opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 78 (STARRED), answered on 2023-02-07
Subject: Decentralization of MGNREGS
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Gajanan Chandrakant Kirtikar

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

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 78 ANSWERED ON 07/02/2023

## DECENTRALIZATION OF MGNREGS

## *78. SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  proposed  to  decentralise  the  Mahatma  Gandhi  National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) at the grassroots level;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State and UT-wise particularly related to Maharashtra, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu;
- (c) whether the Government has proposed to revise the wages under MGNREGS which at present stand way lesser than the market rates in several States; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof, State and UT-wise?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI GIRIRAJ SINGH)

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

## Statement in reply to Parts (a) to (d) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 78 for 07.02.2023

(a) & (b):  Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (Mahatma Gandhi NREGS) is a demand driven wage employment Scheme which provides for the enhancement of livelihood  security  of  the  households  in  rural  areas  of  the  country  by  providing  at  least  one hundred days of guaranteed wage employment in every financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.

Mahatma  Gandhi  NREGS  is  a  demand  driven  wage  employment  scheme  with  bottom  up planning. The works are identified, approved and prioritized out of shelf of work by the Gram Panchayat, recommended by Gram Sabha in each State/UT as per the provision of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (Mahatma Gandhi NREGA). Accordingly, the works are approved and taken up by Panchayat as per the demand. The planning of works is done as per the estimated person days to be generated for the work in a financial year at the time of assessment of labour budget.

(c)  &  (d):  As  per  Section  6(1)  of  Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, the Central Government may by notification  specify  the  wage  rate  for  its  beneficiaries.  Accordingly,  the  Ministry  of  Rural Development notifies Mahatma Gandhi NREGA wage rate every financial year for States/UTs. To compensate the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA workers against inflation, the Ministry of Rural Development  revises  the  wage  rate  every  financial  year  based  on  change  in  Consumer  Price Index  for  Agricultural  Labour  (CPI-AL).  The  wage  rate  is  made  applicable  from  1st April  of each  financial  year.  However  each  State/UT  can  provide  wage  over  and  above  the  wage  rate notified by the Central Government.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 67 (STARRED), answered on 2023-02-07
Subject: Appointment of Sportspersons in Wrestling Federation of  India
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Sougata Ray

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS) LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No.67

## ANSWERED ON 07/02/2023

Appointment of Sportspersons in Wrestling Federation of India

*67. PROF. SOUGATA RAY:

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

- (a)  whether  the  leading  wrestlers  staged  protest/  dharna  at  Jantar Mantar  seeking  the  removal  of  President  of  Wrestling  Federation  of India;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c)  the  details  of  action  taken  by  the  Government  to  redress  their issues; and
- (d) the reasons for not appointing sportspersons in Wrestling Federation of India?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR)

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

***

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d)  OF  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *67 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07/02/2023 REGARDING  'APPOINTMENT  OF  SPORTSPERSONS  IN  WRESTLING FEDERATION  OF  INDIA'  ASKED  BY  PROF.  SOUGATA  RAY,  HON'BLE MEMBER OF LOK SABHA.

(a) to (c): Yes,  Sir.  Some  wrestlers  staged  protest/  dharna  levelling allegations of sexual harassment, arbitrariness and mismanagement in the functioning of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).

As the matter pertained to the well-being of the athletes, the Ministry immediately took note of the allegations and instructed the Executive Committee of WFI to abstain, as an interim measure, from administering and managing the day-to-day activities of the Federation. Further, as a purely interim measure, the Government has appointed  an  Oversight  Committee  headed  by  Ms.  M.C.  Mary  Kom, Major  Dhyanchand  Khel  Ratna  Awardee  and  Olympic  Medallist,  to enquire into the allegations of sexual misconduct, harassment and / or intimidation, financial irregularities and administrative lapses, levelled by prominent sportspersons; and to undertake day-to-day administration of WFI.

The six-member Oversight Committee of WFI includes four sportspersons as its members, out of which Shri Yogeshwar Dutt and Ms. Babita Phogat are prominent wrestlers.

(d):  National  Sports  Development  Code  of  India  2011  (Sports  Code) provides for representation of at least 25% prominent sportspersons in the National Sports Federations (NSFs). The WFI has informed that in the last elections held for the Executive Committee of WFI, out of 23 members elected as members, 7 were former wrestlers and 1 was a coach.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 65 (STARRED), answered on 2023-02-07
Subject: Wage Rates under MGNREGS
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Reddeppa Nallakonda Gari

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 65

ANSWERED ON 07/02/2023

## WAGE RATES UNDER MGNREGS

## *65. SHRI N. REDDEPPA:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it has come to the notice of the Government that the wage rates for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) workers are highly fluctuating in the States and UTs;
- (b) if so, whether the Government is considering any measures to adopt a uniform wage rate in the country;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  nominal  wages  under  MGNREGS  discourage beneficiaries to register and instead encourage them to migrate to urban areas in search of work;
- (e) if  so,  whether  the  Government has taken any steps for making the wages more fair by indexing MGNREGS wages to Consumer Price Index (CPI) -Rural as opposed to CPIAgricultural Labour;  and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI GIRIRAJ SINGH)

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

## Statement in reply to Parts (a) to (f) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 65 for 07.02.2023

(a) to (c)    As per Section 6(1) of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (Mahatma Gandhi NREGA), the Central Government may by notification specify the wage rate for its beneficiaries. Accordingly, the Ministry of Rural Development notifies Mahatma Gandhi NREGA wage rate every  financial  year  for  States/UTs.  To  compensate  the  Mahatma  Gandhi NREGA workers  against  inflation,  the  Ministry  of  Rural  Development  revises  the  wage  rate every  financial  year  based  on  change  in  Consumer  Price  Index  for  Agricultural  Labour  (CPIAL).  The  wage  rate  is  made  applicable  from  1st April  of  each  financial  year.  However  each State/UT can provide wage over and above the wage rate notified by the Central Government.

- (d)    No, Sir.
- (e) & (f)   Does not arise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 915 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-07
Subject: Maintaining Credibility of Social Media News Portals
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Kishan Kapoor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 915

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2023

MAINTAINING CREDIBILITY OF SOCIAL MEDIA NEWS PORTALS.

915. SHRI KISHAN KAPOOR:

Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of effective legal measures taken by the Ministry to maintain  the  credibility  of  news  portals  running  on  Facebook  and YouTube social media;
- (b) whether it is mandatory to take permission from the Government to run news channels on social media; and
- (c) if so, the number of such news channels running on social media in the country which have taken permission?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR):

(a)  to  (c):    The  Government  has  notified  Information  Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, on  25th  February,  2021  under  Information  Technology  Act,  2000. These Rules inter- alia provide for the following:-

- i. Code of Ethics to be followed by publishers of news & current affairs on digital media and publishers of online curated content (OTT Platforms);
- ii. A three-level Grievance Redressal Mechanism for looking into complaints relating to  the violation of Code of Ethics  by such publishers; and
- iii. Furnishing of information by the publishers to the Government and  periodical  disclosure  of  information  in  public  domain regarding grievance redressal.

There is no requirement for digital media publishers for seeking prior permission  with  the  Ministry.  Under  the  Rules,  the  publishers  are required  to  furnish  certain  information  to  the  Ministry.  Over  2,800 digital news publishers have furnished information to the Government under the Rules.

**********
Lok Sabha Question No. 913 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-07
Subject: Population Census
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Abdul Khaleque

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 913

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 07 TH  FEBRUARY, 2023/ MAGHA 18, 1944 (SAKA) POPULATION CENSUS

913.  SHRI ABDUL KHALEQUE:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  there  is  a  norm  to  conduct population census every ten years and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether Census was conducted in 2021, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(c)  the  details  of  progress  made  in  the  work  of  National  Population Register?

ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (c):    The  first  synchronous  Census  was  conducted  in  1881  and thereafter it has taken place every ten years.  Last Census was conducted in  2011.  The intent of the Government for conducting Census 2021 was notified in Gazette of India on 28th March,  2019. Subsequently, a notification under Citizenship Rules was published in the Gazette of India on  31st  July,2019  to  prepare  and  update  the  Population  Register  along with  the  first  phase  of  Census  i.e.  Houselisting  and  Housing  Census. However, due to outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, the conduct of Census 2021,  updating  of  National  Population  Register  and  the  related  field activities have been postponed until further orders.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 912 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-07
Subject: Gram Rozgar Sahayak
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Sunil Kumar Mondal

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 912

ANSWERED ON 07/02/2023

## GRAM ROZGAR SAHAYAK

## 912. SHRI SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Union Government has made any strategy in fixing a policy for service regularisation in Pay-Scale for Gram Rozgar Sahayak (GRS) along with service benefits like DA, TA, gratuity, retirement benefit, accidental benefit and medical benefit, etc.;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with future initiatives for its progress, State and UTwise and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has considered to provide the benefit of the Minimum Wage Act, 1948 by the Ministry of Labour and Employment and 'equal pay for equal work' for GRS in West Bengal;
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with future initiatives for its progress, State and UTwise and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether the Government has decided to initiate a centralized human resource policy for service development and welfare for GRS this year or in upcoming year in West Bengal; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof along with future initiatives for its progress, State and UTwise and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

- (a):   No, Sir.
- (b):  Does not arise.
- (c)  &  (d):   The  Governments  of  States  are  responsible  for  the  implementation  of  Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in the States. Gram Rojgar Sewaks are employed  by  the  respective  State  Governments  as  per  their  existing  policy,  norms  and regulations.
- (e) : No, Sir.
- (f):  Does not arise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 910 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-07
Subject: Amendments to Provision of Punishment under Animal Cruelty Act, 1960
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Bhagirath Chaudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 910

TO BE ANSWERED ON 7 TH  FEBRUARY, 2023

## AMENDMENTS TO PROVISION OF PUNISHMENT UNDER ANIMAL CRUELTY ACT, 1960

## 910. SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY:

Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING मत्स्यपालन , पशुपालनऔरडेयरीमंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that in the case of Animal Welfare Board of India versus A. Nagaraj, the Supreme  Court  of  India  has  directed  the  Government  to  issue  necessary  directions  for implementing five fundamental rights of the animals regarding their independence;
- (b) if so, the details of action taken by the Government for compliance of the said directions;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to amend the provision of stringent punishment under the Animal Cruelty Act, 1960; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a) Yes Sir.
- (b) To implement the direction of Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, the Animal Welfare Board of  India  (AWBI),  a  Statutory  Body  established  under  Prevention  of  Cruelty  to  Animal  Act, 1960, has issued various advisories, conducted awareness through training and seminars and taken action in response to reported incidents of cruelty where the five freedoms was violated. The AWBI has issued 49 such advisories to the authorities of the States requesting the states to ensure five freedoms of the animals as prescribed in the Judgment of Hon'ble Supreme Court of India. Further, the AWBI has conducted 34 Training programme for creating awareness and issued  3364  letters  against  the  reported  cruelty  where  the  five  freedoms  was  reported  to  be violated.
- (c)  &  (d)  Yes  Sir.  The  Government  has  proposed  for  enhancement  of  penalty  with  more stringent punishment in the proposed draft Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Bill.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 907 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-07
Subject: Supply Chain Infrastructure in FPIs
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: E. T. Mohammed Basheer

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 907

ANSWERED ON 07 TH  FEBRUARY,2023

## SUPPLY CHAIN INFRASTRUCTURE IN FPIS

## 907.  SHRI E.T. MOHAMMED BASHEER:

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

- (a) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  the  supply  chain  infrastructure  in  the  Food Processing Industries (FPIs);
- (b) whether any steps have been taken by the Government to fill up the gap between production and processing in the food processing industries; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a)  to  (c): Ministry  of  Food  Processing  Industries  (MoFPI),  through  its  schemes,  is  helping strengthening of  food processing/ preservation infrastructure with  efficient  supply  chain  across  the country and thereby reducing gap between production and processing capacity & post-harvest losses. MoFPI is implementing a Central Sector Umbrella scheme- Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) since 2016-17. Projects completed under component schemes of PMKSY have resulted in creation  of  about  194  Lakh  Metric  Tonnes  of  preservation  &  processing  capacity.  As  part  of Aatmanirbhar  Bharat  Abhiyan,  MoFPI  is  implementing  Centrally  Sponsored  PM  Formalization  of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme since 2020-21 for providing financial, technical and  business  support  to  Micro  Food  Processing  Enterprises  and  so  far  applications  of  18472 beneficiaries have been sanctioned under the scheme. Also, Central Sector Production Linked Incentive Scheme for  Food  Processing  Industry  (PLISFPI),  implemented  by  MoFPI,  is  targeted  to  facilitate expansion of food processing capacity by creating champion brands in Food Processing Sector with total outlay of Rs 10,900 Cr for a period of 6 years (2021-22 to 2026-27). A total of 180 proposals have been approved for assistance under different categories of PLISFPI.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 902 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-07
Subject: Pokkali Rice
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Hibi Eden

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 902

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07 TH  FEBRUARY, 2023

## POKKALI RICE

902.  SHRI HIBI EDEN:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान काण मंी be pleased to state : (a) whether  the  Government  is  planning  to  include  pokkali  rice  agriculture  in  the  RKVY scheme to increase the infrastructure of paddy fields; (b) whether the Government has recommended the help of forest department to prevent bird attacks on paddy fields; (c) if so, whether the Government has taken any action in setting up of a board to prevent wastewater coming from the industrial sector to the paddy field; (d) whether the Government is making plans to get a global market for pokkali rice and its associated agricultural product prawns and if so, the details thereof; and whether the pokkali rise cultivation would be linked with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Scheme  (MGNREGS)  to  ensure  the  job  security  of  pokkali

## ANSWER

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

(a) to  (c):  Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (RKVY)  provides  flexibility  and  autonomy  to  the States in planning and implementing State specific interventions across agriculture sectors as per their needs and priorities under this scheme. State Government of Kerala is implementing projects under RKVY to improve the infrastructure facilities in the paddy fields including Pokkali paddy fields.  States can also devise, approve and implement projects best suitable to protect the paddy field from wastewater as well as from the attack of wild animals etc. under RKVY. (d)  &  (e):  Government  of  Kerala  is  providing  assistance  for  land  preparation  of  fallow  land paddy  cultivation  only  through  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee Scheme  (MGNREGS)  Scheme  at  present.  Government  of  India  has  granted  Geographical Indicator tag to Pokkali Rice. Pokkali rice producers have been facilitated to get registered with Agricultural  and  Processed  Food  Products  Export  Development  Authority  (APEDA)  as  an exporter  for  promotion  of  Pokkali  rice  and  its  value-added  products  with  an  objective  to

- promote the Pokkali rice cultivation.
- (e) farmers?
- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 900 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-07
Subject: Exploitations of Women Wrestlers
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Sajda Ahmed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS) LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.900 ANSWERED ON 07/02/2023

Exploitations of Women Wrestlers

900. SHRIMATI SAJDA AHMED:

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

(a) whether the Government has taken note of alleged exploitations of women  wrestlers  by  coaches  and  office  bearers  of  the  federations; and

(b) if so, the details of action taken by the Government?

## THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

## ANSWER (SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR)

(a)  &  (b)  Yes,  Sir.  Some  wrestlers  staged  protest/  dharna  levelling allegations of sexual harassment, arbitrariness and mismanagement in the functioning of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).

As the matter pertained to the well-being of the athletes, the Ministry immediately took note of the allegations and instructed the Executive Committee of WFI to abstain, as an interim measure, from administering and managing the day-to-day activities of the Federation. Further, as a purely interim measure, the Government has appointed  an  Oversight  Committee  headed  by  Ms.  M.C.  Mary  Kom, Major  Dhyanchand  Khel  Ratna  Awardee  and  Olympic  Medallist,  to enquire into the allegations of sexual misconduct, harassment and / or intimidation, financial irregularities and administrative lapses, levelled by prominent sportspersons; and to undertake day-to-day administration of WFI.

****