opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 4602 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-29
Subject: Effective Procurement of Foodgrains
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Vincent H Pala

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4602 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29TH MARCH, 2023

## EFFECTIVE PROCUREMENT OF FOODGRAINS

## 4602. SHRI VINCENT H: PALA:

Will the Minister of FOOD AND

CONSUMER AFFAIRS, PUBLIC

be pleased to state the details of steps taken by the Government for the effective procurement of foodgrains during natural calamities such as floods and frost?

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

There exists a transparent and uniform policy for procurement of wheat and paddy by Government Agencies across the country: State Government agencies and Food Corporation of India (FCI) purchase wheat & paddy within the stipulated period with prescribed Fair Average Quality (FAQ) specification at Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Central Pool:

The   following steps are taken for the effective procurement of foodgrains:

- Farmers are made aware of the quality specifications and purchase system etc. to facilitate the farmers to their produce conforming to the specifications: bring
- On the request of State Government relaxation in Uniform Specification is granted by government of India for procurement of foodgrains affected due to natural calamities i.e flood, drought, rainfall & Hailstorm, heat-wave etc.

- Government agencies undertake MSP operation at mandisl temporary purchase centreslaggregation points: Sufficient numbers of procurement centres are opened by procuring agencies including FCI, keeping in view the procurement potential and geographical spread of the State concerned. Large number of temporary purchase centres in addition to the existing Mandis and depotslgodowns are also established at key points for the convenience of the farmers in that situation.
- (iv) Through e-procurement module  deployed by procuring Agencies, farmers get latestlupdated information regarding MSP declared, nearest purchase center, date of procurement etc. This not has reduced the waiting period for delivery of stock by the farmers but also enables the farmer to deliver stock as per his convenience in the nearest mandi: only
- (v) Extension in period of procurement of wheat and paddy is granted by Government of India on the request of concerned State Government in the event of delayldisruption in procurement due to natural calamities.
- (vi) Extension in period of millingldelivery of Custom Milled Rice (CMR) is granted by Government of India on the request of concerned State Govt: in the event of delayldisruption in procurement due to natural calamities.
Lok Sabha Question No. 4601 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-29
Subject: Suspension of Internet Services
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Srinivas Kesineni, Pradyut Bordoloi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4601 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29 TH  MARCH, 2023

## SUSPENSION OF INTERNET SERVICES

## 4601.   SHRI KESINENI SRINIVAS: SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLOI:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) whether  the  Government  has  a  record  of  suspension  of  telecom  services  imposed  across various States during the last five years and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has any plans to bring a standard operating procedure to review as to whether the suspension of telecom services followed the Supreme Court guidelines in Anuradha Bhasin vs Union of India and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the report published by Top10VPN that estimated the cost of suspension of telecom services in 2022 to the tune of $172 million and if so, the details thereof along with the necessary steps taken by the Government to address the same; and

(d) whether the suspension of telecom services goes against the Government schemes for Digital India and if so, the steps being taken by the Government to minimise the incidence of suspension of telecom services?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN)

(a) Police and public order are State subjects as per seventh schedule of the Constitution and States are responsible and empowered to issue orders for temporary suspension of internet service to maintain law and order in the State or part thereof under the provisions contained in the Temporary Suspension  of  Telecom  Services  (Public  Emergency  or  Public  Safety)  Rules,  2017.  Ministry  of Home Affairs (MHA) has informed that records pertaining to internet shutdowns ordered by States are  not  centrally  maintained  by  MHA.  Further, the  permissions  granted  for  internet  shutdown  to Delhi Police have been made available on MHA website.

(b) In light of the Hon'ble Supreme Court judgment dated 10.01.2020 in W.P.(C) no. 1031/2019 and 1164/2019, Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency & Public Safety) Rules, 2017 has been amended vide Gazette Notification dated 10.11.2020. The said amendment has been  forwarded  to  all  Chief  Secretaries/Administrators  of  States/UTs  emphasizing  that  Hon'ble Supreme Court has mandated the publication of suspension orders; and all orders for suspension of Telecom Services must adhere to the principle of proportionality and must not extend beyond the necessary duration.

(c) No such authentic report is available with DoT.

(d) The contribution of internet for the well-being of citizens has to be balanced with social media platforms being misused by anti-social elements requiring temporary internet shutdowns as per the rules based on the assessment by Local (State/UT Government) Authorities.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 400 (STARRED), answered on 2023-03-28
Subject: Commencement of Work under next Phase of PMAY-G
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav, Sanghamitra Maurya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 400 ANSWERED ON 28/03/2023

## COMMENCEMENT OF WORK UNDER NEXT PHASE OF PMAY-G

- *400.   SHRI SANJAY JADHAV: DR. SANGHMITRA MAURYA:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to start the next phase of the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G);
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the time by which the said work is likely to be started in the villages  in  the  districts  of  Parbhani  Parliamentary  Constituency  of  Maharashtra  and Badaun Parliamentary Constituency of Uttar Pradesh;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the names of the villages under the said Parliamentary Constituencies have been finalized under the said yojana;
- (e) if  so,  the details thereof and the time by which the said houses are likely to be allotted and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (f) the number of houses to be allotted in the said Parliamentary Constituencies in the next phase during the next three years?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI GIRIRAJ SINGH)

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

Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (f) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *400 to be  answered  on  28.03.2023  regarding  "Commencement  of  Work  Under  Next  Phase  of PMAY-G"

(a)  No Sir.

(b)  Question does not arise.

(c)  The Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana- Gramin (PMAY-G) is being implemented with effect from 1 st April, 2016 to provide assistance to eligible rural households with an overall target to construct 2.95 crore pucca houses with basic amenities by 31 st March, 2024. Against the target of 2.95 crore houses, a total of 2.86 crore houses have been sanctioned to the beneficiaries by the States/Union Territories (UTs) and 2.22 crore houses have been completed as on 23.03.2023.

(d) to (f)  Question does not arise

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 392 (STARRED), answered on 2023-03-28
Subject: Growth in Food Processing Sector
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Su Thirunavukkarasar

## GOVERNMENTOF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *392

ANSWERED ON 28 TH  MARCH, 2023

## GROWTH IN FOOD PROCESSING SECTOR

## *392. SHRI THIRUNAVUKKARASAR SU :

Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Food Processing Sector in the country has witnessed meagre growth of 11% between 2015 and 2020 and the same is much low as compared to developing and developed countries;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the demand and supply mismatch, low penetration of technology, supply chain issues like availability  of  cold  storage  and  warehousing  facilities  are  the  major  barriers  to  the  growth  of  the country;
- (d) if so, whether the Government has taken any steps to further improve the food processing industries and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether any target has been fixed for the coming years, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI PASHUPATI KUMAR PARAS)

- (a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION  NO.  *392  FOR  ANSWER  ON  28 TH   MARCH,  2023  ON  'GROWTH  IN  FOOD PROCESSING SECTOR'

(a) & (b ): India's food processing sector has reported growth of 10.3 % between 2015-16 and 2020-21 as compared to 5.1 % in the overall manufacturing sector.

(c) to (e): The major challenges affecting the food processing sector includes the predominant share of micro  and  informal  units,  inadequate  post-harvest  infrastructure  including  cold  storage,  low  levels  of processing, availability of affordable credit, low market access, technological gaps etc.

In order to address these challenges and for overall development of the food processing sector, the Ministry of Food Processing Industry (MoFPI) implements various schemes, which are demand driven, like:

- (i) Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY)
- (ii) PM-Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM-FME)
- (iii) Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 391 (STARRED), answered on 2023-03-28
Subject: Startups in Food Processing Industry
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Raghu Ramakrishna Raju Kanumuru

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. 391*

ANSWERED ON 28 TH  MARCH, 2023

## 'STARTUPS IN FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRY"

## 391*. SHRI KANUMURU RAGHU RAMA KRISHNA RAJU:

Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any proposal to introduce any scheme to support startups in the Food Processing Industry;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has any proposal to provide any support to the startups in the said industry which went through losses after COVID-19; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI PASHUPATI KUMAR PARAS)

- (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *391 FOR ANSWER ON 28.03.2023 REGARDING 'STARTUPS IN FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRY".

(a) to (d): The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) is implementing various schemes to interalia aid startups in India. During the pandemic, on 29 th June 2020, as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan,  Ministry  of  Food  Processing  Industries  (MoFPI)  launched  a  centrally  sponsored  "PM Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises' (PMFME) Scheme to support two lakhs micro food processing enterprises during the scheme period. The scheme is operational from 2020-21 to 2024-25 with an outlay of Rs. 10,000 Crore. In addition, MOFPIis implementing two more schemes to promote establishment of food processing industries in India. These schemes arePradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) and Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI). The incentives/financial benefits under the aforesaid three schemescan also be availed bythe eligible startups

Moreover,  MOFPI  has  also  established  a  special  Investment  Targeting  Facilitation  Desk (ITFD)  in  collaboration  with  Invest  India  to  assist  entrepreneurs,  including  startups,  interested  in investing in the food processing sector.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4599 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-28
Subject: Statue of Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Gopal Chinayya Shetty

## Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports

## Government of India Department of Sports

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †4599 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.03.2023

Statue of Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee

†4599. SHRI GOPAL CHINNAYA SHETTY:

Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  step  for  setting  up  a statue of Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee National Centre of Excellence, Mumbai located at Khandivali, Mumbai in Maharashtra and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has given permission for setting up the statue;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if not, the reasons for delay in this regard?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS [SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR]

(a) to (d): The statue of Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee has already been erected by the local bodies on 25.12.2021 in the Shri Atal  Bihari  Vajpayee  National  Centre  of  Excellence  located  at

Kandivali, Mumbai in Maharashtra.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4598 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-28
Subject: Reservation Policy in Private Sector
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4598 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.03.2023

## RESERVATION POLICY IN PRIVATE SECTOR

4598. SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA:

Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government has taken any initiatives to implement reservation policy in private sector for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes;
- (b) if so, the details of the policy worked out for this purpose; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefore?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI A. NARAYANASWAMY)

(a) to (c): As per the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), a Coordination Committee for Affirmative Action in the Private Sector was set up by the Prime Minister's Office in 2006. Secretary (DoPT), Secretary (SJ&E), Secretary (Tribal A ffairs) and Secretary  (DPIIT) are the members of the Committee.  DPIIT the secretarial assistance to the committee. So far 9 meetings of Coordination Committee have been held. In the Ist Coordination Committee meeting, it was stated that the best course for achieving progress o the issue of affirmative action is through voluntary action by the industry itself:

Accordingly, the Industry Associations namely Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI); Associated Chambers  of & Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and Dalit   Indian Chamber of Commerce Industry (DICCI) have prepared Voluntary Code of Conduct (VCC) for their member companies centered around education, employability and entrepreneurship to achieve inclusion. Measures undertaken by the members of Industry Associations, inter-alia, include scholarships, vocational training entrepreneurship development programmes, coaching etc. Apex

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4596 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-28
Subject: Funds for Development of  Sports Fields
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Rekha Arun Verma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †4596 ANSWERED ON 28.03.2023

Funds for Development of Sports Fields

†4596 . SHRIMATI REKHA VERMA:

Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the funds allocated to Uttar Pradesh for the development of sports fields, stadia along with other sports related basic infrastructure during the last three years and the current year;

(b)  the  details  of  the  sanctioned  projects  and  the  funds  released  to  the above State during the said period;

(c) whether  the  Government  has  received  various  proposals for the construction of new sports complexes in the State during the said period;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the details of the expenditure involved therein, project and district-wise?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS { SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR }

(a) Funds are allocated scheme-wise, not State-wise in this Ministry.

- (b) The details of the sports infrastructure projects sanctioned, along with the status of funds released, project-wise, under Khelo India scheme of this Ministry,  across  the  country,  including  the  State  of  Uttar  Pradesh,  are available in public domain on the dashboard of the Ministry at https://mdsd.kheloindia.gov.in.
- (c)  to  (e)  No  proposal  for  the  construction  of  new  sports  complexes  has been received in this Ministry.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4595 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-28
Subject: Sugarcane Cultivation
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Bhartruhari Mahtab

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4595

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 28 TH  MARCH, 2023

## SUGARCANE CULTIVATION

## 4595.  SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान काण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  any  steps  have  been  taken  to  improve  and  incentivize  sugarcane cultivation to support ethanol blending, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  carried  any  life-cycle  studies  for  contribution  to emissions due to increased cultivation of sugarcane for ethanol production; and
- (c) whether the Government aims to balance the goals of sustainable agriculture and higher ethanol production and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान काण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) to (c): Department of Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare  is  implementing  sugarcane development  programme  under  National  Food  Security  Mission  (NFSM)  in  13  major sugarcane  growing states  viz.,  Andhra  Pradesh,  Bihar,  Gujarat,  Haryana,  Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand & Uttar  Pradesh  from  2014-15  with  an  aim  for  enhancing  production  and  productivity. Sugarcane production has increased from 352.14 million tonnes during 2013-14 to 468.79 million tonnes in 2022-23 (2 nd  Advance Estimates). Apart from production of sugar, the sugarcane & its byproducts are used for production of ethanol.

Government  is  implementing  Ethanol  Blended  Petrol  (EBP)  programme  with multiple objectives of reducing import dependency, savings in foreign exchange, providing boost to domestic agriculture sector and for associated environmental benefits. Apart from sugarcane & its byproducts, the production of ethanol has been allowed from a variety of feedstocks like agricultural  residues,  less  water  consuming crops  like  maize, damaged foodgrains, surplus FCI rice, etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4594 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-28
Subject: Relief to Citizens by NDRF
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Omprakash Bhupalsinh alias Pawan Rajenimbalkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4594

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 28 TH  MARCH, 2023/ CHAITRA 7, 1945 (SAKA)

RELIEF TO CITIZENS BY NDRF

†4594.  SHRI OMPRAKASH BHUPALSINH ALIAS PAWAN RAJENIMBALKAR:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether various decisions are being implemented by National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to provide relief to citizens in case of heavy rains, floods and earthquakes in the country;

(b)  if  so,  the  details  of  amount  of  assistance  being  provided  to  farmers affected by heavy rains at present;

(c) whether the Government does not provide any assistance to landless labourers in case of death of their cattle due to action taken by the NDRF; and

(d) if so, the policy adopted by the Government as per the norms of NDRF to  increase  the  amount  of  compensation  given  to  victim  farmers  and  to provide compensation for loss of cattle of landless labourers?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a) to (d):  As  per  the  National  policy  on  Disaster  Management,  the primary responsibility for disaster management, including disbursal of  relief  to  the  affected  people  on  the  ground  level,  rests  with  the State Governments. The State Governments  undertake  relief measures  in  the  event  of  natural  disaster from the State Disaster Response   Fund   (SDRF),    already   placed   at   their   disposal,   in

## L.S. USQ. NO. 4594 FOR 28.03.2023

accordance with  approved  items  and  norms  of  the  Government  of India. Additional financial assistance is provided from the National Disaster  Response  Fund  (NDRF)  as  per  the  laid  down  procedure, which  includes  an  assessment  based  on  the  visit  of  an  InterMinisterial Central Team (IMCT).

The  Government  has  revised  the  items  &  norms  of  expenditure under  SDRF/  NDRF,  which  is  available  on  the  Ministry  of  Home Affairs website at https://ndmindia.mha.gov.in .

Under these norms, relief assistance in the form of agriculture input subsidy is paid by the State Government concerned to the affected farmers  if  their  crop  loss  is  33%  and  above.    Further,  under  the norms,  assistance  is  admissible  for  the  loss  of  cattle  owned  by landless labourer, from SDRF/ NDRF.

National  Disaster  Response  Force  has  been  constituted  under section 44(1) of Disaster Management Act, 2005, for the purpose of specialised response to a threatening disaster situation or disaster. However, on the request, National Disaster Response Force assists the State Governments in distribution of relief items to the affected people.

******