opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 959 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-18
Subject: Global Tiger Day
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Ganesan Selvam, Dhanush M Kumar, C.N. Annadurai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 959

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.09.2020

## Global Tiger Day

## 959. SHRI SELVAM G.:

## SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR:

SHRI C.N. ANNADURAI:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state : -

- (a) whether the  Government  has  observed  Global  Tiger  Day  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof including the programmes organized in this regard;
- (b) the area covered and the different types of equipment used for Fourth Cycle of All India Tiger Estimation along with the number of tigers spotted as per Fourth Cycle Estimation;
- (c) the details of programmes being implemented by the Government for the conservation of tigers in the country;
- (d) the problems being faced by the Government in conservation of tigers and the steps taken to overcome this problem; and
- (e) the further efforts made by the Government to enhance the funds for tiger conservation project in various States?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

- (a)  Yes  Sir,  the  Government  has  observed  Global  Tiger  Day  wherein,  the  following  releases were made:
- (i) Final report of fourth cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation
- (ii) Poster on Small Wild Cats of India

(b) The 4 th Cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation covered 381,400 sq.km. of forested habitats of the country.  During this cycle 2461 individual tigers were photo captured with an estimate of 2967  tigers  (with  a  lower  limit  of  2603  and  upper  limit  of  3346)  in  the  country.    Following equipments were used:

- (i) Camera traps
- (ii) Laser range finders
- (iii) Compass
- (iv) Binoculars
- (v) Android base mobile handsets
- (vi) Desktops with M-STrIPES program
- (c)  The  Government  of  India  is  implementing  the  ongoing  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of Project  Tiger  under  the  umbrella  scheme  of  Integrated  Development  of  Wildlife  Habitats  for conservation of tigers.

(d) Issues affecting tiger conservation in the country are:

- (i) Poaching
- (ii) Habitat destruction
- (iii) Fragmentation of habitats
- (iv) Tiger-human negative interactions
- (e) Since, 2015-16, fund allocation for the ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Project Tiger has been enhanced two fold, which is further augmented through mechanism of the Expenditure Finance Committee.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 956 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-18
Subject: Safety Provisions for ASHA Workers
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Pradyut Bordoloi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 956 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 th SEPTEMBER, 2020

## SAFETY PROVISIONS FO R ASHA WORKERS

## 956. SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLOI:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of additional safety provisions extended to the ASHA workers during their redeployment to Covid centric activities;
- (b) whether the payments and bonuses for these workershave been made on time in all the regions of the country, if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government has considered increasing the monetary benefits of the ASHA workers, in light of the increased workload and risk to life due to theCOVID - 19 pandemic; if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a): Public health and hospitals is a State subject, as such the  primary responsib of    extending safety  provisions  to  their  health  employees/workers  including  ASHAs deployed  for  Covid  related  activities,  lies  with  the  respective  States/UTs.  Howe Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, has requested States/UTs fo extending all support as well as making necessary provisions for the safety of ASHAs. Under  the  ASHA  Incentives  and  Benefit  Package,  provisions  have  been  made  for providing masks, hand sanitizers and training on the subject including observance of so distancing norm s while undertaking field work. Further, the benefit under 'Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package : Insurance Scheme for Health Workers Fighting COVID 19', has been launched  to provide an insurance cover of Rs. 50 lakh to public health provid including c ommunity health workers/ASHAs, who may be at risk of being impacted by COVID 19.
- (b): As stated above, Public Health and Hospitals is a State subject, responsibility fo timely payment of incentive to ASHAs lies with the respective States/UTs. However, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, requests the States/UTs t ensure  timely  payment  of  incentives  to  ASHAs.  The  data  on  payment  of  incentives  to ASHAs is not maintained centrally.
- (c): The  Ministry  of  Health  &  Family Welfare,  Govt.  of  India  has  provisions    of additional  incentive  of  Rs.  1000  per  month  under  the  'India  COVID  19  Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Package'  to ASHAs for undertaking COVID 19 related activities for the period of their engage ment in this work.
Lok Sabha Question No. 955 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-18
Subject: EPR for Plastic Waste
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, Midhun Reddy, Chandra Sekhar Bellana

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 955

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.09.2020

## EPR for Plastic waste

## 955. SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY: SHRI P.V.MIDHUN REDDY: SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR BELLANA:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether Government has issued any notification or guidelines on uniform framework for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic waste management;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the role of the Urban Local Bodies or Local Self Governing Institutions in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

(a) to (c): The Ministry has notified the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. As per Rules, the  generators  of  waste  have  been  mandated  to  take  steps  to  minimize  generation  of  plastic waste, not to litter the plastic waste, ensure segregated storage of waste at source and handover segregated waste to the local bodies or agencies authorised by the local bodies. The Rules also mandate the responsibilities of local bodies, gram panchayats, waste generators, retailers etc to manage such waste. The Rules inter-alia mandate the producers, importers and brand owners to work out modalities for  waste  collection  system  based  on  the  principle  of  Extended  Producer Responsibility.

The  Ministry  has  recently  approved  a  draft  Guideline  Document  on  Uniform  Framework  for Extended Producers Responsibility under Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. The guideline provides  for  three  different  models  for  the  Producers,  Importers  and  Brand  Owners  for  the implementation  of  the  EPR  mechanism.    The  document  is  uploaded  on  the  website  of  the Ministry.

Under  the  Plastic  Waste  Management  Rules,  2016,  the  responsibility  of  local  body  inter  alia includes setting up, operationalization, and coordination of the waste management system. The local  body  for  setting  up  of  system  for  plastic  waste  management  may  seek  assistance  of producers.

**************
Lok Sabha Question No. 948 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-18
Subject: Media Trials
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: L.S. Tejasvi Surya, Prathap Simha

## MEDIA TRIALS

## 948. SHRI L. S. TEJASVI SURYA: SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA:

Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  948 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18/09/2020

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has the power under requisite provisions to forbid the media channels from holding 'media trials' of sub-judice matters, and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  of  the  sub-optimal  state  of reporting  by  the  media  channels  within  the  country,  and  if  so,  the  steps taken to improve it; and
- (c) the instances of blocking of any news channel during the last ten years over broadcasting matters not in accordance with guidelines alongwith the names and duration of any such blocking?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE; MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a)  to  (b):          All  programmes  and  advertisements  telecast  on private  satellite  TV  channels  are  regulated  in  accordance  with the  Programme  and  Advertising  Codes  prescribed  under  the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and the Rules framed thereunder.

The  Government  takes  action  in  cases  where  Programme  / Advertising  Codes  are  found  to  be  violated  by  the  private  TV channels,  including  issuance  of  advisory,  warning,  running  an apology scroll and in extreme cases, directing the channel to be off air for a certain time duration.

(c):     During the last ten years and current year, there have been thirty  five  (35)  instances  where  private  satellite  TV  channels were  asked  to  prohibit  transmission  of  telecasting  content  in violation of the Programme Code for the period ranging from one day to thirty days.

- *********
Lok Sabha Question No. 945 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-18
Subject: Amendments in EIA
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: T.N. Prathapan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION NO. 945

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.09.2020

## Amendments in EIA

## 945. SHRI T.N. PRATHAPAN:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) the details of the proposed amendments in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and the objectives of the amendments;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  of  the  concerns  over  the  environmental protection by amending EIA; if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the Government  has  assessed/studied  the  conflict  between  environmental sensitivities and the well-being of the industrial sector; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the industrial tragedies reported in India since 1972 along with the casualties/losses incurred?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

(a) and (b): The objectives of the amendments in the draft EIA Notification, 2020, include inter alia , to promote environmental cause; removes redundancies; encourages modernization; brings defaulters into environmental regime with requisite action, penalty and remediation; introduces standardization and technology driven process; and consolidates 55 amendments and 229 Office Memoranda/circulars  issued  from  time  to  time  in  the  past  14  years  since  the  issuance  of Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006.

The  amendments,  inter  alia,  includes  integration  of  the  amendments,  office  memoranda, circulars,  guidelines  issued  from  time  to  time;  rationalization  of  categorization  of  projects; delegation of  more projects or activities to the state level authority; fast tracking of environmental clearance for small projects or activities; strengthening of monitoring mechanism; introduction  of  standard  operating  procedures;  explicit  provisions;  automation  of  the  process; validity of environmental clearance at one-go; flexibility in data collection; provision for dealing with violation cases; provision for dealing with non-compliance of EC conditions; implementation  of directions of Hon'ble  Courts and Tribunal; rationalization of Public consultation process; integration of learning's in implementation of EIA, 2006; etc.

The  draft  EIA  Notification,  2020  has  been  prepared  after  obtaining  the  views  of  different stakeholders. While drafting the EIA notification the concerns relating to environment protection have been duly taken care of.

(c) and (d): The draft EIA, 2020 strike a balance between development & environment cause and encourages modernization on one hand; and strengthens the monitoring mechanism on other by bringing defaulters into regulatory regime with commensurate damages & costs.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 939 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-18
Subject: Incidence of Child Sexual Abuse
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Devji Mansingram Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UN STARRED QUESTION NO.939

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.09.2020

## INCIDENCE OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

## 939. SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether   incidents    of    child    sexual    abuse    have  increased  during  the    past decade;
- (b) if so, the facts thereof, State-wise;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to deal with this menace;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to amend the POCSO Act, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons  therefor;
- (e) whether the Government proposes to undertake measures to fastrack research/action in such incidents, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the assistance provided to the victims of such serious crimes?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) & (b) The State/UT-wise details of the number of cases of sexual abuse of children reported from 2009 to 2018, is available at https://ncrb.gov.in/en/crime-india.

(c) to (f): The Government of India implements the 'Protection of Children from Sexual Offences  (POCSO)  Act,  2012',  which  provides  for  mandatory  reporting,  child  friendly recording  of  statement  and  evidence  and  speedy  trial  of  the  cases.  It  is  stipulated  in Section 44 (1) of POCSO Act, 2012 that National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) shall monitor  the  implementation  of  the  provisions  of  the  Act.  Recently,  the  Protection  of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 has been amended and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act, 2019 has been notified on 06.08.2019.  The amendments provide for more stringent punishments in case of child sex abuse.

The Government implements a scheme for setting up of 1023 Fast Track Special Courts  (FTSCs),  including  389  exclusive  POCSO  Courts,  for  expeditious  trial  and disposal of cases related to rape and POCSO Act. The Government also provides aid to such victims under the victim compensation schemes.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 936 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-18
Subject: Gender Based Violence
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Amar Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION NO.936

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.09.2020

## GENDER BASED VIOLENCE

## 936: DR. AMAR SINGH:

Will  the  Minister  of  WOMEN  AND  CHILD  DEVELOPMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  of  the  high  incidence  of  rape  and physical violence against women between the age group of 15-49 years;
- (b) whether  gender  based  violence  is  one  of  the  most  common  human  right violations and is mostly unreported and unrecognised due to the social stigma surrounding it, if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  preventive  measures  taken/being  taken  to  mobilise  support  and  spread awareness against gender based violence?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a)  to  (c)  :  The  Government  gives  high  priority  to  ensuring  safety  and  security  of women and has undertaken various  legislative  and  schematic  interventions  in  this regard.  These  include  legislations  such  as  'The  Criminal  Law  (Amendment)  Act, 2018', 'The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013', 'The Protection of Children from Sexual  Offences  (POCSO)  Act,  'The  Sexual  Harassment  of Women  at  Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013', 'The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2006', 'The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961',  etc. and schemes such  as  One  Stop  Centres(OSCs),  Universalisation  of  Women  Helpline  (WHL), Mahila Police Volunteers (MPV)  etc.

In addition, several initiatives under Nirbhaya Fund have been taken to ensure safety  and  security  of  women.  These inter  alia include  implementation  of  the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) which is a pan-India single number (112)/ mobile app based system for emergencies, a cyber-crime reporting portal to report  obscene  content,  safe  city  projects  in  8  cities  (Ahmedabad,  Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow and Mumbai) including infrastructure, technology adoption and capacity building in community through awareness programmes,  training  and  skill  development  programs  for  Investigation  Officers, Prosecution  Officers  and  Medical  Officers,  distribution  of  Sexual  Assault  Evidence Collection  (SAEC)  Kits  to  States/  UTs,  assistance  to  16  States/  UTs  to  strengthen Forensic Science Laboratories etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 934 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-18
Subject: Status of Tigers in India Report
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Dushyant Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO:  934

TO BE ANSWERED ON  18.09.2020

## Status of Tigers in India Report

## 934. SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state : -

- (a) whether camera trapping methodology has been used to estimate tiger population in the ' Status of Tigers in India' report, 2018;
- (b) if so, the number of cameras used along with the cost and technical specifications;
- (c) whether covariate based models have been used to estimate the tigers that have not been captured by camera trapping method and if so, the details of the statistical methodology used in the model;
- (d) whether the said model has been peer reviewed, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether  the  'Status  of  Tigers  in  India'  report,  2018,  enumerated  under-aged  cubs  and whether there was a shift in methodology compared to the previous census; and
- (f) if so, the detailed thereof and the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

- (a) Yes  Sir,  camera  traps  were  deployed  during  the  fourth  cycle  of  the  All  India  Tiger Estimation.
- (b) A  pair  of  cameras  were  deployed  at  26,838  locations.    Technical  specifications  and pricing were varied depending on model chosen by the State Governments.
- (c) & (d) Covariate based models were used for estimation of tigers, fundamentals of which have been peer reviewed in the Journal of Applied Ecology in 2011.
- (e) & (f) No, there was no shift in methodology compared to the previous estimation.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 932 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-18
Subject: Ayurveda in Kerala
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: M. K. Raghavan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 932 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 th SEPTEMBER, 2020

## AYURVEDA IN KERALA

## 932. SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN:

Will  the  Minister  of AYURVEDA,  YOGA  AND NATUROPATHY,  UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that Kerala is the world captial of Ayurveda, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government for development of India's own system of alternative medicine originating from Kerala;
- (c) whether the Government is considering any projects for promotion/growth Homoeopathy in Kerala where it is widely practiced and accepted; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

of

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) : No such information is available to verify such facts.
- (b) :    Ayurveda  is  the  traditional  system  of  Medicine  of  Indian  origin  and  not  alte medicine.In  order  to  promote  Ayurveda,  Ministry  of  AYUSH  has  established  following Ayurvedic National Level Institutes in different parts of the country.
- (i) National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur
- (ii) All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi
- (iii) Institute of Post Graduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Jamnagar
- (iv) North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy, Shillong
- (v) Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth, New Delhi

Ministry  of  AYUSH  has  also  set  up  Central  Council  for  Research  in  Ayurvedic Scienc es  as  an  Apex  Body  for  formulation,  coordination,  development  and  promotion  o Research in Ayurveda on Scientific lines. Central Council of Indian Medicine established under Indian Medicine Central Council Act (IMCC), 1970

- (c) to (d): The Ministry of AYUS H upgraded the erstwhile Central Research Institute in Homoeopathy, Kottayam, Kerala under the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy(CCRH) to National Homoeopathy Research Institute in Mental Health(NHRIM H ) in 2016 by launching the postgraduate MD(Ho m.) courses in Psychiatry and Practice of Medicines with six seats each.

The Institute has a built up area of 7528 sq. mts. accommodating  general and special outpatient  departments,  inpatient  department  for  100  patients  including  a  dedi Psychiatry ward, Clinical laboratory, Occupational therapy & rehabilitation Unit etc.