): At present, 23 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are functioning in various parts of the country.  Establishment of new IIT depends on demand and availability of fund with the Government.

/g3

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4659 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-23
Subject: Funds Allocated for Development of Tourist Site in Keonjhar
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Chandrani Murmu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4659 ANSWERED ON 23.03.2020

## FUNDS ALLOCATED FOR DEVELOPMENT OF TOURIST SITE IN KEONJHAR

## 4659. MS. CHANDRANI MURMU:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- the  number  of  tourist  spots  of  Keonjhar  district  of  Odisha which have been identified by the Government during the last
- (a) four financial years; and
- (b) the funds allocated by the Government for the development of the said tourist spots?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a) & (b): Ministry  of  Tourism,  under  its     schemes  of  Swadesh Darshan  and  PRASHAD  provides  financial  assistance  to  State Governments/UT Administrations for development of tourism infrastructure in   the country.  Submission of project proposals by the  State     Governments/  UT  Administrations  for  funding  under schemes are continuous     process.  The  projects  are  sanctioned subject  to  their  adherence  to  relevant     scheme  guidelines, submission  of  suitable  detailed  project  reports, availability  of funds and utilization of funds released earlier.

Ministry   has sanctioned projects, Development of GopalpurBarkul-  Satapada-  Tampara     under  Coastal  Circuit  theme  of Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme  in  2016-17  for Rs. 70.82 Crore and Infrastructure Development at   Puri, Shree Jagannath DhamRamachandi-Prachi River front at Deuli under   PRASHAD Scheme in 2014-15 for Rs. 50.00 Crore.

The     State  Government  has  not  submitted  any  project  for Development in   Keonjhar district to the Ministry of Tourism.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 4658 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-23
Subject: Health Fair Organised by SAIL
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: Ashok Kumar Rawat

THE MINISTER OF STEEL

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4658 FOR ANSWER ON 23/03/2020

## HEALTH FAIR ORGANISED BY SAIL

4658.  SHRI ASHOK KUMAR RAWAT:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the funds are provided by the Steel Authority of India (SAIL) and other undertakings for organizing health fairs in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of health fairs organized by them during the last three years and the current year, date and location-wise; and
- (d) the details of the funds spent by them separately during the said period, date and location-wise?

## ANSWER

(SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a)to(d):  None  of  the  Central  Public  Sector  Enterprises  (CPSEs)  under  Ministry  of Steel including Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has organized any health fair during the last three years and the current year. However, communities living in the periphery  of  Plants/Units/Mines  of  CPSEs  under  Ministry  of  Steel  avail  the  basic healthcare  facilities  through  Hospital,  Dispensaries,  Mobile  Medical  Units,  etc. Further,  preventive  healthcare  is  made  available  through  regular  health  camps organized  for  the  benefit  of  people  living  in  various  villages  in  the  periphery  of plants/mines.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 4657 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-23
Subject: Tax Disputes of PSUs
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Kaushal Kishore, Upendra Singh Rawat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

*****

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4657 TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY THE 23 RD  MARCH, 2020 CHAITRA 3, 1942 (SAKA)

## TAX DISPUTES OF PSUs

4657:  SHRI KAUSAL KISHORE: SHRI UPENDRA SINGH RAWAT:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

(a)   whether the Government has asked the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) to pay tax demand disputed by the Tax department where this issue has been decided in favour of the PSUs by higher judicial authorities like Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, High Court, Supreme Court etc.; and (b)   if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR)

- (a)  &  (b)    The  Government  has  introduced  'Vivad  se  Vishwas  Scheme'  during  Budget  Session 2020 to reduce litigation at various judicial forums and unlock revenue.  As a part of outreach and awareness  measures,  Department  has  contacted  taxpayers  including  PSUs  which  at  their  option may like to avail the benefits of scheme by paying one half of the amount of disputed tax where:-
- (i)  an appeal is filed before the Commissioner (Appeals) or objections is filed before the Dispute Resolution Panel by the appellant on any issue on which he has already got a decision in his favour from the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (where the decision on such issue is not reversed by the High  Court  or  the  Supreme  Court)  or  the  High  Court  (where  the  decision  on  such  issue  is  not reversed by the Supreme Court).
- (ii)  an appeal is filed by the appellant on any issue before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal on which he has already got a decision in his favour from the High Court (where the decision on such issue is not reversed by the Supreme Court).

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4648 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-23
Subject: Opening of New Central Universities in West Bengal
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Jyotirmay Singh Mahato

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4648 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2020

## Opening of New Central Universities in West Bengal

## †4648. SHRI JYOTIRMAY SINGH

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

(a) whether the Government is contemplating to open new Central Universities in West Bengal in view of area and geographical conditions of the State;

(b)  if  so,  the  number  of  Universities  and  the  names  of  places  and  the  time  by  which  these Universities are likely to be established;

(c) if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the Government has worked out any action plan to open new Central Universities in West Bengal; and

(e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank')

(a) to (e)  The setting up of Universities is an ongoing process. Recently two Central Universities have  been  established  in  Andhra  Pradesh  and  one  Central  Tribal  University  is  proposed  in Telangana  under  Andhra  Pradesh  Re-organisation  Act  2014.  West  Bengal  state  has  a  Central University  Vishwa  Bharti  at  Shantiniketan.  At  present  there  is  no  proposal  to  open  new  Central Universities  in  West  Bengal.  As  per  the  12 th Plan  (2012-17),  as  approved  by  the  National Development Council, the thrust was on consolidation of the higher education system. Expansion was to be mainly done by scaling up capacity of the existing institutions in place of setting up new institutions.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4645 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-23
Subject: Permanent Campus for Higher Education Institutions in Karnataka
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shobha Karandlaje

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4645 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2020

## Permanent Campus for Higher Education Institutions in Karnataka

## 4645. KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE:

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

- (a)  whether  there  has  been  an  inordinate  delay  in  completion  of  permanent  campus  for Higher  Educational  Institutions  functioning  from  the  temporary  campus  in  the  State  of Karnataka;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the construction work of educational institutions is yet to be completed;
- (d) if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

- (a) to (e): Central University of Karnataka is functioning in its permanent campus since 14.08.2013. Status of the other three institutes is as under:
- (i)  For Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Dharwad, a site measuring about 470.21 acres, in Kelagari village, Dharwad has already been approved as the Permanent Campus. For construction of permanent campus, tenders have been floated and bid was opened on 08 th January 2020 for the award of the work following the CPWD guidelines.
- (ii)  For  Indian  Institute  of  Information  Technology  (IIIT),  Dharwad,  construction  work  is going on.
- (iii)  Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Raichur has started in the year 201920 only and is presently functioning at IIT Hyderabad since August 2019. For construction of the permanent campus on 65 acres of land, IIIT Raichur has signed an MoU with CPWD on 18.03.2020.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 4641 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-23
Subject: Development of Ancient Buddhist Centre of Amravati
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4641 ANSWERED ON 23.03.2020

## DEVELOPMENT OF ANCIENT BUDDHIST CENTRE OF AMRAVATI

## 4641. SHRI RAM MOHAN NAIDU KINJARAPU:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken any steps for developing the ancient Buddhist centre of Amravati, Andhra Pradesh as a tourist destination;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of progress made in establishing Buddhist tourism circuit in Andhra Pradesh;
- (d) whether the Government has received funds from any international organization or foreign country for the development of Buddhist tourist sites in the country; and
- (e)
- if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

- (a) to (c): Based on the proposal received from State Government of Andhra Pradesh, Ministry of Tourism has approved the following projects for development of Buddhist centres in the State.
- i. 'Development  of  Amaravati  Town,  Guntur  District  as  a Tourist Destination' approved in 2015-16 under PRASHAD Scheme  at  the  cost  of  Rs.28.36  Crore.  An  amount  of Rs.22.69 Crore has been released so far.
- ii. 'Development of Buddhist Circuit: ShalihundamThotlakonda- Bavikonda- Bojjanakonda- Amravati- Anupu in  Andhra  Pradesh'  approved  in  2017-18  as  Buddhist Circuit  under  Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme  at  the  cost  of
- Rs.52.34  Crore.  An  amount  of  Rs.26.17  Crore  has  been released so far. An amount of Rs.1847.50 lakh was sanctioned for project 'Development  of  Amravati'  by  Ministry  of  Housing  and
- iii. Urban Affairs under their 'HRIDAY' Scheme.

(d): No, Sir.

(e) : Does not arise.

- ********
Lok Sabha Question No. 4640 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-23
Subject: Higher Deposit Cover
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: S. Muniswamy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4640

TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2020/ CHAITRA 3, 1942 (SAKA)

## HIGHER DEPOSIT COVER

## 4640. SHRI MUNISWAMY:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any plan to provide higher deposit cover for bank deposits;
- (b) if so, the details thereof including the maximum deposit coverage and the criteria therefor; and
- (c) the basis on which the higher coverage is to be fixed and the time by which it is likely to be implemented?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## (SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR)

(a) and (b): With a view to providing a greater measure of protection to depositors in banks, the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has raised the limit of insurance cover for depositors in insured banks from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh per depositor with effect from 04.02.2020, with the approval of the Government of India.

(c) : The proposal to raise the limit of insurance cover for depositors in insured banks from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh was received by the Government of India from DICGC. DICGC reviews the deposit insurance cover in terms of the provisions of Section 16 (1) of the DICGC Act, 1961 which provides that the DICGC may, from time to time, having regard to its financial position and to the interest of the banking system of the country as a whole, raise, with the previous approval of the Central Government, the financial limit of the total amount payable to one depositor in respect of his deposit at all the branches of a bank taken together.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 4635 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-23
Subject: Area Development Programmes
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4635

TO BE ANSWERED Monday, March 23, 2020/Chaitra 3, 1942 (Saka)

## Area Development Programmes

## 4635. SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government  proposes  to restore provisions for Area  Development Programmes like special plan for KBK, BRGF, IAP for LWE affected districts in view of developmental needs of the most vulnerable and backward regions of Odisha;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government will provide a special package for KBK-K region of Odisha for  continuation  of  the  said  programmes  from  budget  provision  available  with  NITI Aayog; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE (SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR)

- (a)  &  (b) :  Following  the  14 th Finance  Commission  recommendations the scheme -  'Backward Regions Grant Funds' has been delinked from support from the Centre since 2015-16. Further, the 12 th Plan  committed  liabilities  of  Union  Government  towards  the  Special  Plan  for  the  KBK districts of Odisha have been discharged by releasing 'Special Assistance' of Rs.132.07 crore in 2015-16 and Rs.367.93 crore in 2016-17 to the State of Odisha.
- (c) & (d): As per Union Budget: 2020-21 documents, there is no separate budget line with NITI Aayog for financial assistance to States.

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