opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 5158 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-04
Subject: Economic Inequality
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Manish Tewari, Kunwar Danish Ali, Feroze Varun Gandhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5158 TO BE ANSWERED ON APRIL 04, 2022

## ECONOMIC INEQUALITY

5158. SHRI MANISH TEWARI: KUNWAR DANISH ALI: SHRI FEROZE VARUN GANDHI:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that during the Covid-19 pandemic, India's economic inequality increased exponentially and according to a report by Oxfam, a non-profit group, India added almost 40 new billionaires while the income of bottom 84 per cent households decreased and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the total wealth of billionaires has increased to about 720 billion dollars during this period, which is more than the total wealth of 40 per cent of the poor population and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether according to the World Inequality Report 2022, India's top 1 per cent possess 33 per cent of the total wealth of the country and the bottom 50 per cent of the population holds only 6 per cent of the wealth;
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the details of the income earned by top 1 per cent and 10 per cent of the country as a percentage of total national income;
- (e) whether the Government has undertaken any wealth or Income inequality assessment and assessed the reasons for this extreme disparity and if so, the details and the findings thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (f)  the reasons due to which the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

- (a)  to  (f)  Different  domestic  and  global  private  agencies  have  estimated  inequality  in  India through various types of Surveys based on their own methodology and set of assumptions. However, statistics relating to wealth and income inequality  is not compiled by the Central Government. Household consumption expenditure data collected by National Sample Survey Office  (NSSO)  could  be  used  as  a  proxy  to  capture  the  income  inequality  in  terms  of consumption  expenditure.  However,  the  latest  data  of  large  sample  survey  on  household consumer  expenditure  collected  by  NSSO  in  its  68 th round  is  for  2011-12.  Due  to  the prevailing  COVID-19  pandemic  situation,  no  fresh  Household  Consumption  Expenditure Survey  could  be  taken  up  in  recent  years.  However,  Government  has  initiated  several targeted schemes that aim to reduce poverty and inequality, provide social security, income generation and livelihood options, and improve the quality of life of the vulnerable sections of the population in the country.
Lok Sabha Question No. 5155 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-04
Subject: Establishment of Digital Banking Units
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Arun Sao, Kripanath Mallah, Devji Mansingram Patel, Sunil Kumar Singh

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 5155

ANSWERED ON MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2022/CHAITRA 14, 1944 (SAKA)

## Establishment of Digital Banking Units

## 5155. SHRI ARUN SAO:

SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH: SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL: SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to set up 75 digital banking units in 75 districts of the country;
- (b) the details thereof along with the funds allocated for the purpose and the targets set in this regard;
- (c) whether the Government has identified the locations in this regard in the country, if so, the details thereof including the districts selected for the purpose in the country, Statewise including Assam and Chhattisgarh; and
- (d) the time by which the digital banking units are likely to be set up in the country?

## Answer

## The Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance (DR BHAGWAT KARAD)

(a) to (d) As announced in the Union Budget 2022-23, Seventy-five (75) Digital Banking Units (DBUs) in 75 Districts of the country will be set up so as to ensure that the benefits of digital banking are provided in the country in a consumer-friendly manner.

As  apprised  by  Reserve  Bank  of  India  (RBI),  a  Committee  has  been  set  up  to  prepare  a roadmap for successful implementation of the said Programme. RBI has further apprised that criteria, such as, relatively higher percentage of women population, youth, MSMEs, exports, geographically  and  strategically  important  locations,  North-East  area,  SHG  penetration, moderate level of digital adoption etc., will be taken into consideration while finalizing the list of 75 districts for setting up of DBUs. No funds have been allocated by RBI for setting up of DBUs. The DBUs are expected to be operationalized by the end of the current calendar year.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5152 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-04
Subject: Impact of Climate Change on Disabled/Old People
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Ritesh Pandey

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5152

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 04.04.2022

## Impact of Climate Change on Disabled/Old People

## 5152. SHRI RITESH PANDEY:

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

- (a) whether any study or  research  has  been  conducted  regarding  the  impact  of  climate change on people with disabilities and older people, if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) whether people with disabilities and older people inclusive climate action laws and policy are formulated to mitigate and adapt the impacts of climate change on them, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) As per the Working Group II contribution to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change  Sixth  Assessment  report  titled  'Climate  Change  2022:  Impacts,  Adaptation  and Vulnerability' released in February 2022, in virtually all of the research identifying particular climate-related risks to health, wellbeing, migration and conflict, specific types of individuals are identified as having higher levels of vulnerability and exposure to climate-related health hazards:  people  who  are  impoverished,  undernourished,  struggle  with  chronic  or  repeated illnesses,  live  in  insecure  housing  in  polluted  or  heavily  degraded  environments,  work  in unsafe  conditions, are disabled, have limited education, and/or have poor access to health and  social  infrastructure.  Notwithstanding,  the  report  also  notes  that  data  on  exposure  to health,  flooding  and  drought  risks  on  vulnerable  groups  such  as  the  elderly,  children  and disabled is often lacking.

Furthermore, the Government has assessed the impact of climate change on human health  and  initiated  the  National  Programme  on  Climate  Change  and  Human  Health.  The programme aims to reduce morbidity, mortality, injuries, and health vulnerability among the population in the country including disabled and older people, due to climate variability and extreme weather.

- (b) Government is seized of the matter. The extant legal and promotional measures by various  Ministries/Departments  adequately  address  the  challenges  including  impact  of climate change on vulnerable sections of the society, disabled and older people. Within the Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment have taken a series of measures for inclusive growth and welfare of the disabled sections of the society through various schemes/ programmes and activities.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5147 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-04
Subject: Assets Recovery Companies
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Pritam Gopinath Munde, Rahul Ramesh Shewale, Girish Bhalchandra Bapat, Chandra Sekhar Sahu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MNISTRY OF FINANCE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-5147

ANSWERED ON 04/04/2022

## ASSETS RECOVERY COMPANIES

5147.DR PRITAM GOPINATHRAO MUNDE SHRI RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE SHRI GIRISH BHALCHANDRA BAPAT SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- whether Assets Recovery Companies (ARCs) purchase the portfolio for very little amount and recover the actual dues with interest at a higher rate from the borrowers;
- (6) if whether this means that the money in the hands of the bank directly goes into the hands of the companies which makes an adverse effect on the Indian economy; public private
- (c) if the details of the facts in this regard; SO,
- (d) whether there is a need to frame rules so that the ARCs shall work as agents only for recovery of dues of the bank with mandatory Standard Operating Procedure;
- (e) if so, the response of the Government and the action taken in this regard; and
- the steps taken by the Government for compulsory audits of ARCs like banks?

## ANSWER

## THE MNISTER OF STATE IN TH MNISTRY OF FINANCE

(DR BHAGWAT KARAD)

(a) to As per inputs  received from Reserve Bank of India (RBI), an Asset Recovery Company (ARO iS envisaged to be a company set up for the purposes of carrying on the business of asset reconstruction or securitisation; or both: Further; under the provisions of SARFAESI 2002, ARC is permitted to act as an agent for any bank or financial institution for the purpose of recovering their dues from the borrower on payment of such fees or charges as may be mutually : upon between the parties. Act, an agreed

As per inputs received from RBI, ARCs are to comply with the guidelines issued by it to RBI guidelines issued to ARCs is  examined the Supervisory Assessment and any non-compliance observed is   taken up with them for the rectification apart from initiating supervisory/ enforcement action, as RBI deems fit: required during

RBI has also informed that as per its Master Directions on Transfer of Loan Exposures; banks are to have clear policies with to valuation of loan exposures proposed to be transferred to ARCs. The discount rate used by them in the internal valuation exercise is also to be out in the policy: Further; the transfer of stressed loans to ARCs must be done through assignment or novation only: Recovery proceeds from such assets is shared by ARCs with the holders of the Security Receipts. regard required required spelt
Lok Sabha Question No. 5144 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-04
Subject: Cases Pending in Courts
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: S. Gnanathiraviam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5144

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.04.2022

## CASES PENDING IN COURTS

## 5144. SHRI GNANATHIRAVIAM S.:

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

- (a)the  number  of  cases  filed  by  the  office  of  Employees'  Provident Fund Commissioner against the employees under various provisions of law during the current year, region-wise;
- (b)the number of such cases pending in Courts as on date, region-wise;
- and
- (c)the  steps  taken/being  taken  to  ensure  prompt  disposal  of  such cases in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a) to (c): The Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions  Act,  1952  (EPF  &  MP  Act,  1952)  applies  to  factories engaged  in  any  industry  specified  in  Schedule  I  and  establishments belonging to class of establishments notified by the Central Government  if  they  employ  20  or  more  persons.  In  case  of  any violation of the EPF & MP Act, 1952 and if amount due is not paid by the  employers,  actions  are  taken  by  the  Employees'  Provident  Fund Organisation  (EPFO)  against  them  through  a  quasi-judicial  process. However, EPFO  does not file cases against employees of any establishment covered under the said Act.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5140 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-04
Subject: DIKSHA Website
Ministry: Education
Asked by: M V V Satyanarayana

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5140

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH  APRIL, 2022

## DIKSHA Website

## 5140. SHRI M.V.V. SATYANARAYANA:

- Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a)  whether  the  Government  takes  serious  cognizance  of  the  fact  that  the  DIKSHA website platform has certain issues when accessed a screen reader displaying children with visual disabilities; (b) if so, what steps has the Government taken to improve this; and (c)  whether  the  Government  is  working  to  ensure  that  all  e-books  are  available  in  an appropriate format to these children and if so, the action taken by the Government in this
- regard?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SMT. ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a) to (c) DIKSHA is the platform for providing quality e-content for school education in States/UTs and QR coded Energized Textbooks for all grades (one nation, one digital platform). DIKSHA  complies  with  World  Wide  Web  Consortium  (W3C)  Web  Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 level AA. This enables people with visual impairments to access the website using assistive technologies, such as screen readers.

Special e-content for visually and  hearing  impaired developed  on  Digitally Accessible  Information  System  (DAISY)  and  in  sign  language  on  NIOS  website/ YouTube.  DAISY is the emerging world standard for digital talking books for people who are visually impaired or have a print disability. DAISY books have 'embedded navigation' that  enables  readers  to  instantly  jump  to  any  part  of  a  work-  the  same  way  a  sighted person can turn to any page. With DAISY, the text is delineated with tags, such as part, chapter, page, paragraph, etc., and synced with the audio files. Readers can navigate through this hierarchy using the tab key or other player control. In  all  2,031  textbook  based  ISL  videos  have  been  recorded.  Out  of  these  541 textbook based on ISL videos are uploaded on DIKSHA. A 10,000 word ISL dictionary has  been  uploaded  on  DIKSHA. 3,345 audio  books  chapters  are  also  uploaded  on DIKSHA.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5139 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-04
Subject: Barring Payment Banks to add Customers
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Vellalath Kochukrishnan Nair. Sreekandan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5139

To be answered on the 4 th  April 2022/Chaitra 14, 1944 (Saka)

## Barring Payment Banks to add Customers

## 5139. SHRI V.K. SREEKANDAN:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has barred certain payment banks from adding new customers;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is also true that RBI has asked payment banks to appoint IT audit firm to conduct a comprehensive System Audit of its IT system; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the payment banks in this regard?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE (DR. BHAGWAT KARAD)

(a) to (d): RBI has informed that it had directed Paytm Payments Bank Limited on 11.3.2022, to stop adding new customers with immediate effect and had also directed the bank to appoint an IT audit firm to conduct a comprehensive System Audit of the IT system of the bank.

RBI has further informed that the Paytm Payments Bank Limited has not yet appointed the IT audit firm to conduct a comprehensive System Audit of  the IT system of the bank.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 5138 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-04
Subject: Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Ranjeeta Koli, Sumedhanand Saraswati, Manoj Rajoria

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5138

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.04.2022

## ATAL BEEMIT VYAKTI KALYAN YOJANA

†5138. SHRIMATI RANJEETA KOLI: SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI: DR. MANOJ RAJORIA:

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

(a)the main features of the Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana;

(b)the total number of beneficiaries under this scheme;

(c)whether  the  period  of  this  scheme  is  being  extended  by  the Government; and

(d)if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a) to (d): The Scheme of Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana (ABVKY) envisages  cash  compensation  up  to  90  days  once  in  lifetime  in  the contingency  of  Insured  Person's  (IP's)  unemployment.  Scheme  was implemented from 01.07.2018 and has been extended till 30.06.2022 to provide relief to those IPs who became unemployed during the Covid19  pandemic.    Rate  of  relief  under  the  scheme  was  enhanced  from 25% of the average daily earnings to 50% of average daily earnings of the claimant w.e.f. 24.03.2020.  An amount of Rs. 82.58 crore has been disbursed  against  62,145  claims  under  the  scheme  by  beneficiaries upto 23.03.2022.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5136 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-04
Subject: Incentive for Seedling Plantation
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Margani Bharat

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

## LOKSABHA UNSTARRED QUESTIO N NO.5136

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 04.04.2022

## Incentive for Seedling Plantation

## 5136. SHRI MARGANI BHARAT:

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

- (a)   whether it is true that Andhra Pradesh is one of the top four States with 1705.67 lakh seedlings planted in 2019-20, if so, the details thereof;
- (b)   whether the Government is considering to give incentives to top five States which have planted more seedlings; and
- (c)   if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) Yes Sir. According to information received from State of Andhra Pradesh, 1761.87 lakh  seedlings  were  planted  during  2019-20  out  of  which,  612.05  lakh  seedlings were planted by the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department and 1149.82 lakh seedlings by other line Departments.
- (b) &(c) Annual afforestation targets are fixed by the Ministry keeping in view of the goals to achieve one third geographical area of the country under Forest and Tree cover of National  Forest  Policy  1988.  These  targets  are achieved  by  the  States  with coordinated  efforts  of  various  departments  in  the  State.  The  Ministry  encourages people's  participation  for  achieving  the afforestation  targets.  However,  there  is  no such  proposal  at  present  to  give  incentives  to  top  five  States  which  have  planted more seedlings.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5134 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-04
Subject: Establishing Central University in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Arjunlal Meena, Chandra Prakash Joshi, Sangamlal Kadedin Gupta

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5134 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.04.2022

## Establishing Central University in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh

†5134.    SHRI ARJUN LAL MEENA : SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI: SHRI SANGAM LAL GUPTA:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to establish Central University in the States of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh;
- (b) whether the Central Government has received any proposal from the Governments of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh in this regard;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  conduct  a  common  entrance  test  at national level for admissions in all the Central Universities of the country; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUBHAS SARKAR)

(a) to (d) Setting  up  of  Central  University  is  a  continuous  process.    There  are already  46  Central  Universities  under  the  administrative  control  of  this  Ministry. However,  at  present  there  is  no  proposal  under  consideration  in  the  Ministry  for setting up of a new Central University in the State of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. In pursuance of the National Education Policy,  2020,  it  has  been decided  to  conduct common entrance test for admission in central universities from the academic year 2022-23  to  reduce  the  burden  on  students,  universities  and  the  entire  education system.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5132 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-04
Subject: Audio Visual Books for Blind/Visualy Impaired Students
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Hemant Tukaram Godse

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5132

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.04.2022

## Audio Visual Books for Blind/Visualy Impaired Students

## 5132. SHRI HEMANT TUKARAM GODSE:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to give directions to Central, Private and Autonomous Universities to create audiobooks of their curriculum and recommended books and upload them on their websites for free distribution to blind/visually impaired students as done by ICSE and CBSE Boards; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUBHAS SARKAR)

(a) and (b) Yes  Sir. University Grants  Commission  has  advised  all  universities  to develop/adopt  suitable  educational  resources  like  Braille-print  books,  large  print  books, tactile  books,  audio  books and such other assistive devices which better meet the needs of visual  impairments  for  equitable  access  to  the  curriculum.  Universities  have  also  been advised to upload such educational resources on the website of the university and to make freely available.

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