opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1694 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-16
Subject: Use of Hazardous Chemicals
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Anurag Sharma, D. M. Kathir Anand

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1694 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 th  DECEMBER, 2022

## USE OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS

## 1694 . SHRI ANURAG SHARMA: SHRI D.M. KATHIR ANAND:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state: (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  measures/proposed  to  take  measures  to  curb  the chemical adulteration and use of hazardous chemicals in fruits, edible oils, dairy products, ghee; (b) if so, the details thereof; and (c)  the  measures  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  identify  and  stop  such

- dangerous chemical adulteration in fruits, edible oils, dairy products, ghee etc.?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to  (c):  Food  Safety  and  Standards  Authority  of  India  (FSSAI)  conducts  Surveillance activities  in  food  commodities.  FSSAI  has  conducted  PAN  India  surveillance  activities  in Milk and Milk products, Edible Oils etc. In addition to ensuring compliance with the quality & safety parameters prescribed in Food Safety and Standards Regulation, efforts were also made to ascertain the degree of adulteration and to identify hotspots (regions) predominant in food  adulteration.  Post  PAN  India  Surveillance,  State  wise  non-compliance  data  has  been shared with concerned Food safety commissioners of the States/UT's for necessary action. Surveillance is done to identify adulteration in the food products.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1691 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-16
Subject: Organization for Commercialisation of Defence Products
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Vishnu Dutt Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCEPRODUCTION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1691

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 th  December, 2022

## ORGANIZATION FOR COMMERCIALISATION OF DEFENCE PRODUCTS

1691.SHRI VISHNU DATT SHARMA:

Will the Minister of DEFENCEbe pleased to state:

- (a)    whether  the  Government  is  considering  toestablish  a  dedicated  organisation  for commercialisation  of  weapons,  equipment  and  defence  technology  on  the  lines  of  Antrix corporation for space services, keeping in view  the increasing defence  armaments manufacturing efficiency of the country;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## A  N  S  W  E  R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

- (a):  No, Sir.
- (b):  Does not arise.

(c):    The  Government  is  not  considering  to  develop  a  single  dedicated  organization  for production  of  weapons,  equipments  and  defence  technology.  It  is  submitted  that  erstwhile Ordnance  Factories  Board  comprising  of  41  ordnance  factories  have  been  corporatized w.e.f  1 st October,  2021  into  7  New  Defence  Public  Sector  Units  for  independent  and profitable functioning of these factories with high exports.  Further,  private  participation  in Defence  is  being  encouraged  by  creation  of  new  category  of  capital  procurement  'Buy Indian-IDDM'  (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) that has been introduced in Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP)-2016 to promote indigenous design and development of defence equipment. Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2016 has been further  revised  as  Defence  Acquisition  Procedure  (DAP)  2020  which  aims  to  provide  the highest degree of probity, public accountability, transparency, fair competition and a levelplaying  field  for  Indian  Private  Defence  Industries.  To  encourage  competition  and  mutual growth,  it  is  essential  that  multiple  stakeholders  in  the  form  of  Government  (DRDO  for R&D),  Defence  PSUs  and  Private  Stakeholders  take  part  in  production  of  weapons, equipments and defence technology instead of a single dedicated organization.

*****

(SHRI AJAY BHATT)
Lok Sabha Question No. 1686 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-16
Subject: Schemes for Children Orphaned due to COVID-19
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Kunwar Danish Ali

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1686 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.12.2022

## SCHEMES FOR CHILDREN ORPHANED DUE TO COVID-19

## 1686. SHRI KUNWAR DANISH ALI:

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

- a. the schemes being run by the Government for the children orphaned by Corona pandemic;
- b. the number of children benefitted from this scheme till date;
- c. whether the Government has constituted any Committee for its monitoring; and
- d. if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d) : PM CARES for Children scheme supports the children who have lost both parents  or  surviving  parent  or  legal  guardian  or  adoptive  parents  due  to  COVID-19 pandemic.  All  such  children  are  children  in  need  of  care  and  protection  as  per  The Juvenile  Justice  (Care  and  Protection  of  Children)  Act,  2015  (JJ  Act,  2015).  The objective of the Scheme is to ensure comprehensive care and protection of Children in a  sustained  manner,  and  enable  their  well  being  through  health  insurance,  empower them  through  education  and  equip  them  for  self-sufficient  existence  with  financial support  till  23  years  of  age.  The  scheme  is  accessible  through  an  online  portal  i.e. pmcaresforchildren.in.  Benefits have been provided to 4345 eligible children under the Scheme.

The JJ Act, 2015 has empowered the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) to decide on matters relating to children in need of care and protection in the best interest of child. Under Section 27 of JJ Act, 2015, the State Government shall constitute one or more Child Welfare Committees for every district, for exercising the powers and to discharge the  duties  in  relation  to  children  in  need  of  care  and  protection  under  the  Act. Accordingly, all children covered under PM CARES for Children scheme are monitored by CWC to ensure that all the benefits due to them under the scheme are provided to them.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1681 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-16
Subject: Establishment of Sainik School in Golaghat, Assam
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Gaurav Gogoi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1681

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 th  December, 2022

## ESTABLISHMENT OF SAINIK SCHOOL IN GOLAGHAT, ASSAM

1681.SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

Will the Minister of DEFENCEbe pleased to state:

- (a)    whether  the  Government  intends  to  establisha  Sainik  school  in  Golaghat  district  of Assam;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)  if not, the reasons therefor?

## A  N  S  W  E  R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI AJAY BHATT)

(a)  to  (c):  One  Sainik  School  in  Goalpara  district  of  Assam  is  already  existing  and operational since 1964. Upon the request of State Government of Assam, in-principle approval  for  one  more  School  was  accorded  by  Ministry  of  Defence  in  2016  for establishment of a Sainik School in the erstwhile pattern in Golaghat District of Assam, subject to signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Sainik Schools Society. However,  since  MoA  has  not  been  signed  by  the  State  Government  for  the  existing school at Goalpara, it was decided that before considering the proposal for opening of New  Sainik  School  at  Golaghat  under  the  erstwhile  pattern,  the  State  Government should sign the MoA with Sainik Schools Society in respect of existing Sainik School in Goalpara. Towards this, Sainik Schools Society had requested the State Government for signing of the MoA.

Meanwhile, the Government has approved an initiative to set up 100 new Sainik Schools in partnership mode with NGOs/Private Schools/State Government Schools in all  State/UTs  including  Assam.  Towards  this,  01  application  has  been  received  from Directorate  of  Secondary  Education,  Assam  for  establishment  of  Sainik  School  at Golaghat under the new initiative.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1680 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-16
Subject: Price Hike in Chemicals and Petrochemicals
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Sunil Kumar Mondal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICALS AND PETROCHEMICALS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1680 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.12.2022

## Price hike in Chemicals and Petrochemicals

1680

:   SHRI SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has succeeded in controlling the price hike in chemicals and petrochemicals during the last five years and the current year; (b) if so, the details thereof along with the futuristic measures taken in this regard; and

- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS (SHRI BHAGWANT KHUBA)

- (a) to (c) The Government  doesn't regulate the pricing of Chemicals and Petrochemicals.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1678 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-16
Subject: ECHS Hospitals and Clinics
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Abdul Majeed Ariff

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF EX-SERVICEMEN WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1678

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 th  December, 2022

## ECHS HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

1678.ADV. A.M. ARIFF:

Will the Minister of DEFENCEbe pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has taken any stepsfor streamlining the functioning of ECHS hospitals and clinics in the State of Kerala;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether the Government has taken any stepsfor empanelling more private hospitals from Alappuzha Parliamentary Constituency under ECHS for providing better treatment, if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  whether the Government has received anyrepresentation for including any hospitals from Cherthala in Alappuzha District in the list of ECHS empanelled hospitals, if so, the action taken thereon; and
- (e) the details of ECHS empanelled privatehospitals in Alappuzha Parliamentary Constituency?

## A  N  S  W  E  R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI AJAY BHATT)

- (a):  Yes, Sir.
- (b): (i)  There are a total of 143 Health Care Organisations (HCOs) (including Hospitals, Eye & Dental Clinics) empanelled with ECHS in Kerala State.
- (ii)  A total of 06 Hospitals have been empanelled with ECHS during the year 2022.
- (iii) Regular interactions are also being carried out with the empanelled hospitals for conduct of training and spreading awareness of ECHS policies and bill processing by the Regional Centre, Kochi.
- (iv)  A  large  number  of  processes  have  been  automated  as  part  of  Digital  India initiative  to  convenience  the  ECHS  beneficiaries.  Extension  of  stay  at  hospitals, waivers and sanctions has now been made online. Prior sanction, repeat referral and advance for treatment in Government hospital is being made online.

(c):  Yes, Sir. Regular interaction with private hospitals by Regional Centre (RC) ECHS as well  as  by  Polyclinic  Alappuzha  has  been  made  to  empanel  adequate  private  hospitals. Details of private hospitals are as under: -

- (i)  Super Speciality Hospital, Thumpoli, Alappuzha.
- (ii) Care Craft Hospital, Karuvatta, Alappuzha.

(d):  No, Sir.

(e):  The following hospitals under Alappuzha district are empanelled with Regional Centre ECHS Kochi: -

- (i)   Huda Trust Hospital, Alappuzha
- (ii)  Sahrudaya Hospital, Alappuzha

(iii) Sacred Heart Hospital, Alappuzha

- (iv) MSGR Kandathil Memorial Cancer Research Centre, Alappuzha
- (v)  Chairhanya Eye Care Hospital, Alappuzha

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1673 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-16
Subject: Appointment of Chairperson in FSSAI
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Balubhau (Alias Suresh Narayan) Dhanorkar

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1673 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 th  DECEMBER, 2022

## APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRPERSON IN FSSAI

## 1673. SHRI BALUBHAU ALIAS SURESH NARAYAN DHANORKAR:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that theFood Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)has not had regular chairperson since December2021;
- (b) if  so,  the  reasons  therefor,  and  the  details  ofthe  official  acting  as  the  chairperson  of FSSAI;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to appointa new/regular chairperson of FSSAI; and (d) if so, the details thereof, and if not, thereasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (d): The post of Chairperson of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) became vacant on 27.11.2021 upon the completion of the tenure of the previous Chairperson. Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare has been assigned the additional charge of Chairperson, FSSAI.

The process for selection  of  a  new  Chairperson  was  initiated  by  the  Ministry  in  May, 2021, and the proposal was submitted for placing the matter before the Selection Committee, whose  recommendations  were  submitted  to  Appointments  Committee  of  the  Cabinet  (ACC). Upon the request to send a wider panel of names the process was initiated afresh.

…………………
Lok Sabha Question No. 1665 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-16
Subject: NABH Accreditation for Hospitals
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: T.N. Prathapan, Lorho S. Pfoze

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1665 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 TH  DECEMBER, 2022

## NABH ACCREDITATION FOR HOSPITALS

## 1665.  SHRI T. N. PRATHAPAN: SHRI LORHO S. PFOZE:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)            whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  of  the  fact  that  a  large  number  of  private general hospitals are operating without satisfactory NABH Accreditation rating;
- (b)       if so, the details thereof along with the corrective steps taken / proposed to be taken in this regard;
- (c)      whether the Government proposes to revise the relevant provisions to make entry-level NABH accreditation mandatory; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken / proposed to be taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (d):  National Accreditation Board for Hospital & Healthcare Providers (NABH) is a voluntary process and therefore it is entirely up to the healthcare organization whether or not to apply and get NABH accreditation.

The Government of India has enacted the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010 for registration and regulation of clinical establishments in the country and issued Standard Treatment Guidelines for each type of procedure and service within the range of rates.   The National Council for Clinical Establishments has developed a standard list of medical procedures and a standard template for costing medical procedures and shared the same with the States and Union Territories. It is the responsibility of the respective State / Union Territory(UT) Government to implement and monitor the said Act.  As on date, the CE Act,  2010  has  been  adopted  by  12  States  and  7  Union  Territories.    However,  NABH accreditation is not a condition for registration under CE Act, 2010 also.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1664 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-16
Subject: Entrepreneurship among Women
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Vivek Narayan Shejwalkar, Jyotsna Charandas Mahant

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 1664

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.12.2022

## ENTREPRENEURSHIP AMONG WOMEN

## †1664. SHRI VIVEK NARAYAN SHEJWALKAR: SHRIMATI JYOTSNA CHARANDAS MAHANT:

Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any scheme is being run by the Government to promote entrepreneurship among women and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the salient features of the Support to Training and Employment Programme for Women (STEP) being run in the country;
- (c) the number of women in different age groups trained under the scheme, Statewise particularly in Chhattisgarh;
- (d) the number of trained women who become employer/ job provider /entrepreneur during the last five years; and
- (e) whether any action plan has been prepared by the Government for the economic empowerment of women entrepreneurs and bringing them into the mainstream and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a):  The  Government  of  India  has  taken  various  steps  to  promote  self  employment among the  women.  There  are  schemes  like  Pradhan  Mantri  Mudra  Yojana  (PMMY), Stand Up India and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana for helping the women to set up their own enterprises. Mudra Yojana Scheme for women launched in 2015, provides financial support to aspiring entrepreneurs in the country. The Stand up India scheme aims at promoting  entrepreneurship  among  women  and  scheduled  castes  and scheduled tribes. The Scheme facilitates bank loans between Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 1 crore to  at  least  one  Scheduled  Caste/  Scheduled  Tribe borrower and at  least  one  woman borrower  per  bank  branch  of  Scheduled  Commercial  Banks  for  setting  up  Greenfield enterprises  in  trading,  manufacturing  and  services  sector.  Pradhan  Mantri  Kaushal Vikas  Kendras  under  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Kaushal  Vikas  Yojana  lay  emphasis  on creating additional infrastructure both for training and apprenticeship for women; flexible training delivery mechanisms, flexible afternoon batches on local need-based training to accommodate women; and ensuring safe and gender sensitive  training  environment, employment  of  women  trainers,  equity  in  remuneration,  and  complaint  redressal mechanism.

(b) to (e):   In so far as the Support to Training and Employment Programme for Women (STEP) Scheme is concerned, it has been discontinued from the Financial Year 201718.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1663 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-16
Subject: Status of Azhikkal Port
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Kumbakudi Sudhakaran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING  AND WATERWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1663

ANSWERED ON 1611212022

## STATUS OF AZHIKKAL PORT

1663. SHRI KUMBAKUDI SUDHAKARAN:

## Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING  AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state: w-q,frilqft{fl{sfureqFf  qf

- (a) whether the Government  has taken note of the current status of the development of Azhikkal port of Kannur district in Kerala;
- (b) if so, the details  of the infrastructure  developments  made in this regard including coastal  berths,  dredging and construction of break-water at Azhikkal  Port; and
- (c) whether the Government  has any proposal  to open customs clearance  office establishment  to facilitate  the movement  of international  cargo through  this part and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING  AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

- (a) to (c) Government of Kerala is developing a Greenfield  Port at Azhikkal  and in this regard a SPV 'Malabar lnternational Port & SEZ Ltd (MISPL)' (earlier known as Azhikkal Port Ltd) has been formed by Government of Kerala for implementing  the project. MIPSL has submitted the draft DPR for the proiect  to the Government of Kerala. Government of Kerala has constituted  a committee for decision  on the final structuring and funding  for the project The port is having 226m Whar'f lacility for shipping with 3.5m to 4m draft of shipping channel. The Azhikkal port has break-water  of 1005m  length from Azhikkal side and 840m length from Mattul side. At Azhikkal Port, CSD Chandragiri Dredger  is present  for dredging purpose. Further,  as informed by Government of Kerala, the Electronic Data lnterchange  (EDl) facilities for customs are completed.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1662 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-16
Subject: Revitalisation of Satara Sainik School
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Shriniwas Dadasaheb Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1662

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 th  December, 2022

## REVITALISATION OF SATARA SAINIK SCHOOL

1662. SHRI SHRINIWAS PATIL:

Will the Minister of DEFENCEbe pleased to state:

(a)    whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  theGovernment  of  Maharashtra  has  sanctioned rupees 300 crore for the revitalisation of the Satara Sainik school out of which initial amount of rupees 100 crore has already been released;

- (b)   if so, the details thereof;
- (c)    whether  the  Government  or  the  Sainik  SchoolSociety  has  received  any  request  for concurrence  to  the  plans  of  upgradation  and  development  of  the  infrastructure  at  Satara Sainik School; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## A  N  S  W  E  R

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI AJAY BHATT)

- (a)  &  (b):    Administrative  approval  was  accorded  by  Government  of  Maharashtra  for  Rs. 285.16  Crore  for  Phase-I  of  renovation  of  Sainik  Schools  Satara  vide  Government  of Maharashtra Resolution dated 11 th January, 2022 against the proposal of Rs. 300 Crore. The Govt. of Maharashtra has released Rs. 15.38 Crore and Rs. 84.62 Crore during Financial Year 2021-22 vide two separate Govt. Resolutions dated 16 th March, 2022 and 30 th March, 2022, respectively.
- (c) & (d):  Sainik School, Satara requested for concurrence to the plans of revitalisation of Sainik School, Satara and the same has been accorded by Sainik Schools Society vide letter dated 09 th December, 2022.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1661 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-16
Subject: Harmful Chemicals in Sanitary Pads
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Janardan Singh Sigriwal

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1661 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 TH  DECEMBER, 2022

## HARMFUL CHEMICALS IN SANITARY PADS

## 1661 SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of a study conducted by Delhi based environmental NGO suggesting the presence of high amounts of chemicals in sanitary pads causing heart diseases, diabetes and cancer etc;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto;
- (c) the details of the monitoring mechanism in this regard; and
- (d) the measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (d): An agency has reported the presence of harmful chemicals in sanitary pads sold in India. However, no scientific reports of this study from India has been published in any peer-reviewed scientific journal. Further, review of global scientific literature reveals insufficient evidence to prove any correlation between  use  of  sanitary  pads  by  women and  adverse  health  outcome  like  heart  diseases,  diabetes  and cancer.

Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) under Department of Consumer Affairs has already published the Indian Standards on sanitary napkins. Further, as informed by BIS, the standardization in the field of Menstrual Products (sanitary pad) is taken by a Technical Textiles for Medtech Applications Sectional Committee.

*****