opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2381 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-13
Subject: ST and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers Act 2006
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: B. Y. Raghavendra, Diya Kumari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 2381

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 13/12/2021

## ST AND OTHER TRADITIONAL FOREST DWELLERS ACT  2006

## 2381.   SHRI B.Y. RAGHAVENDRA:

MS. DIYA KUMARI:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is taking any steps to amend ST and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers Act 2006 for effective implementation and protect forest dwellers;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the timeline fixed in this regard along with the details of rule framed under the act in 2008;
- (c)  the  details  of  the  status  of  implementation  of  the  Forest  Rights  Act  2006,  State-wise  including  of Rajasthan;
- (d) whether the Government intends to conduct mapping activities to expedite claims for community rights and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government currently has or intends to formulate strategies to improve and empower local authorities for the effective implementation of the Forest Rights Act 2006 if so, the details thereof; and (f)  the  number  of  applications  received  in  this  regard  and  the  action  being  taken  to  dispose  of  such applications including pending application?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFIARS (SHRI BISHWESHWAR TUDU)

- (a)  to  (b): No  Sir,  There  is  no  proposal  to  amend  the  Scheduled  Tribes  and  Other  Traditional  Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA in Short).
- (c): The implementation of forest rights under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 and recognition of forest rights there under is a continuous activity falling within the purview of the State Governments.
- (d): As per rule 6(b) of Forest Rights Rules, the Sub-Divisional Level Committee (SDLC) shall provide forest and revenue maps and electoral rolls to the Gram Sabha or the Forest Rights Committee.

Also, as per rule 8(a) of Forest Rights Rules, the District Level Committee shall ensure that the requisite information under clause (b) of rule 6 has been provided to Gram Sabha or Forest Rights Committee.

Further, Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) issued circular dated 28.04.2021 regarding geo referencing for identification of forest land under the Community Forest Resource Rights and community purposes as also stressing the need for delineation of the potential areas and creation of maps where FRA is likely to be implemented  as  also  ground  verification  of  claims  using  GPS/Android  phone  etc.  to  identify  genuine claimants. MoTA also issued guidelines on 27.07.2015 which may be applied for use of technology and geo referencing to expedite the process of FRA implementation.

(e) to (f): Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change have issued a joint advisory in July, 2021 to enable expeditious implementation of FRA.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2379 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-13
Subject: Disinvestment of NINL
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Pinaki Misra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF INVESTMENT AND PUBLIC ASSET MANAGEMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2379

## TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, December 13, 2021 Agrahayana 22, 1943 (Saka)

## Disinvestment of NINL

2379.  Shri Pinaki Misra: Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state: (a)the timeline of completion of disinvestment of Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited (NINL) which  is  under  progress  since  2018  by  DIPAM  as  employees  of  NINL  are  being deprived of salary since March 2020; (b) Whether NINL employees would be provided benefits such as pay scale revision, departmental  promotion,  Voluntary  Retirement  Scheme  and  pension,  etc.  during disinvestment period,  if so, details thereof; and if not, the reasons therefor; (c)  whether  the  service  terms  and  conditions  of  NINL  employees  would  remain unaltered after disinvestment. if not, the reasons therefor; (d) the reasons behind DIPAM not allowing NINL to conduct DPC pending up to June 2021; and (e)  the  reasons for DIPAM not  taking any initiative  to  start  the  production  of  NINL  by merging with SAIL/RINL/ NMDC like its captive mines started with the help of NMDC?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (DR. BHAGWAT KISHANRAO KARAD)

(a)  to  (e):  Neelachal  Ispat  Nigam  Limited  (NINL)  is  a  Joint  Venture  company  of  4 CPSEs  namely  MMTC  Limited  (49.78%),  NMDC  Limited  (10.10%),  Bharat  Heavy Electrical  Limited  (BHEL)  (0.68%) and  MECON Limited(0.68%) and 2 State PSUs of Odisha  Government,  namely,  Industrial  Promotion  and  Investment  Corporation  of Orissa Ltd. (IPICOL) (12%) and Odisha Mining Corporation Limited (OMC) (20.47%). MMTC Limited is the controlling promoter in the NINL. Government of India does not have any shareholding in NINL.

Government on 08.01.2020 has accorded 'in-principle' approval for strategic disinvestment  of  entire  shareholding  of  all  4  CPSEs  &  2  State  PSUs  shareholding (93.71%) in NINL through a single transaction. Expression of Interest (EoI) was invited on 25.01.2021. After shortlisting of bidders and an elaborate process of due diligence, Request  for  Proposal  (RFP)  document  inviting  financial  bids  has  been  issued  to  the Qualified Interested Bidders (QIBs).

The  employee-related  issues  of  the  company  are  within  the  purview  of  present Management  and  Promoters  of  NINL.  NINL  has  informed  that  outstanding  dues  of salary  of  employees  upto  December,  2020  have  been  disbursed.  Further,  the  selling Shareholders have signed a Waterfall Agreement amongst themselves for distribution of disinvestment receipts, which ranks priority for payment of various dues and liabilities of NINL, out of which dues of employees get the highest priority from the proceeds of the sale. There are employee protection provisions in the definitive agreement to be entered by selling shareholders and successful bidder.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2375 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-13
Subject: Meeting of GST Council
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: C. Lalrosanga

2375. Shri C. Lalrosanga:

Will the Minister of Finance be pleased to state:

(a) the main focus areas of the meeting of next Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council;

(b)  whether  the  Group  of  Ministers  (GoM)  is  reviewing  the  current  rate  slab  structure including special rates;

(c) if so, the time by which GoM is likely to submit its report;

(d) whether any roadmap has been framed by the GST Council to help the small businesses and consumers; and

(e) if so, the details thereof ?

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

*****

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2375

## TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY THE 13 TH  DECEMBER 2021

## Meeting of GST Council

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE SH. PANKAJ CHOUDHARY

(a) The date of the next meeting of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council has not been fixed.

(b)  The  terms  of  reference  of  the  Group  of  Ministers  (GoM)  on  Rate  Rationalization constituted on 24 th September, 2021 include, inter-alia,

- (i) Review  the  current  tax  slab  rates  and  recommend  changes  in  the  same  as  may  be needed to garner required resources.
- (ii) Review the current rate slab structure of GST, including special rates, and recommend rationalization measures, including merger of tax rate slabs, required for a simpler rate structure in GST.

(c) The GoM on Rate Rationalization have already held two meetings and would submit the report once it concludes its deliberations.

(d) & (e) The GST Council, in its meetings have deliberated and taken various measures for the  benefit  of  small  businesses  and  consumers.  Details  of  the  salient  milestones  are  as follows:

- i. A threshold exemption limit of Rs. 40 lakh for goods and Rs. 20 lakh for services has been prescribed.
- ii. A composition levy scheme is operational under which assessees with turnover below a specified threshold can discharge their GST liabilities in a simple manner at reduced rates.
- iii. Taxpayers  having  aggregate  annual  turnover  less  than  Rs.  two  (2)  crore  are  not required  to  file  Annual  Return  in  FORM  GSTR-9  and  FORM  GSTR-9A  for  F.Y. 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21. Further, taxpayers having aggregate annual turnover less than Rs five (5) crore are not required to furnish Annual Reconciliation Statement in FORM GSTR-9C.
- iv. Quarterly Return Monthly Payment Scheme (QRMP) has been introduced with effect from 01.01.2021 for registered persons having aggregate turnover up to Rs. five (5) crore, as per which taxpayers have been given facility to file GST returns on quarterly basis, instead of monthly basis.
- v. Late  fee  imposed  for  delayed  filing  of  returns  has  been  rationalized  to  reduce  the burden of late fee on smaller taxpayers.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2374 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-13
Subject: New Projects Under Adopt A Heritage Scheme For Andhra Pradesh
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Goddeti Madhavi, Beesetti  Venkata Satyavathi, Talari Rangaiah, Kotagiri Sridhar, Kuruva Gorantla Madhav, M V V Satyanarayana, Adala Prabhakara Reddy, Chandra Sekhar Bellana, Midhun Reddy, T.R.V.S. Ramesh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2374

## ANSWERED ON 13.12.2021

NEW PROJECTS UNDER ADOPT A HERITAGE SCHEME FOR

ANDHRA PRADESH

2374. SHRIMATI GODDETI MADHAVI:

SHRI P.V. MIDHUN REDDY:

SHRI KURUVA GORANTLA MADHAV:

SHRI TALARI RANGAIAH:

SHRI M.V.V. SATYANARAYANA:

SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR BELLANA:

DR. BEESETTI VENKATA SATYAVATHI:

SHRI T.R.V.S. RAMESH:

SHRI SRIDHAR KOTAGIRI:

SHRI ADALA PRABHAKARA REDDY:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  sanctioned  any  new  project under  'Adopt  a  Heritage  Scheme'  for  Andhra  Pradesh  and Tamil Nadu;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- whether the Government has been engaging with corporates
- (c) for the implementation of the CSR Scheme; and
- (d) the  progress  of  development  of  amenities  in  Gandikota  and
- Guddalore under the Scheme?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF TOURISM

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) to (b): Yes,  Sir  Under  Adopt  a  Heritage  project,  an MoU has been awarded for Gandikota Fort, Andhra Pradesh. Also, an MoU has  been awarded for  Development  of Multi-Lingual  Audio Guide to  the  Monument  Mitra  for  8  Iconic  sites  (ASI  Monuments)

across  India  which  includes  the  monument Mahabalipuram,  Tamil Nadu. The Multilingual Audio Guide App under brand name 'Audio Odigos' is available  for download  on both  Android  and  iOS platforms for tourists. The application is available Hindi, English and international  languages  Japanese  and  Korean and can  be  used  in both online and offline mode.  This is also clarified that no concept of  Government  sanction  is  involved  because  it  is  a  non-financial project. (c): Through  this  project,  the  government/Ministry  of  Tourism encourages  companies  from  public  sector,  private  sector,  trusts, NGOs, individuals and other stakeholders to become 'Monument Mitras' and take up the responsibility of developing and upgrading the basic and advanced tourist amenities at these sites as per their interest and  viability in terms  of a sustainable investment model under CSR. (d): Under Adopt a Heritage project, the implementation of basic amenities  proposed  under  the  signed  MoU  is  under  progress  at Gandikota Fort, Andhra Pradesh.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2371 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-13
Subject: Disinvestment of CPSEs
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Mahesh Sahoo

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF INVESTMENT AND PUBLIC ASSET MANAGEMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2371

TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, December 13, 2021 Agrahayana 22, 1943 (Saka)

## Disinvestment of CPSEs

## 2371.  Shri Mahesh Sahoo:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the disinvestment process of 4 CPSEs and 2 State PSUs of Odisha is completed;
- (b) if  not,  whether  it  is  likely  to  be  completed  in  this  financial  year  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has any plan for utilization of the fund after disinvestment process is  over  or  whether  it  will  go  the  Government  for  other  uses  and  if  so,  the details thereof; and
- (d) if  not,  whether  the  Government  plans  some  economic  activities  to  be  devised with  the  said  money  in  areas  where  the  plants  are  located  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (DR. BHAGWAT KISHANRAO KARAD)

(a)  to  (b):  Neelachal  Ispat  Nigam  Limited  (NINL)  is  a  Joint  Venture  company  of  4 CPSEs  namely  MMTC  Limited  (49.78%),  NMDC  Limited  (10.10%),  Bharat  Heavy Electrical  Limited  (BHEL)  (0.68%) and  MECON Limited(0.68%) and 2 State PSUs of Odisha  Government,  namely,  Industrial  Promotion  and  Investment  Corporation  of Orissa Ltd. (IPICOL) (12%) and Odisha Mining Corporation Limited (OMC) (20.47%). MMTC Limited is the controlling promoter in the NINL.

Government on 08.01.2020 has accorded 'in-principle' approval for strategic disinvestment  of  entire  shareholding  of  all  4  CPSEs  &  2  State  PSUs  shareholding (93.71%) in NINL through a single transaction. Request for Proposal (RFP) document inviting financial bids has been issued to the Qualified Interested Bidders (QIBs).

(c): Government of India does not have any shareholding in NINL, hence disinvestment proceeds will not be received by Government.

(d): Does not arise.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2369 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-13
Subject: Removing Tamil Language from Kendriya Vidyalayas
Ministry: Education
Asked by: V. Kalanidhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2369 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.12.2021

## Removing Tamil Language from Kendriya Vidyalayas

## 2369. DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  about  the  removal  of  Tamil  Language  as language of choice in Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) of Tamil Nadu;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is also aware about the induction of Sanskrit language as language of choice in place of Tamil language in KV Schools of Tamil Nadu and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) whether  Tamil  language  is  being  neglected  in  the  State  KVs  while  other  regional languages are taught in KVs in their respective States and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d) Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) are opened primarily to cater to the educational needs of  the  wards  of  transferable  Central  Government  Employees  including  Defence  &  ParaMilitary personnel, Central Autonomous Bodies, Central Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and  Central  Institute  of  Higher  Learning  (IHL)  by  providing  a  common  programme  of education.  KVs  are  following  a  common  scheme  of  education  as  per  its  mandate,  with common syllabus, text books and language so that the students are not inconvenienced when they move from one KV to the other when their parents are transferred. However, as per  Article  112  of  Education  Code  for  Kendriya  Vidyalayas,  'additional  arrangement  for teaching  of  the  regional  language  /  mother  tongue  shall  be  made,  provided  15  or  more students are willing to opt for the same'.  Temporary teachers are engaged to teach local / regional languages including Tamil, provided there is a demand and sufficient numbers of student are available. As Part of the common scheme of education, Sanskrit is taught as third language in classes VI to VIII since long.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2367 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-13
Subject: Development of Sunderbans
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Sunil Kumar Mondal

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  2367

TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.12.2021

## Development of Sunderbans

## 2367.  SHRI SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL:

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

- (a) the details of the fund allocated for the development of Sundarbans during the financial year 2020-21 and the percentage of the fund released or expended; and
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  made  any  plan  or  programme  for  the  development  of Sundarban during the last five years and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor along with the future initiative in this regard?

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

- (a) & (b) The details of fund allocated and released during the year 2020-21 to the Sundarban Tiger  Reserve,  West  Bengal  and  unspent  balance  of  previous  financial year (2019-20) under the ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Project Tiger with the said Tiger Reserve are as under:-

## (Rs. In Lakhs)

|   Fund Sanctioned (Central Share) during 2020-21 |   Total Fund Available in the Year 2020-21 (including unspent of Year 2019-20) |   Fund Utilized during 2020-21 |
|--------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|                                           494.15 |                                                                         366.77 |                         292.98 |

Based on the Annual Plan of Operation submitted by the State, funding assistance is provided under the ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Project Tiger to tiger range States for conservation and protection of tigers and other wildlife. The details of fund released during last five years to the Sundarban Tiger Reserve, West Bengal are as under:-

| Year    |   Amount released (Rs. In Lakhs) |
|---------|----------------------------------|
| 2016-17 |                          329.258 |
| 2017-18 |                          397.091 |
| 2018-19 |                          456.22  |
| 2019-20 |                          599.59  |
| 2020-21 |                          173.67  |
| Total   |                         1955.83  |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2363 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-13
Subject: New Emerging Fields of Science
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Vishnu Dutt Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2363 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.12.2021

## New Emerging Fields of Science

## 2363. SHRI VISHNU DATT SHARMA:

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

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  adopted  new  emerging  fields  of  Science  like  Quantum  Key Distribution, Blockchain, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, IO, 5G Network, advanced Energy Materials by Indian Universities in their teaching and research curriculum;

- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## ANSWER (DR. SUBHAS SARKAR)

(a)  &  (b)  As  per  the  Institutes  of  Technology  Act,  1961  the  Board  of  Governors  of  IITs  are empowered to institute courses of study at the institutes in consultation with their Senate. The courses  and  curriculum  are  regularly  updated  by  IITs  keeping  in  view  the  new  and  emerging fields/technologies.

AICTE has uploaded the curriculum of nine (09) emerging technologies on AICTE web portal (link- https://www.aicte-india.org/sites/default/files/UG\_Emerging.pdf) in the following fields:

- i)    Artificial Intelligence (AI),
2. ii) Information of Technology (IoT),
3. iii) Block Chain,
4. iv) Robotics,
- v) Quantum Computing,

vi) Data Sciences, vii) Cyber Security, viii) 3D Printing & Design

- ix) Augmented Reality (AR)/Virtual Reality (VR)

Also, AICTE has implemented Research Promotion Scheme (RPS) which aims to create research ambience  by  promoting  research  in  technical  disciplines  and  innovations  in  established  and emerging technologies.

(c) Not Applicable.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2361 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-13
Subject: Rope-way to Swarngiri Fort
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Devji Mansingram Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †2361 ANSWERED ON 13.12.2021

## ROPE-WAY TO SWARNGIRI FORT

†2361. SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Swarngiri Fort in Jalore district boosts of a thousand years of historical splendor and the beauty of architecture is reflected from this fort, a beautiful example/sample of architecture  and this  fort  of  Jalore  is  an  example  of  bravery and patriotism;
- (b) whether Rs.8.82 crore was approved/sanctioned for the ropeway to this fort on 28 june, 2017 out of which Rs 7 crore has  to  be  spent  on  rope-way  and  the  rest  amount  has  to  be spent  on  tourism  facility  centre,  surface  parking,  raling  for stairs, clean drinking water and benches for sitting etc; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d)   whether this work was to be accomplished within 18 months from the date of the issue of the fund but even after this period was  over,  the  work  has  not  commenced;  if  so,  the  reasons therefor; and
- (e) the  reasons  for  delay  in  work  and  the  details  of  the  steps taken by the Government to complete this work?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF TOURISM

(SHRI G.KISHAN REDDY)

- (a): Yes, Sir. Swarngiri Fort is famous for its history and architecture.
- (b) and (c): The    Ministry  of  Tourism    in  the  year    2017-18 sanctioned    the  project  for    development  of    Heritage  Circuit    in Rajasthan which included  development of  various  components  at

Jalore Fort. A    total    amount  of    Rs.  8.82  Cr.  was    sanctioned  for Jalore    Fort  which  included  Rs.  7.00  Crore  for  Development  of ropeway and Rs. 1.82 Cr.  for  other    components  such  as  parking, railings  on  pathway(steps)  leading  to  Fort,  tourist  facility  centre, surface parking, drinking water facility, benches etc. (d) and (e): Rajasthan  Tourism  Development  Corporation  Ltd. (RTDC)  is  the implementing agency  of this  project and  as per the sanction order no. 5(04)/2021-SD  dated 28.06.2017 of the project, it was  to  be  completed and commissioned within 18 months. The progress  of  the  project  was  reviewed  during  the  Regional  Review Meeting held on 16 th  January 2020; where in the State Government of  Rajasthan  informed    that  tendering  has  been  done  twice  for ropeway  and  no  response  was  received.  It  was  highlighted  that work  has  not  yet  commenced  for  remaining  components  as  well. Thereafter a decision was taken that all the sanctioned components, at Jalore fort, stand dropped as work order has not yet been  awarded  for  ropeway  and  work  has  not  commenced  for  the remaining components.

- ********