opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1294 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-11
Subject: Extension of Visa on Arrival Facility
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: RAMESH POKHRIYAL NISHANK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†1294 ANSWERED ON 11.02.2019

## EXTENSION OF VISA ON ARRIVAL FACILITY

†1294. DR. RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK':

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  extended  the  'Visa  on  arrival' facility to promote tourism sector;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  number  of  foreign  tourists  has  increased  after expansion of 'Visa on arrival' facility; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI K.J. ALPHONS)

(a) to (d): Visa-on-Arrival(V.o.A) is granted to the nationals of Japan and South Korea. Visa on Arrival provides double entry for a period not  exceeding  60  days  for  business,  tourism,  conference  and medical  purpose  at  6  designated  international  airports  viz.,  Delhi, Mumbai,  Chennai,  Kolkata,  Bengaluru  and  Hyderabad.  Details  of V.o.A. issued are given as under:-

|   Year | No. of V.o.A. issued             |
|--------|----------------------------------|
|   2016 | 6, 827                           |
|   2017 | 12, 024                          |
|   2018 | 6, 172(up to 14th December 2018) |

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1283 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-11
Subject: PMKVY in Karnataka
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: P. C. MOHAN

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1283 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2019

## Programme for PISA 2021

## 1283. SHRI B. VINOD KUMAR:

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

- (a)	the	details	and	the	status	of	the	Institutes	of	Eminence	(IoE); (b)	whether	private	Greenfield	institutes	would	be	continued	to	be	provided	the	tag	of IoE	as	has	been	the	case	previously; (c)	 whether	 the	 goals	 have	 been	 set	 for	 the	 nation	 to	 achieve	 in	 the	 Programme	 for International	Student	Assessment	(PISA)of	2021; (d)	 if	 so,	 whether	 steps	 are	 being	 taken	 by	 the	 Ministry	 to	 achieve	 said	 goals,	 at	 the Government	school	levels;	and (e)	the	training	is	being	imparted	to	or	would	be	imparted	to	teachers	for	the	PISA2021
- and	if	so,	the	details	thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a)	 &	 (b):	 The	 Central	 Government,	 after	 considering	 recommendation	 of	 University Grants	 Commission	 (UGC)	 on	 the	 report	 of	 Empowered	 Expert	 Committee,	 issued Notifications	 to	 3	 Public	 Institutions	 namely	 Indian	 Institute	 of	 Science,	 Bangalore; Indian	Institute	of	Technology,	Delhi	&	Indian	Institute	of	Technology,	Bombay.	Apart from	this,	the	Government	has	issued	Letters	of	Intent	to	3	Private	Institutions	namely Manipal	 Academy	 of	 Higher	 Education,	 Karnataka;	 Birla	 Institute	 of	 Technology	 & Science,	Pilani	under	brown	field	category	and	Jio	Institute	under	green	field	category for	setting	up/up-gradation	of	Institution	of	Eminence	Deemed	to	be	University	within	a period	 of	 3	 years.	 	 'Institutions	 of	 Eminence'	 tag	 can	 be	 used	 by	 these	 Private Institutions	 only	 after	 issuance	 of	 Notification	 by	 this	 Ministry	 declaring	 them	 as Institution	of	Eminence	Deemed	to	be	University.

(c)	 to	 (e):	 The	 Government	 of	 India	 has	 decided	 that	 India	 will	 participate	 in	 the Programme	 for	 International	 Students	 Assessment	 (PISA)	 to	 be	 conducted	 by	 the Organization	 for	 Economic	 Cooperation	 and	 Development	 (OECD)	 in	 2021.	 The	 PISA test	 is	 to	 measure	 education's	 application	 to	 real-life	 problems	 and	 lifelong	 learning. The	OECD	will	undertake	contextualization	of	the	tests	and	translation	would	be	done	in Hindi.	 The	 preparations	 for	 PISA	 2021	 have	 been	 initiated.	 An	 Agreement	 has	 been signed	on	28 th 	January,	2019	between	Ministry	of	Human	Resource	Development	and OECD	for	this	purpose.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1280 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-11
Subject: Make in India Programme
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: UDAY PRATAP SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1280.

TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE 11 TH   FEBRUARY, 2019.

## MAKE IN INDIA PROGRAMME

## 1280.  SHRI UDAY PRATAP SINGH:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state:

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) the  number  of  programmes/  schemes  launched  under  the  Make  in  India programme  of  the  Ministry  and  the  amount  allocated/utilised  for  the  said programmes/ schemes during each of the last four years, State-wise including Jharkhand;
- (b) the number of employment opportunities generated from the said programmes/schemes and the figure of beneficiaries thereof, State-wise; and
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  achieved  targets  under  the  'Make  in  India' programme, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor, Statewise?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज् यमंत्री (श्री सी.आर. चौधरी) (SHRI C.R. CHAUDHARY)

- (a) to (c): Make in India initiative was launched in 2014 for promoting India as an important  investment destination and  a  global  hub for  manufacturing, design and innovation. Measures under the initiative have the objective of  facilitating  investment,  fostering  innovation,  building  best  in  class manufacturing  infrastructure,  making  it  easy  to  do  business  and enhancing skill development. Activities under the initiative are undertaken, through schemes/programmes, by several Central Government  Ministries/Departments  and  various  State  Governments from  time  to  time.  Details  of  fund  utilisation,  employment  generated, targets etc for such schemes/programmes are not maintained centrally.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1273 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-11
Subject: Setting up of Jain Pilgrimage Circuit
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: MUKESH RAJPUT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†1273

## LOK SABHA ANSWERED ON 11.02.2019

## SETTING UP OF JAIN PILGRIMAGE CIRCUIT

†1273. SHRI MUKESH RAJPUT:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  set  up  Jain  pilgrimage circuit;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the international Buddhist pilgrimage site sankisa has been included/ proposed to be included in the Buddhist circuit and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI K.J. ALPHONS)

(a) to (c): The Ministry  of  Tourism,  under  the  scheme  of  Swadesh Darshan, is developing theme- based tourism circuits in the country. Tirthankar  and  Buddhist  Circuits  are  among  the  fifteen  thematic circuits identified for development under the Scheme.

Under  Tirthankar  Circuit,  the  Ministry  has  sanctioned  the project  for  Development  of  Vaishali-  Arrah-  Masad-  Patna-  RajgirPawapuri-  Champapuri  in  Bihar  in  the  year  2016-17  for  Rs.52.39 crore.

All sites in the country related to Buddhism including Sankisa are covered under the Buddhist Circuit for development.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1272 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-11
Subject: Mid Day Meal Scheme
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: MAUSAM NOOR

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1272 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2019

## Mid Day Meal Scheme

## 1272. SHRIMATI MAUSAM NOOR:

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

- (a)  Whether  the  Government  is  intending  to  provide  children  of  all  States  and  Union Territories  with  full  meals  or  additional  items  on  special  occasions  like  birthdays, marriages, anniversaries, days of national importance and other festivals and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) whether the Government intends to encourage participation from the private sector to meet the resource requirements and to enhance dietary choices for children and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

- (a) : State Government of Gujarat initiated the concept of 'Tithi Bhojan' in mid day meal programme.   It is a community participation programme under which members of the community provide nutritious and healthy food to the children as an additional food item  or  full  meal  on  special  occasions  such  as  festivals,  anniversaries,  birthdays, marriages, and days of national importance etc on voluntary basis. Tithi Bhojan is not a substitute  to  Mid-day  Meal.    This  only  supplements  or  complements  Mid-day  Meal. Government of India has also issued guidelines on 'Tithi Bhojan' and requested all the States  and  UTs  to  circulate  the  guidelines  to  implementing  agencies  viz.,  Districts/ Blocks/Gram Panchayats/ Self Help Groups etc. for ensuring compliance under Mid Day  Meal  Scheme.  States  and  UTs  are  also  requested  to  encourage  the  concept  by replicating  the  practice  of  Tithi  Bhojan  under  Mid-Day  Meal  using  the  same nomenclature or adopt a local nomenclature suited to them. So far, 11 States and UTs have adopted concepts similar to Tithi Bhojan viz Assam (Sampriti Bhojan), Andhra Pradesh,  Punjab  (Priti  bhojan),  Daman  &  Diu  (Tithi  Bhojan),  Karnataka  (Shalegagi Naavu  Neevu),  Madhya  Pradesh,  Maharastra  (Sneh  Bhojan),  Chandigarh  (Tithi Bhojan),  Puducherry  (Anna  Dhanam),  Haryana  (Beti  ka  Janamdin)  and  Uttarakhand (Tithi Bhojan).
- (b) :  No, Madam.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1271 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-11
Subject: Amendment in Minimum Wages Act, 1948
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1271 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2019

## AMENDMENT IN MINIMUM WAGES ACT, 1948

†1271. SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL

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

- (a)whether suggestions have been received from various stakeholders for amendment in the Minimum Wages Act, 1948;
- (b)if so, the details thereof;
- (c)whether  all  employment  sectors  are  proposed  to  be  covered  and penal provisions are also likely to be made more stringent under the said amendment; and
- (d)if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a) to (d): Considering suggestions received from various stakeholders  in  tripartite  consultations,  Ministry  has  taken  steps  for drafting the Labour Code on Wages by amalgamating, simplifying and rationalizing the relevant provisions of 4 Central Acts i.e. The Minimum Wages Act, 1948, The Payment of Wages Act, 1936, The Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 and The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.

The  Labour  Code  on  Wages  Bill,  2017  introduced  in  Lok Sabha on 10.08.2017 has a provision to ensure minimum wages to one and all and timely payment of wages to all employees irrespective of the sector of employment without any wage ceiling. Under this Code, Penalties for different types of violations have been rationalized with the amount of fines varying as per the gravity of violations and repeat of  the  offences.  Provision  of  compounding of offences has also been made for those which are not punishable by a penalty of imprisonment.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1269 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-11
Subject: Tribal Drink (Mahua)
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: PRALHAD VENKATESH JOSHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1269

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2019

## TRIBAL DRINK (MAHUA)

## 1269.  SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken any steps to popularise tribal products across the country and increase its market share;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether there are any plans to popularise the tribal drink Mahua; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (b) The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED), a multi-State Cooperative Society under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, is promoting and marketing tribal products, tribal art and crafts within the country and abroad by providing marketing support to tribal products through its network of 31 retail outlets 'TRIBES INDIA', 37 consignment outlets of various State Emporia and 16 franchisee outlets. It also organizes exhibitions like National Tribal Craft Expo called 'Aadi Mahotsav' etc. in which it promotes and markets tribal products. It also facilitates the participation of tribal artisans to enable them to interact directly with art lovers to assess the market needs. In the last three years, it has begun providing e-commerce platforms to the tribal artisans to sell their products.  Towards this, TRIFED has entered into agreements with e-commerce platforms like Snapdeal and Amazon who will offer their customers various tribal products and produce through their portals www.snapdeal.com and www.amazon.com respectively to facilitate online sale.  On the request of  the  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs,  Ministry  of  Commerce  has  also  made  provision  for  sale  of  tribal products through TRIFED on www.gem.gov.in.

- (c) & (d) Ministry has not taken any such decision.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1268 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-11
Subject: Area Frame Survey
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: RAJESH KUMAR DIWAKAR, SANTOSH AHLAWAT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1268 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2019

## AREA FRAME SURVEY

## 1268. SHRI RAJESH KUMAR DIWAKER: SHRIMATI SANTOSH AHLAWAT:

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

- (a)whether the Government proposes to undertake Area Frame Survey across all  States/UTs  by  covering  enterprises  employing  less  than  10  workers and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b)whether the labour Bureau has conducted/proposes to conduct a survey to estimate  the  employment  generated  under  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Mudra Yojana and if so, the details and the findings thereof; and
- (c)whether the Government has conducted/proposes to conduct any inquiry in the Mumbai ESIC hospital fire incident to find out the culprit and if so, the details and the outcome thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- (a): Yes,  Madam.    In  order  to  assess  the  employment  generation  for sizable  segment  to  Non-farm  Industrial  economy  covering  8  important sectors  of  the  Indian  economy  in  establishment  with  9  or  less  workers, Ministry  of  Labour  &  Employment  has  instituted  a  survey  for  this  purpose. Labour Bureau, an attached office of the Ministry, has been entrusted with this Survey work which will first prepare a frame for starting this survey work which has been named as Area Frame Survey.  An Expert Group constituted by Ministry has already finalized the design and other technical aspects of the survey.
- (b): Yes, Madam. In order to assess employment generation under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), Ministry of Labour & Employment has already launched a Survey in the month of April, 2018.  Further, the field work and data entry work for the survey has been completed.
- (c): Yes, Madam. Members of the Committee constituted by Hon'ble Chief Minister  of  Maharashtra  have  already  visited  ESIC  Model  Hospital  cum Occupational  Diseases  Centre  (ODC),  Andheri  premises  on  03.01.2019. Further, Medical Superintendent, Andheri Hospital has also lodged FIR with Maharashtra police in this regard.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1264 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-11
Subject: Working Conditions of Journalists
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Pratyusha Rajeshwari Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1264

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2019

## WORKING CONDITIONS OF JOURNALISTS

## 1264. SHRIMATI PRATYUSHA RAJESHWARI SINGH:

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

- (a)the  details  of  statutes  governing  the  working  conditions  including salary, perks etc. of the journalists in the country;
- (b)the mechanism put in place by the Government to ensure its strict
- compliance across the country;
- (c)whether the print and electronic media persons and journalists are covered under the Minimum Wages Act, Provident Fund, ESI pension scheme(s) and Social Security Schemes; and
- (d)if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a) & (b): The  Working  Journalists  and  Other  Newspaper  Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955, inter alia,  covers  under  its  ambit  conditions  of  employment  of  working journalists for improvement and regulation of the service conditions of Working Journalists and also for Non-Journalists Newspaper Employees.

The Working Journalists Act addresses the issues of hours of work, leave fixation and revising rates of wages which includes the constitution  of  a  Wage  Board.  The  Working  Journalists  Act  also provides for the Board so established to provide its recommendations and defines the powers and procedure of the Board. It also gives the Central  Government  powers  to  enforce  the  recommendations  of  the Wage Board.

The primary responsibility for implementation of recommendations lies with the State Governments/UTs. The responsibility of the State Governments include creating special cells, to oversee the progress of implementation of Wage Board recommendations,  to  send  the  Quarterly  Progress  Report  to  the Ministry  and  to  gear  up  the  State  Labour  Enforcement  Machinery  to ensure speedy and prompt implementation of the recommendations of the Wage  Boards.  The  Ministry has a Central Level Monitoring Committee to oversee the implementation of Wage Board Recommendations by the States.

(c) & (d): The  media  persons  and  journalists  are  covered  under Minimum Wages Act, 1948. The fixation of minimum wages for media persons and journalists falls  under  the  purview  of  State  Government which is the appropriate Government to fix/revise the minimum wages. Moreover, the news  paper  establishments and Electronic  Media Companies in private sector are covered under Employees' Provident Funds & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. The employees working in these establishments are entitled to social security benefits in the form of  Provident  Fund,  Pension  and  Deposit-Linked  Insurance  under provisions of the Act and the Schemes framed thereunder.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1260 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-11
Subject: University Status to Sanskrit Sansthan
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: KAUSHAL KISHORE

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1260 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2019

## University Status to Sanskrit Sansthan

## 1260 . SHRI KAUSHAL KISHORE:

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

- a) whether no central university has been set up for Sanskrit though the same exists for Hindi, Urdu and English languages, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the time by which the Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan is likely to be accorded the Central University status;
- b) Whether the 240 contractual/guest teachers working in the said Sansthan have not been regularized  so  far  in  spite  of  having  the  requisite  qualifications  prescribed  by  the University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reasons therefor along with the time by which they are likely to be regularized;
- c) whether  the ratio of regular and contractual/guest teachers in this Sansthan is as per the laid down guidelines and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor along with the steps being taken to bring this ratio at par with the guidelines;
- d) the  reasons  for  not  giving  salary/emoluments,  amenities  and  opportunities  to  the contractual/guest  teachers  as  per  with  the  regular  teachers  in  spite  of  High  Court directions in this regard; and
- e) the reasons for not deducting Provident Fund (PF) to contractual/guest teachers in spite of  drawing  minimum  salary/emoluments  as  prescribed  by  the  Karamchari  Bhavishya Nidhi Sangathan along with the time by which their PF is likely to be deducted?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a):  Yes Madam. There is no Central University for Sanskrit language. However, there is a proposal  to  convert  three  Sanskrit  languages  Deemed  to  be  Universities  namely,  Shri  Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, New Delhi, Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, New Delhi and Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Tirupati to Central Universities.

(b):  Yes  Madam. There are around 240 contractual / guest teachers in various off-campuses of Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan.  There is no provision under rules to regularize these contractual / guest teachers.

(c): There are 228 sanctioned posts of teachers against the requirement of 491.  This gap has been filled  up  by  engaging  contractual  /  guest  teachers.  At  present,  the  ratio  of  contractual  /  guest teachers is not as per the Guidelines. The government is in process of increasing the sanctioned strength of teachers and thereafter regular teachers will be recruited to make the ratio as per the guidelines.

(d) and (e) The salary / emoluments are paid as per the norms of University Grants commission and  the  Government  rules  are  followed  w.r.t.  deduction  of  provident  fund  from  contractual  or guest teachers.

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