opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 4654 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Insurance Scheme for NRIs
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Arvind Dharmapuri

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No.4654 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2021

## INSURANCE SCHEME FOR NRIS

## 4654.     SHRI ARVIND DHARMAPURI:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether   there   is   a   comprehensive   insurance   scheme   for   NonResident Indians (NRIs) living in foreign countries, especially in the Gulf countries;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, whether the Government intends to formulate such insurance scheme for the benefit of NRIs and if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

[SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]

(a) to (c) Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY) was launched in 2003 to provide   insurance   cover   to   Indian   migrant   workers.   This   has   been amended from time to time with the overarching objective of expanding the   benefits   for   emigrant   workers,   including   ensuring   expeditious settlement of claims.

Presently, the PBBY Scheme is mandatory for all Emigration Check Required (ECR) category workers going to all ECR countries, including the Gulf countries. The scheme provides an insurance cover of ₹10 Lakhs in case of accidental death or permanent disability and other benefits at a nominal insurance premium of   ₹275 and ₹375 for a period of two and three years respectively.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 4652 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Mining Work in HZL Plants
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: A.K.P. Chinraj

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4652 ANSWERED ON 24.03.2021

## MINING WORK IN HZL PLANTS

4652. SHRI A.K.P. CHINRAJ:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  mining  work  in  the  mining  plant  of  Hindustan  Zinc  Limited  (HZL) Dariba/Sindesar Khurd is done by the State/Central Government Explosive Wing or by any other licensed company; and
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  quantity  of  explosives  used  for  mining work in the mining plant of HZL etc.?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINES, COAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

- (a) & (b): The Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organization (an Organization under the Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade) issues explosive license for mining work under Explosives Rules, 2008. Mining work in Dariba and Sindesar Khurd Mines are being done by Hindustan Zinc Limited.  The explosive license for doing mining work in Dariba and Sindesar Khurd Mines are in the name of Hindustan Zinc  Limited  ( HZL ).  As  per  information  provided  by  HZL,  the  details  of  explosive license are given below:

| Number of License   | Number of License       |
|---------------------|-------------------------|
|                     | E/NC/RJ/22/213/(E9829)  |
|                     | E/NC/RJ/22/217/(E9843)  |
|                     | E/NC/RJ/22/644/(E24549) |
|                     | E/HQ/RJ/22/189/(E24494) |
|                     | E/NC/RJ/22/584/(E24292) |
|                     | E/HQ/RJ/22/237/(E36258) |
|                     | E/HQ/RJ/22/310/(E24935) |
|                     | E/HQ/RJ/SM/10 (E79718)  |

As per information provided by HZL, it  has used 917809 Kg & 3531648 kg explosive quantity at Dariba & Sindesar Khurd Mines respectively during the year 2020.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4650 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Medical Facilities in Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Vijay Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4650

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2021

## MEDICAL FACILITIES IN TRAINS

†4650. SHRI VIJAY KUMAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is considering to provide medical facilities in all long distance and short distance express passenger trains;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to provide separate medical coach for sick passengers in all trains;
- (d) if so, the time by which it is likely to be started; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a)  &  (b):    The  need  and  extent  of  providing  medical  facilities  at  railway stations and in trains was examined by Hon'ble Supreme Court.  In compliance of the orders, a committee of experts was constituted at All India Institute of Medical  Sciences  (AIIMS),  New  Delhi.  As  recommended  by  Committee  of experts,  instructions  have been  issued  to provide a  Medical Box containing

life saving medicines, equipments, oxygen cylinder etc. at all Railway stations and passenger carrying trains. (c) : No, Sir. (d) : Does not arise.

(e) : A Pilot Project of deployment of doctors with paramedic staff in Duronto Trains was undertaken for a period of two years. During the Pilot Project, it was noted that serious patients could not be treated on board and had to be de-trained  for  medical  treatment  at  a  hospital  only  because  the  medical diagnostic equipments, such as ECG machines etc. do not function properly on the trains due to noise/vibration.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4649 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Pending cases in Gujarat High Court
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW & JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †4649 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 24 TH  MARCH, 2021

## PENDING CASES IN GUJARAT HIGH COURT

## †4649. SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  number  of  cases  pending  in  Gujarat  High  Court  along  with  the number of cases pending for the last ten years;
- (b) the number of the posts of judges lying vacant in Gujarat High Court at present along with the time since when these posts are lying vacant; and (c) the steps taken by the Government to fill the said vacancies?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

- (a): As per the information available on the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG), 1,47,763 cases are pending in the Gujarat High Court, out of which 17,417 cases are pending for ten years or more, as on 18.03.2021.
- (b): The sanctioned and working strength of Judges in the Gujarat High Court is 52 and 30 respectively as on 18.03.2021. The details of vacancies since 01.12.2018 is as follows:-

| As on Date   |   Sanctioned Strength |   Working Strength |   Vacancy |
|--------------|-----------------------|--------------------|-----------|
| 01.12.2018   |                    52 |                 29 |        23 |
| 01.12.2019   |                    52 |                 28 |        24 |
| 01.12.2020   |                    52 |                 30 |        22 |
| 18.03.2021   |                    52 |                 30 |        22 |

At  present  no  proposal  has  been  received  from  Gujarat  High  Court Collegium for appointment of Judges of Gujarat High Court.

(c): The appointment of Judges of the High Court is done under Article 217 and 224 of the Constitution respectively. As per procedure prescribed in the Memorandum  of  Procedure  (MoP)  for  appointment  of  Judges  in  the  Higher Judiciary, prepared in 1998 pursuant to the Supreme Court Judgement of October 6,  1993  (Second  Judges  case)  read  with  their  Advisory  Opinion  of  October  28, 1998 (Third Judges case), the initiation of appointment of Judge of the High Court vests with the Chief Justice of the High Court concerned. Filling up of vacancies in the High Courts is a continuous, integrated and collaborative process between the Executive  and  the  Judiciary.  It  requires  consultation  and  approval  from  various Constitutional  Authorities  both  at  State  and  Centre  level.  While  every  effort  is made to fill up the existing vacancies expeditiously, vacancies of Judges in High Courts  do  keep  on  arising  on  account  of  retirement,  resignation  or  elevation  of Judges and also the increase in the strength of Judges.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4648 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Rail Coach Factories
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Jasbir Singh Gill

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4648 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2021

## RAIL COACH FACTORIES

4648. SHRI JASBIR SINGH GILL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of rail coach factories in India at present, state-wise; and

(b) the  number  of  metro  train  coaches  that  are  manufactured  in  these factories?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS,  COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) Presently, there are three Railway coach factories under the Ministry of Railways, shown below State-wise:
- (b) Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai is manufacturing coaches for Kolkata Metro. The number of the metro train coaches manufactured by ICF, Chennai during the last three years is as under :

| Production Units                        | State         |
|-----------------------------------------|---------------|
| Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai,  | Tamil Nadu    |
| Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala,   | Punjab        |
| Modern Coach Factory (MCF), Rae Bareli, | Uttar Pradesh |

| Year          |   2017-18 |   2018-19 |   2019-20 |
|---------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Metro Coaches |        24 |        16 |        40 |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4647 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Demand for Coal from Power Sector
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Vellalath Kochukrishnan Nair. Sreekandan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4647

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2021

## Demand for Coal from Power Sector

## 4647. SHRI V.K.SREEKANDAN:

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

- (a) whether Coal India Limited is prepared to meet any surge in demand for coal from the power sector;
- (b) if so, whether the company is also pushing for increased production to shore up supplies to coal fuelled power plants?
- (c) whether a good percentage of coal fired power generation in the country depends on Coal India Limited's supplies and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether Coal India Limited does not hold sufficient quantity of coal at its pitheads; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, COAL AND MINES (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

(a) & (b): The year wise stock of coal at Coal India Limited (CIL) end vis-à-vis Power House end is as under:

(in Million Tonnes (MT))

| Date       |   CIL Stock |   Stock at Power House end |
|------------|-------------|----------------------------|
| 01.04.2019 |       54.15 |                      30.92 |
| 01.04.2020 |       74.89 |                      44.95 |
| 16.03.2021 |       85.57 |                      30.21 |

In the current year, against a projected demand of 526 MT coal for power sector from CIL, Power Houses linked with CIL have regulated the intake of coal and have only lifted about 398 MT of coal against the prorated demand of 474 MT, upto February 2021.

As  on  16.03.2021,  CIL  is  carrying  a  stock  of  more  than  85  MT,  which  is highest in recent past, and with the ongoing surge in production, the stock shall increase further in the remaining days of the current fiscal. Therefore, there is adequate amount of coal lying with CIL and it is ready to cater to the needs of the Power Sector.

(c): Central Electricity Authority (CEA) monitors daily coal stock position of  all  coal  based  thermal  power  plants  (presently  135  in  number)  in  the country having Fuel Supply Agreement (FSA) with CIL/ Singareni Collieries Company Limited  (SCCL). Out of the above 135 Plants, CEA monitors 126 plants which are linked with CIL sources.

In the current year (upto January'21) against the total domestic coal receipt of 481.33 MT from various sources by the thermal power plants, CIL supply was  about  365.88  MT  i.e.  76%  of  total  coal  received  by  the  power  plants monitored by CEA.

(d) & (e): Coal India Limited is carrying a stock of more than 85 MT. There is adequate amount of coal lying at CIL pithead and it is ready to cater to the needs of Power sector.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 4646 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Direct Route to North Eastern States
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Sudarshan Bhagat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.4646 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2021

## DIRECT ROUTE TO NORTH EASTERN STATES

## † 4646. SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has made efforts to have dialogue with Bangladesh regarding direct route to North-Eastern States of the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, whether the Government proposes to have a dialogue in this regard in future; and
- (d) if so, the details in this regard?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]

(a) to (d) Connectivity   is   an   important   area   of   cooperation   between India and Bangladesh. Both sides are undertaking several key projects to augment road, rail and inland water connectivity, which will also enhance connectivity with the North Eastern Region. The details of some of the projects are:

i. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister H.E. Sheikh Hasina jointly   inaugurated   Maitri   Setu   road   bridge   over   River   Feni   in Tripura on March 09, 2021, which will connect Tripura with Bangladesh. ii. At the December 17, 2020 Prime Minister-level Virtual Summit, both sides   inaugurated   the   restored   Chilahati-Haldibari   rail   link,   which   will enhance connectivity to Assam.

iii. Both   sides   are   restoring   the   Kulaura-Shahbajpur   section   of   the Bangladesh Railway, which will provide rail connectivity to Assam.

iv. Government of India is undertaking the construction of Akhaura (Bangladesh) - Agartala railway line, which will provide connectivity to the North Eastern States, especially Tripura.

v. Agreement   on   the   use   of   Chattogram   and   Mongla   Ports   for movement of goods to and from India was signed in October 2019. Under this   agreement,   trial   run   of   transshipment   of   Indian   cargo   through Chattogram Port to Tripura, was conducted in July 2020.

vi. A second addendum to Protocol on Inland Waterways Trade and Transit (PIWTT) was signed in May 2020 under which two more inland water   routes     have   been   added     which   will   link   T ripura   to   National Waterways. Trial run on this new route was undertaken in September 2020.

Apart from these projects, several other initiatives under the Lines of Credit, extended to Bangladesh by Government of India, will enhance road and rail connectivity with North Eastern States.

***

2
Lok Sabha Question No. 4645 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Space Policy
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: P. Velusamy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF SPACE LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4645

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021

## SPACE POLICY

4645.  SHRI VELUSAMY P.:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is having any proposal to modify the space policy by allowing foreign companies to make satellites and also allowing foreign companies to have space in setting up of facilities;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government regarding national security of  our  country  in  allowing  foreign  companies  in  sensitive matters;
- (d) whether the Government will allow use of launch vehicles and setup  ground  stations  for  foreign  companies  and  if  so,  the details thereof; and
- (e) the manner in which the national security will be safeguarded when the country is facing external aggression from neighboring countries?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PG & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

The  establishment  and  operations  in  satellite  segment  is governed  by  the  extant  provisions  of  the  current  FDI  policy which permits 100% FDI through the government route subject to sectoral guidelines of DOS.

Government  is  in  the  process  of  revising  the  existing  space policies and new policies are also underway. Sectoral guidelines are being formulated for attracting foreign investments  in  space  supplies  and  services  for  the  inflow  of technology and investment to India.

- (c) Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (INSPACe) created as an independent nodal agency under Department  of  Space  will  be  carrying  out  its  functions  for authorising, monitoring and regulating private sector activities in India.

National security will be protected while providing authorisation and licensing permissions.

- (d) Yes. Government provides launch services to foreign customer satellites  through its CPSEs. Setting up of ground stations  is governed in accordance with the existing sectoral guidelines of the Government of India.
- (e) National space infrastructure and ground infrastructure are well protected in case the country is facing external aggression from neighboring countries.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4644 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Definition of Marriage
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangre

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

## LOK  S A B H A

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4644 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 24 TH  MARCH, 2021.

## DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE

## 4644. SHRI SUDHAKAR TUKARAM SHRANGARE

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  make  Special  Marriage  Act  and  Foreign Marriage  Act  applicable  to  all  couples  regardless  of  gender  identity  and  sexual orientation;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons there for; and
- (c) the  remedial  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  modify  the  definition  of  marriages under the customary law keeping in view the current circumstances?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) to (c):

No Sir, presently there is no such proposal.
Lok Sabha Question No. 4643 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Audit of Services at Stations
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Annasaheb Shankar Jolle

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4643 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2021

## AUDIT OF SERVICES AT STATIONS

4643. SHRI ANNASAHEB SHANKAR JOLLE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  audit  of  services  provided  at  the  railway  stations have been carried out recently;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken to improve the same; and
- (c) if not, whether the Ministry intends to do the same?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) to (c) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  4643  BY  SHRI  ANNASAHEB  SHANKAR JOLLE TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 24.03.2021 REGARDING AUDIT OF SERVICES AT STATIONS

(a)  to  (c)  :  Indian  Railways  constantly  strive  to  provide  better services  to  its  vast  set  of  customers  through  proper  planning  and system improvements  on a continuous and an ongoing basis depending  upon  customer  feedback,  operational  feasibility  and financial viability. Various initiatives are taken from time to time by different departments of Railways to improve customer convenience. Quality  and  adequacy  of  the  services  provided  at  the  stations  is checked  by  inspection  conducted  by  Railway  officers  at  different levels,  Passenger  Amenities  Committee  (PAC),  Passenger  Service Committee (PSC), etc. Action is also taken on the suggestions/complaints received offline/online through various modes. Third party audit cum survey on cleanliness of major stations and trains has also been carried out in recent past to get feedback and  also  to  instill  healthy  competition  among  railway  stations  for improving the cleanliness standards. Third  party  audit  of  catering  units  at  stations  is  conducted  with respect to parameters like quality, hygiene, etc. During such audit in the year 2019-20, 21 instances of deficiency in service were noticed. The respective contractors have been suitably warned.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4642 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: ECHS
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Kotagiri Sridhar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## DEPARTMENT OF EX-SERVICEMEN WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4642

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 th  March, 2021

## ECHS

## 4642. SHRI SRIDHAR KOTAGIRI:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the criteria for eligibility under ECHS for an unmarried daughter of a defence officer;
- (b) whether an unmarried daughter of defence officer is eligible for ECHS card after the death of her parents and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) whether an unmarried daughter of defence officer can apply for ECHS card after the death of her parents and if not, the reasons therefor?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

- (a) Unmarried  daughter of a retired Defence Officer is entitled to ECHS facilities as a dependent irrespective of age subject to the condition that she is not earning more than Rs.9000/- per month excluding  DA.    On  the  demise  of  the  Defence  Officer  while  his  spouse  is  entitled  to  family pension, the daughter continues to avail the same facility subject of the aforesaid condition.
- (b)  In case of demise of both parents, unmarried daughter is entitled to Family Pension and also ECHS membership.
- (c)  An unmarried daughter of a retired defence officer can apply ECHS card after death of the parents under the following conditions:-
- (i) She is/was a dependent.
- (ii) Not earning more than Rs.9000/- per month excluding DA.

*****