opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3218 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-06
Subject: Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreements
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Poonam (Mahajan) Vajendla Rao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3218 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06/08/2021

## INTER-GOVERNMENTAL BILATERAL AGREEMENTS

## 3218.  SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ǒव£ान और Ĥौƭोिगकȧ मंğी be pleased to state:

- (a)       whether it is a fact that the Government has launched any programmes to support bi-national Science and Technology Centres which are independent entities established under inter-Governmental bilateral agreements during the
- last three years;
- (b)       if so, the details thereof, country-wise;
- (c)     the various modes of cooperation in selected areas of mutual interest with different countries/ organizations under these programmes; and
- (d)          the  number  of  Indian  scientists  who  are  engaged  in  collaborative scientific  research  under  these  bilateral  agreements  during  the  last  three years?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

ǒव£ान और Ĥौƭोिगकȧ तथा पृØवी ǒव£ान क े राÏय मंğी ( èवतंğ Ĥभार) (डॉ . ǔजतɅġ िसंह)

- (a)  & (b): The Government has not launched any programmes to support binational  Science  and  Technology  Centres  which  are  independent  entities established  under  inter-Governmental  bilateral  agreements  during  the  last three  years.  However,  Department  of  Science  &  Technology  has  three  bi-

national Centers, namely (i) Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research (CEFIPRA) launched in 1985 (ii) Indo-US Science & Technology Fund (IUSSTF) - launched in 2000 and (iii) The Indo-German Science & Technology Centre (IGSTC) - launched in 2010.

- (c)  The various modes of cooperation under these bilateral centres include Joint Research Projects, collaborative Scientific Research Network programme,  Joint  Academia-Industry  Research  &  Development  programme, Joint  Seminar/workshops/  training,  Fellowship  programme  etc.  in  selected areas such as advance manufacturing, embedded system & ICT, sustainable energy/  environment,  biotechnology/bio-economy,  bio-medical  technology, water  &  wastewater  technology,  additive  manufacturing,  AI  &  Big  Data, Quantum Materials, Cyber security, Machine learning, Ecosystems and Humanenvironment interactions, Engineering and Systems Sciences and depending upon agreement with the partner countries.
- (d) As per the available reports, around 974 Indian scientists are engaged in collaborative scientific research under these bilateral agreements during the last three years.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3217 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-06
Subject: Cotton in Telangana
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Nama Nageswara Rao

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3217 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2021

## COTTON IN TELANGANA

## 3217. SHRI NAMA NAGESWARA RAO:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री be pleased to state :

(a) whether the cotton grown in Telangana is the lengthiest and hardest and it is one of the best cotton available in the country for manufacturing fine yarns, if so, the details thereof; and

(b)  the  details  of  steps  taken  by  the  Government  in  branding  Telangana  cotton  as  a premium cotton at international markets including setting up of cotton research centres in Warangal and Adilabad?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER वस्त्र राज् य मंत्री ( श्रीमती दर्शना जरदोर् )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TEXTILES (SMT. DARSHANA JARDOSH)

(a): Some of the cotton produced in India like Suvin (37-39mm), DCH-32 (34-36MM) etc. are longest in length and suitable for manufacturing finer yarn. Mostly, 32.5 mm to 36mm cotton  is  grown  in  some  parts  of  Tamilnadu,  Karnataka,  Madhya  Pradesh  and Rajasthan.  However,  in  Telangana,  generally  28mm  to  31mm  staple  length  cotton  is grown which is long staple cotton.

(b): The Government of India initiated a step for promotion of Indian Cotton under the brand  name  'KASTURI  COTTON  INDIA'  through  Textiles  Committee.  ICARCIRCOT  provided  necessary  technical  support  in  the  form  of  test  parameters  and acceptance criteria for branding of Indian cotton. The proposal for setting up centers of ICAR- All India Coordinated Research Project on Cotton at Warangal and Adilabad has been  initiated  for  conceptualization  by  the  Department  of  Agriculture  and  Research, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3216 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-06
Subject: Malnourished Children in Tribal Areas
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Krishna Pal Singh Yadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3216

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2021

## MALNOURISHED CHILDREN IN TRIBAL AREAS

3216.  DR. KRISHNA PAL SINGH YADAV:

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

- (a) the number of tribal children having access to Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS);
- (b) whether  any  special  funds  have  been  allocated  for  malnourished  tribal children and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  details  of  the  Government  run  programmes for  malnourished children in Madhya Pradesh?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) According  to  data  on  ICDS-RRS  portal,  the  number  of  tribal  children  having access to Anganwadi Services (erstwhile Integrated Child Development Scheme), as on 31 st December, 2020,  was 8391638.
- (b) Under Anganwadi Services, an amount of Rs.1323.16 crores has been released under the ST component to States/UTs during 2020-21.
- (c) Under Anganwadi Services, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, severely malnourished  children  in  the  age  group  of  6  months  to  6  years  are  given  food supplement of 800 calories of energy and 20 - 25 gms of protein.  Apart from this, the  State  Government  of  Madhya  Pradesh  is  providing  third  meal  to  all  identified severe underweight children based on monthly growth. Further, the State has started Integrated Management  of  Acute  Malnourished  Children  (I-MAM)  to  facilitate treatment  and  management  at  health  facility  (NRC)  for  all  identified  SAM  children with medical complications.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3212 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-06
Subject: Supplementary Nutrition Under NFSA
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Mitesh Rameshbhai (Bakabhai) Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3212

TO BE ANSWERED ON 6.08.2021

## SUPPLEMENTARY NUTRITION UNDER NFSA

## 3212.  SHRI MITESH RAMESHBHAI PATEL (BAKABHAI):

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

- (a) whether the National Food Security Act, 2013 passed by the Parliament aims to supply nutritional food to women and children, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the State Governments are not providing supplementary nutritional meal regularly to every pregnant women during entire period of their pregnancy and to lactating mothers upto six month after the birth of child and to every child upto the age of six, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether supplementary nutritional meal is provided on the basis of 300 days in a year;
- (d) if so, whether reduction in the period of providing supplementary nutritional meal is a violation of the provision of National Food Security Act, 2013; and
- (e) if so, the action taken by the Government for violation of the Act?

## ANSWER

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

(a)& (b) The entitlements referred to in Sections 4,5 and Section 6 of the National Food Security  Act,  2013  are  provided  under  the  Supplementary  Nutritional  Programme  of Anganwadi  Services   of  the  Central  Government  to  pregnant  women  and  lactating mothers till six months after child birth, and to every child in the age group of six months to six years.

(c)  to  (e)  Supplementary  Nutrition  (SNP)  is  provided  for  300  days  in   a  year. SNP provided to the beneficiaries is in the form of supplementary food and not a full meal and has been primarily designed to bridge the gap between the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) and the Average Daily Intake (ADI).  Moreover, Anganwadi Centres are  also  not  open  for  all  365  days  in  a  year.  Further,  this  Ministry  has  also,   vide communication dated 13.01.2021, issued streamlining guidelines to all States/UTs on quality assurance, roles and responsibilities of Duty Holders, procedure for procurement,  integrating  AYUSH  concepts  and  data  management  and  monitoring through `Poshan Tracker'  for transparency, efficiency and accountability in delivery of Supplementary Nutrition.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3211 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-06
Subject: GST Rate on Cinema Exhibition
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Margani Bharat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3211 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2021

## GST RATE ON CINEMA EXHIBITION

3211: SHRI MARGANI BHARAT:

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

- (a) the pre-GST rate of taxation on cinema exhibition in the country, State/UT-wise;
- (b)  whether Multiplex Association of India, Producers   GUILD  of  India  and  others  have been representing to bring down GST rate on cinema exhibition to 18 percent;
- (c)  if so, the details thereof and action taken by the Ministry thereon;
- (d)  whether  it  is  true  that  28  percent  GST  is  a  punitive  rate  of  tax  which  discourages cinema-goers; and
- (e)  if so, whether any discussions have been held with Finance Ministry and GST Council in this regard and if so, the details and outcome thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS [SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR]

(a) to (e) : In the pre GST era, the entertainment tax levied on Cinema Exhibition varied from State to State. The  weighted  average  of entertainment  tax  on  admission  to  cinema,  based  on  Gross  State Domestic Product (GSDP) data, was more than 30%.

Representations have been received from the Producers Guild of India and others inter alia requesting for reduction in the GST rate on cinema exhibition. On the recommendations of the GST Council, the GST rate on service by way of admission to cinema exhibition has been reduced w.e.f. 01.01.2019 to 12%, if the price of admission ticket is upto Rs. 100 and  to  18%,  if  the  price  of  admission  ticket  is  above  Rs.  100.  The rationalisation  of  GST  rates  has  been  widely  welcomed  by  the  film industry.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3208 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-06
Subject: Impact of COVID on Anganwadi Services
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Vellalath Kochukrishnan Nair. Sreekandan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION NO: 3208

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2021

## IMPACT OF COVID ON ANGANWADI SERVICES

## 3208 : SHRI V.K.SREEKANDAN

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  conduct  a  survey  on  the  impact  of pandemic on anganwadi services and malnutrition levels among children, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  collected  feedback  from  the  States  on  Poshan Tracker; and
- (c) if so the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (c)  Anganwadi  Centres are  closed due to Covid-19 pandemic. No survey has been  planned  on  ground,  as  human  interaction  has  been  minimised  to  control  the spread  of  virus.  However,  to  ensure  continuous  nutritional  support  to  Anganwadi beneficiaries, Anganwadi Workers and Helpers are distributing Supplementary Nutrition at the doorsteps of beneficiaries once in 15 days.

This Ministry has launched "Poshan Tracker' in March, 2021,  a robust ICT enabled digital  platform,   to  ensure  real  time  monitoring  of  supplementary  nutrition  by  use  of data  analytics  for  prompt  supervision  and  management  of  services,  tracking  of  all AWCs, AWWs and beneficiaries on defined indicators.

The  Poshan  tracker  has  provision  for  an  integrated  helpline  for  taking  feedback  of beneficiaries,  frontline  functionaries  &  from  States/UTs.  More  than  50,000  feedback /queries have been received on Poshan Tracker since March 2021, which have been resolved. Support System has been established at National Level to facilitate adoption challenges faced by States.

Further,  Ministry  has  sent  a  communication  to  States/UTs  regarding  appointment  of nodal person for provide technical support to States/UTs and resolution of issues of downloading/functioning of the new Poshan Tracker.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3201 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-06
Subject: Multi Speciality Hospital in Bhagalpur
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Ajay Kumar Mandal

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3201 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6th August 2021

## 'Multi Speciality Hospital in Bhagalpur'

## 3201.   Shri Ajay Kumar Mandal:

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

(a) the status of initiation of the work of multi specialty hospital proposed under centrally sponsored scheme in Bhagalpur, Bihar; and

(b) the time by which the work is likely to be started?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  &  (b)  Government  of  India  has  sanctioned  up-gradation  of  existing  Government Medical College (GMC) at Bhagalpur, Bihar under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana  (PMSSY).    This  includes  setting  up  of  a  202  bedded  Super  Specialty  Block (SSB) with 7 Super Speciality departments, viz. Nephrology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Urology,   Cardiology, CTVS and Trauma & Emergency medicine, with 9 Major OTs and 42 ICU beds. Work on the project has already started and progress of construction is 75% as on 31-7-2021.

*********
Lok Sabha Question No. 3198 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-06
Subject: National Early Childhood Care and Education Policy
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Girish Bhalchandra Bapat, Pritam Gopinath Munde, Rahul Ramesh Shewale

## GOVERNEMNT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 3198

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2021

## NATIONAL EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION POLICY

3198.  SHRI GIRISH BHALCHANDRA BAPAT: DR. PRITAM GOPINATHRAO MUNDE: SHRI RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE:

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

- (a) whether  the  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  had  introduced  the National  Early  Childhood  Care  and  Education  Policy  to  monitor  preschool education that is being provided in educational institutions under different names such as play schools, pre-schools, nursery schools etc., if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  any  assessment  has  been  conducted  in  this  regard,  if  so,  the  details thereof along with the guidelines to regulate pre-school education; and
- (c) whether the  guidelines  cover  issues  such  as  teacher-student  ratio,  curriculum, infrastructure and the age of admission to pre-schools apart from the safety and security aspects and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (C):    Early Childhood Care and Education Policy (ECCE)  is one of the six free services  provided  to  children  in  the  age  group  of  3-6  years  under  Anganwadi Services.   Under  this,  pre-school  Education  kits  are  provided  to  all  AWCs  and  MiniAWCs @ Rs.5000/- per AWC per annum for meeting the cost of PSE Kit, activity books, training,  etc.  Under  New  Education  Policy  (NEP),  2020, to  make  the  child  school ready this Ministry has convergence with Department of School Education & Literacy to promote high quality ECCE as envisaged under NEP 2020.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3195 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-06
Subject: Shortage of Ambulance Service in Rural Areas
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Jugal Kishore Sharma, Geeta Kora, Dileshwar Kamait

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOKSABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3195 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6 TH AUGUST, 2021

## 'SHORTAGE OF AMBULANCE SERVICE IN RURAL AREAS'

3195:  SHRI JUGAL KISHORE SHARMA: SHRIMATI GEETA KORA: SHRI DILESHWAR KAMAIT:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to formulate any scheme for financing ambulance service under National Health Mission and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the number of general and critical care ambulances provided to Jharkhand and Bihar under National Health Mission during each of the last three years; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to meet the shortage of ambulance service in the country especially in rural areas?

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

- (a) to (c) 'Public Health and Hospitals' being a State subject, the primary responsibility  of  strengthening  public  healthcare  system,  including  efforts  to  have required  number  of  ambulances  especially  in  rural  areas  lies  with  the  respective State/UT Governments.  However, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides the  technical  and  financial  support  to  the  States/UTs  to  strengthen  their  public healthcare system.

Under  National  Health  Mission,  States/UTs  are  being  supported  to  supplement  their efforts  including  the  provision  of  Basic  Life  Support  and  Advance  Life  Support ambulances, including in rural areas, based on the requirements posted by States/UTs in  their  Programme  Implementation  Plans  (PIPs)  and  within  the  overall  resource envelope. A statement showing the number of ambulances supported under NHM in the State of

Jharkhand and Bihar for last three years as reported by states is annexed.

## Annexure

Number of ambulances supported under NHM in the State of Jharkhand and Bihar for last three years as reported by States

| Sr.   | Financial   | Bihar                    | Bihar                      | Jharkhand                | Jharkhand                  |
|-------|-------------|--------------------------|----------------------------|--------------------------|----------------------------|
| No.   | Year        | Basic Life Support (BLS) | Advance Life Support (ALS) | Basic Life Support (BLS) | Advance Life Support (ALS) |
| 1     | 2018-19     | 963                      | 63                         | 287                      | 50                         |
| 2     | 2019-20     | 1179                     | 110                        | 287                      | 50                         |
| 3     | 2020-21     | 1209                     | 170                        | 287                      | 50                         |
Lok Sabha Question No. 3194 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-06
Subject: Medicinal Plants
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Nalin Kumar Kateel

(a): Yes.

(b): Yes, Sir, the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India had implemented Centrally Sponsored Scheme  of  the  National  Ayush  Mission  (NAM)  since  2015-16  to  2020-21  through  State Implementing Agency. Under the Medicinal Plants Component of the National Ayush Mission scheme,  the  Ministry  of  Ayush  had  supported  subsidy@30%,  50%  and  75%  of  the  cost  of cultivation per hectare for 140 prioritized medicinal plants species on farmer's land.

The Ministry of Ayush had supported 22,003 number of farmers involved in cultivation of  medicinal  plants  during  the  financial  year  2018-19  to  2020-21  and  the  detail  is  given  in Annexure - I . The detail of subsidy given by the Ministry of Ayush to the farmers through the State  Implementing  Agencies  for  cultivation  of  medicinal  plants  under  the  National  Ayush Mission Scheme is given in Annexure - II .

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 3194 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06 TH  AUGUST, 2021

## MEDICINAL PLANTS

## 3194.  SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL:

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  the  Government  is  promoting  Ayurveda,  Siddha,  Unani  and Homeopathy in the country; and

(b) whether the Government has any estimate of the number of farmers involved in cultivation of medicinal plants and have received the benefits under the AYUSH scheme and if so, the details thereof during the last three years?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF AYUSH (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

Annexure - I Number of farmers supported by the Ministry of Ayush for cultivation of Medicinal Plants under National Ayush Mission Scheme

|   Sl.No. | Financial Year   |   No. of farmers |
|----------|------------------|------------------|
|        1 | 2018-19          |            10327 |
|        2 | 2019-20          |            10441 |
|        3 | 2020-21          |             1235 |

Annexure - II

The  detail  of  subsidy  given  by  the  Ministry  of  Ayush  to  the  farmers  through  the  State Implementing Agencies for cultivation of medicinal plantsunder National Ayush Mission Scheme

|   Sl. No. | Financial Year   |   Physical (Area in hectare) |   Financial (Rs. in lakh) |
|-----------|------------------|------------------------------|---------------------------|
|         1 | 2018-19          |                         9958 |                   2123.83 |
|         2 | 2019-20          |                         6794 |                   2155.89 |
|         3 | 2020-21          |                         8356 |                   2025.56 |