opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1347 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Challenges in Online Education
Ministry: Education
Asked by: N.K. Premachandran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1347 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 th  September, 2020

## Challenges in Online Education

## 1347 . SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  initiated  action  on  the  huge  demand  for  graphical  ppt  and  media resources for online classes, if so the details thereof;

(b)  whether  the  Government proposes to arrange short term classes for the teacher for updating skills, if so, the details of action taken there on;

(c) whether the Government proposes to use online radio, community radio, audio video studio for the purpose of overcoming the challenges in online education, if so the details thereof; and

(d) whether the Government proposes to revise the syllabus and mode of examination considering the COVID-19, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

(a) Online classes are being conducted at the schools by employing various digital tools in the form of DIKSHA portal (https://diksha.gov.in/), SWAYAM Portal (swayam.gov.in), SWAYAM Prabha,  DD  Channel,  e-Pathshala  (https://epathshala.nic.in/),  NROER  (National  Repository  of Open Educational Resources) portal (https://nroer.gov.in/welcome).

(b) Organised 150 webinars on ICT in Education for Teaching - Learning and Evaluation for the teachers across the country. These programmes were simultaneously telecast on cable channels and disseminated through social media.

Using  the  ICT  in  Education  module  under  NISHTHA  17.5  lakh  teachers  from  33 States/UTs and  23,000 state resource persons  have been trained through face to face mode and 25,000 teachers across the country on DIKSHA platform through online mode.

(c) Learning programmes have also being started in the form of offline learning tools in the form of radio, community radio and CBSE podcasts,  toll free numbers, missed call, SMS based requests for audio content, localized radio content for edutainment etc. The medium of TV, radio has been used for the students who do not have digital means.

(d) NCERT  has  developed  an  Alternative  Academic  Calendar  for  all  the  stages  of  school education. In this calendar the themes/topics have been selected from syllabus and are linked with the learning outcomes. Guidelines have been developed for conducting interesting activities based on these learning outcomes.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1346 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Policy on Construction around Centrally Protected Monuments
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangre, Pratima Bhoumik

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1346 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.09.2020

## POLICY ON CONSTRUCTION AROUND CENTRALLY PROTECTED MONUMENTS

1346. SHRI SUDHAKAR TUKARAM SHRANGARE: MS. PRATIMA BHOUMIK:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is in the process of revisiting the policy on construction around centrally protected monuments  and  classify them  based on their historical significance;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to formulate a law that balanced preservation of monuments of historical significance and development of infrastructure around them  keeping  in  mind  the  needs  of  tourists  as  well  as  those  who  live  around them?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CULTURE AND TOURISM

(PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

- (a)to (c) Yes, Sir.  The Government is in the process of examining the policy related to construction  around  centrally  protected  monuments  in  consultation  with  the concerned Ministries.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1342 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: EPF Pension
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Abdul Majeed Ariff, N.K. Premachandran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1342 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.09.2020

## EPF PENSION

1342. ADV. A.M. ARIFF:

SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:

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

- (a)whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  a  case  is  pending  before  the  Hon. Supreme Court on the issue of enhancing the rates of EPF pensions and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)if so, the steps taken by the Government for the speedy disposal of the said case;
- (c)whether the Government proposes to implement the order of the High Court of Kerala regarding the option on higher pension based on salary and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)whether the Government has obtained stay for the operation of the order of High Court of Kerala from the apex Court and if so, the details thereof;
- (e)whether  the  Employees  Provident  Fund  Organisation  (EPFO)  has  issued direction to the subordinate offices to implement the order of the High Court of Kerala in this regard and if so, the reasons therefor and if not, the reasons for non-implementation of the order of the High Court of Kerala; and
- (f)whether the EPFO is bound by the order of the Kerala High Court and if so, the
- reasons for delay in implementation and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): Special Leave Petition (SLP) (CIVIL) No. 16721-16722/2019 and Review Petition (CIVIL) No. 1430-1431/2019 have been submitted by Union of India and Employees'  Provident  Fund  Organisation  (EPFO)  respectively  on  the  issue  of admissibility  of  pension  on  full  wages.  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  through  order dated 12.07.2019, has decided to list the stated SLP and Review Petition in open court.
- Further, vide order dated 06.02.2020, in Writ Petition (C) No. 233/2018 (M. Chokalingam Vs. Union of India and others), the Hon'ble Supreme Court has directed  the  writ  petitions  from  employees  of  exempted  establishments  to  be listed together with aforesaid SLP and Review Petition.
- (b)  to  (f):  The  matter  is  now  sub-judice.  As  such,  further  steps  in  the  matter hinges upon the decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the aforesaid cases.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1341 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Establishment of Indian Heritage and Conservation Institutions
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Nihal Chand Chauhan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1341 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 th  SEPTEMBER, 2020

## ESTABLISHMENT OF INDIAN HERITAGE AND CONSERVATION INSTITUTIONS

## †1341. SHRI NIHAL CHAND:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  establishment  of  Indian  Heritage  and  Conservation  institutions Scheme throughout the country and the reasons for the same;
- (b) the details of the estimated funds for the same;
- (c) the details of the targets set under this scheme; and
- (d) the time by which it is likely to be established?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) MINISTRY OF CULTURE & TOURISM

## (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

- (a) Government  has  decided  to  establish  Indian  Institute  of  Heritage  and  Conservation (IIHC)  as  part  of  the  Budget  Announcement  of  2020-21.  The  Memorandum  of Association,  Bye  Laws  and  Regulations  for  IIHC  have  been  prepared.  Necessary approvals are being obtained.
- (b) to  (d)  IIHC  would  conduct  various  Certificate,  Diploma,  Graduate,  Post-Graduate, Doctoral, Post-Doctoral degree and Skill and Enterpreneurship Development Courses/Programs in the fields related to Heritage  & Culture like Archaelogy, Conservation, Archives, Museology, Curation, Epigraphy and Manuscriptology.

Estimates for the establishment of IIHC, targets and timelines are being worked out.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1339 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Production of SAIL
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: Hemant Patil

THE MINISTER OF STEEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF STEEL

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1339 FOR ANSWER ON 19/09/2020

## PRODUCTION OF SAIL

## 1339.  SHRI HEMANT SRIRAM PATIL:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that steel plants of SAIL, are being expanded to increase their production capacity;
- (b) if so, whether this work has been completed and the increase in the production capacity of these steel plants is recorded thereafter in comparison to their previous production; and
- (c) if  not, the time by when the work is likely to be completed and the details of plant-wise increase expected in steel production in the country after its completion?

## ANSWER

(SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a)         Steel  Authority  of  India  Limited  (SAIL)  had  undertaken  Modernization  and Expansion  of  its  five Integrated  Steel  Plants  at  Bhilai  (Chhattisgarh),  Bokaro (Jharkhand),  Rourkela  (Odisha),  Durgapur  (West  Bengal),  Burnpur  (West  Bengal) and Special Steel Plant at Salem (Tamil Nadu) to enhance its Crude Steel capacity from 12.8 Million Tonne Per Annum (MTPA) to 21.4 MTPA.
- (b)&(c):  The  Modernization  and  Expansion  at  the  above  Steel  Plants  has  been completed and various facilities are under operation, stabilization and ramp up.  The Plant-wise details of Crude Steel production capacity (before and after modernization and expansion) for major Steel Plants of SAIL are given below:-

(Unit: MTPA)

| Plant                             |   Before Modernization and Expansion |   After Modernization and Expansion |
|-----------------------------------|--------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| Bhilai Steel Plant                |                                 3.93 |                                7    |
| Durgapur Steel Plant              |                                 1.8  |                                2.2  |
| Rourkela Steel Plant              |                                 1.9  |                                4.2  |
| Bokaro Steel Plant                |                                 4.36 |                                4.61 |
| IISCO Steel Plant                 |                                 0.5  |                                2.5  |
| Salem Steel Plant                 |                                 0    |                                0.18 |
| Alloy Steel Plant                 |                                 0.23 |                                0.5  |
| Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Plant |                                 0.12 |                                0.2  |
| Total                             |                                12.8  |                               21.4  |

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1338 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Dispute between India and Nepa
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Hibi Eden

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1338 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.09.2020

## DISPUTE BETWEEN INDIA AND NEPAL

## 1338. SHRI HIBI EDEN:

Will the Minister of Culture be pleased to state:

- (a)    whether there is any dispute between India and Nepal regarding the birth and life of Gauthama Budha
- (b)    if so, the details thereof;
- (c)    whether the Government is aware of the claim made by the Nepal Government regarding the birth place of Lord Ram;
- (d)    if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)    the steps being taken by the Government to prevent such cultural aggression by neighbouring countries?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): No Sir.
- (b): Does not arise
- (c) to (e):  Government has not received any official communication in this regard from Government of Nepal. Government has also noted the clarification issued by the Government of  Nepal on 14.07.2020 on the subject.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1337 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Students Suicides during Lockdown
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Kanimozhi Karunanidhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

LOKSABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO.1337 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.09.2020

## Students Suicides during Lockdown

## 1337. SHRIMATI KANIMOZHI KARUNANIDHI :

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) Whether the suicides of student have increased during the lockdown, due to lack of access to digital means;
- (b) The number of student suicides in the SC, ST, OBC and EWS categories;
- (c) The number of students suicides in the  age  of  18-30  years  after  the  imposition  of lockdown;
- (d) If so, the reasons thereof; and
- (e) The number of students suicides, who were to appear for the NEET and JEE exams?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

(a) to  (e)  The  Government  is  extremely  sensitive  towards  providing  education  to  all sections  of  society  during  the  on-going  pandemic.  The  Ministry  has  undertaken  an initiative, named Manodarpan, covering a wide range of activities to provide psychological support to students, teachers and families for mental health and emotional wellbeing  during  the  Covid-19  outbreak  and  beyond.  There  is  a  provision  of  telecounseling to address their mental health and psychological issues. NCERT has issued a detailed guideline under the document PRAGYATA  which  highlights  important measures to be followed while using digital platforms. However, no centralized data on suicide cases are maintained by the Ministry.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1336 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Survey of Folk Artists
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1336 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH SEPTEMBER, 2020

## SURVEY OF FOLK ARTISTS

## † 1336.  SHRIMATIMALA RAJYA LAXMI SHAH: SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:

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

- (a) whether the Bundel Khandi, Uttarakhandi folk culture is fast disappearing and such folk artists have to struggle for their livelihood;
- (b)    whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  survey  regarding  folk  artists leaving their art and adopting other means of their livelihood;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)    the details of number of artists who have left folk singing/dance form during the last five years?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a) To  protect,  preserve  &  promote  various  forms  of  folk  art and  culture throughout the country including Bundel Khand and Uttarakhand, the Government of India  has  set  up  seven  Zonal  Cultural  Centres  (ZCCs)  with  headquarters  at  Patiala, Nagpur,  Udaipur,  Prayagraj,  Kolkata,  Dimapur  and  Thanjavur.  These  ZCCs  organize cultural  activities  and  programmes  on  regular  basis  all  over  India  for  which  annual grant-in-aid is provided to these ZCCs by Government of India. To encourage the folk artists of the country and helping them to earn their livelihood, including the artists belonging to the regions of Bundel Khand and Uttarakhand, these ZCCs engage them for  various programmes and events for which they are paid financial support in the form of TA/DA, honorarium, boarding and lodging etc. Besides, the ZCCs also ensure preservation of the fast disappearing folk culture of Bundel Khand region like Dhimrai Nritya & Gayan, Kanadra Nritya & Gayan, Jaydev Ka Pawara, Dharma Sawari, Harbole, Karsdev Katha & Gayan, Rai Nritya & Alha Gayan and that of Uttarakhand region like Chholiya Dance, Tandi & Harul Dance, Pandav Jagar Dance and Chaapeli Dance.

(b) to (d) No such survey has been conducted by the Government of India in this regard.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1335 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Investment of EPFO
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Imtiaz Jaleel Syed, Asaduddin Owaisi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1335 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.09.2020

## INVESTMENT OF EPFO

1335. SHRI SYED IMTIAZ JALEEL: SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

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

- (a)whether it is a fact that Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) is
- investing its corpus in different entities to earn interest;
- (b)if  so,  this  investment is made with the approval of Central or concerned State Governments;
- (c)whether investment of EPFO was made recently in some loss making or infrastructure  projects  have  come  to  the  notice  of  the  Government especially from Uttar Pradesh, if so, the details thereof;
- (d)whether EPFO has to bear a huge loss from these investments, if so, the details thereof;
- (e)whether investment has been made with connivance of Regional provident Fund Commissioners and some officials of the State Governments and if so, the number of persons held responsible, arrested and action initiated against them; and
- (f)whether Government has not learnt lessons from earlier such scams, if so, the steps taken or being taken by Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  & (b): Yes, Sir.  Employees'  Provident  Fund  Organisation  (EPFO) invest its corpus  as per the Pattern of Investment  notified by the Central Government  and  the  internal  guidelines  of  EPFO  approved  by  the  Central Board of Trustees, Employees' Provident Fund.
- (c) to (e): EPFO does not invest in any loss making private sector Company or infrastructure projects as per the internal guidelines of EPFO.
- (f): EPFO invests its corpus as per the Pattern of Investment notified by the Central Government.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1330 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Sankalp Parva
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Supriya Sadanand Sule, Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, Kuldeep Rai Sharma, DNV Senthilkumar. S., Amol Ramsing Kolhe

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1330 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.09.2020

## SANKALP PARVA

## 1330. SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE: DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA DR. DNV SENTHILKUMAR S.: DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has decided to celebrate 'Sankalp Parva' and if so, the   details thereof and the objective behind the move;
- (b) whether the Government has identified the trees which represent the herbal heritage of the country and if so, the details thereof
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to facilitate the availability of saplings of these trees to people for plantation;
- (d) the funds allocated by the Government for this purpose;
- (e)        whether the Government has created awareness programme for Sankalp Parva and if so, the details thereof ; and
- (f)          the target fixed by the government for tree plantation under Sankalp Parva?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CULTURE AND TOURISM

## (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

- (a) to (f)      Yes, Sir. On the clarion call of the Hon'ble PM, Ministry of Culture initiated a drive of 'Sankalp Parva' from 28 th June to 12 th July 2020 with objective to create clean/ healthy environment of the country. The Ministry recommended to plant saplings of five trees  viz  (i)  Bargad  (ii)  Awla  (iii)  Peepal  (iv)  Ashok  (v)  Bel  which  were  identified  as herbal heritage of the country.  Ministry requested all its Attached, Subordinate offices and Autonomous Organizations to plant saplings in its office premises/ campus or at the surroundings wherever possible. No separate fund was allocated towards the drive by the Ministry.  Ministry through various social media gave publicity to the programme. It was ensured that each employee of the Ministry plants at least one sapling during 28 th June, to 12 th July,  2020.  During  this  drive  total  11,442  saplings  were  planted  by  the  officers/ officials of Ministry and its Attached, Subordinate Offices and Autonomous Organizations in office premises or wherever possible.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1327 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Cultural Institutions
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shantanu Thakur, Parbatbhai Savabhai Patel, Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor, Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. Ϯ1327 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.09.2020

## CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS

## SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA : Ϯ1327.  SHRI SHANTANU THAKUR SHRI PARBATBHAI SAVABHAI PATEL SHRI JASWANT SINGH BHABHOR

Will the Minister of Culture be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of cultural institutions and higher training institutes functioning  in various States of the country;
- (b) whether there is any action plan of the Ministry to improve the quality of innovative and research related training being imparted by the said institutes;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): Ministry of Culture through its attached/subordinate/autonomous organizations are functioning for promotion and development of culture in the country. The main culture related training  institutions  are  Institute  of  Archaeology  (Archaeological  Survey  of  India),  National Museum  Institute of History of Art, Conservation and Museology, National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property (NRLC).
- (b) & (c): To improve quality of training and research following steps have been taken:
- (i)      Upgradation  of  Pt.  Deendayal  Upadhyaya  Institute of  Archaeology  as  Indian  Institute  of Heritage and Conservation has been initiated, (ii) Setting up state of the Art Teaching Labs for subject including Archaeobotany, Archaeozoology, Anthropology, ceramic Petrology, Epigraphy,  Numismatic  etc.  (iii)  National  Museum  Institute  (NMI)  has  started  (a)  Kashi Vishwanath  Temple  Corridor,  (b)  Kedarnath  Complex,  (c)  Conservation  &  restoration  of Painitngs (d) Company  Paintings Projects for development of Museums  and Cultural spaces/Institutions in the country,  (iv) Upgradation of various courses run by training/research Institutions, (v) Exchange and Training programmes with National and International Universities/organizations.
- (d):  Does not arise.

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