opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 5094 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-03
Subject: Climate Change Effects
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Vijayakumar (alias) Vijay Vasanth, Pallab Lochan Das

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 5094

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.04.2023

## Climate Change Effects

## 5094.   SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR ALIAS VIJAY VASANTH: SHRI PALLAB LOCHAN DAS:

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

- (a) whether it is fact that occurrences of landslides and flash floods have increased Especially in Northeast and other hilly areas in the recent past, if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) whether the Government have formed a Committee to study the reasons for such Frequent landslides and flash floods and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) As per the information from the Department of Science and Technology (DST), landslide and  cloudbursts,  which  may  lead  to  flash  floods,  are  common  in  the  hilly  areas,  and  their frequency  and  magnitudes  have  increased  under  the  present  climate  change  scenario.  The Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), Dehradun-an autonomous institute under the DST-has  prepared  the  hazards  and  risk  maps  of  the  hilly  states  such  as  Uttarakhand  and Himachal  Pradesh,  townships  like  Mussoorie  and  Nainital,  and  many  rivers  transacts  like Bhagirathi valley, Kali valley, Goriganga valley, etc. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has  also  launched  a  programme  on  National  Landslide  Susceptibility  Mapping  (NLSM) to prepare landslide inventory and landslide susceptibility map for areas prone to landslides.
- (b)  No  such  Committee  has  been  constituted  by  the  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and Climate Change.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5092 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-03
Subject: STs List of Odisha
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Pinaki Misra

## 5092. SHRI PINAKI MISRA:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether  the  Union  Government  has  received  one  hundred  sixty  nine  proposals  from  the Government of Odisha for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes List of Odisha;
- (b)  whether it is a fact that a Task Force of Ministry of Tribal Affairs in 2014 recommended nine proposals from Odisha as priority cases for inclusion in the STs List of Odisha;
- (c)   if so, the reasons for non-inclusion of these communities till date;
- (d)   whether the Government is considering updating the criteria for inclusion in the STs List which is based on the Lokur Committee recommendations from 1965; and
- (e)   if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU)

(a) to (e): The Government of India has approved the modalities for deciding the claims for inclusion in,  exclusion  from  and  other  modifications  in  the  Orders  specifying  lists  of  Scheduled  Tribes. According to these modalities,  only those  proposals  which  have been  recommended and justified, along  with  ethnographic  details  by  the  State  Government/UT  Administration  concerned,  can  be processed further. Thereafter, it has to be concurred with by the Office of Registrar General of India (ORGI)  and  the  National  Commission  for  Scheduled  Tribes  (NCST)  before  being  considered  for amendment legislation. These modalities are adequate for consideration of proposals for inclusion of communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes of a State/UT.

All these proposals have been preliminarily examined in meetings held by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs  with  concerned  officers  of  the  State  Government  of  Odisha.   In  respect  of  120  proposals, relevant information/supporting report needs to be made available by the State Government. The status has been conveyed to the State Government.

*****

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED NO- 5092

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 03/04/2023

## STs LIST OF ODISHA
Lok Sabha Question No. 5091 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-03
Subject: TRIFED
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Kuruva Gorantla Madhav, Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 5091

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 03/04/2023

## TRIFED

## 5091.  SHRI KURUVA GORANTLA MADHAV: SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :

- (a) the number of retail outlets of Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) institutions in the country along with the number of such outlets in Andhra Pradesh;
- (b) the total amount of purchases and sales made by TRIFED in the last three years;
- (c) the details of the agencies involved therein and the number of tribals and forest dwellers who benefited from the scheme in Andhra Pradesh, district-wise; and
- (d)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  increase  the  income  of  tribals  associated  with  the TRIFED?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SMT RENUKA SINGH SARUTA)

- (a) to (b): As on date, the number of retail outlets of Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) in the country, including franchise and consignment, is 119 out of which 2 outlets are located in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The details of purchase and sales made by TRIFED in the last three years is as under:
- (c)  to  (d): To  promote  the  livelihood  and  enhance  the  income  of  tribal  population  TRIFED procures the tribal produce / products from its empanelled suppliers / producers and markets them through  their  retail  outlets  and  also  through  the  exhibitions  organized  in  various  parts  of  the country. For this purpose, TRIFED has made institutional arrangements with Aajeevika Mission of Ministry of Rural Development, Regional Offices of Development Commissioner (Handicraft & Handloom) etc. The total number of suppliers / producers empanelled with TRIFED so far is 2297 including 93 suppliers of the state of Andhra Pradesh.

| Year      |   Purchase (Rs in lakhs) |   Sale (Rs in Lakhs) |
|-----------|--------------------------|----------------------|
| 2019-2020 |                  5094.65 |              4029.3  |
| 2020-2021 |                  1651.72 |              3012.75 |
| 2021-2022 |                  2900.33 |              4342.32 |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5090 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-03
Subject: Fruit Trees Plantation on Barren Lands
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Alok Kumar Suman

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTIO N NO. 5090

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.04.2023

## Fruit Trees Plantation on Barren Lands

## 5090.   DR. ALOK KUMAR SUMAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government is planning to utillise barren lands to plant fruit trees like mango, jamun, etc. in the entire country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  study  to  utilise  barren  lands  for planting fruit trees to remove poverty of the country and for exporting the surplus fruits, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government has any proposal to increase the plantation of fruit trees in all  States  including  Bihar  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (d) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) encourages plantation on suitable barren & waste land through programmes and schemes such as National Mission for a Green India (GIM), Nagar Van Yojana, School  Nursery  Yojana,  Compensatory  Afforestation  Fund  Management  and Planning  Authority  (CAMPA),  etc.  which  promote  tree  plantation  on  vacant lands  and  bunds  on  farm  lands  etc.  by  involving  local  communities,  NGOs, educational institutions, local bodies, etc.

Studies and researches are being undertaken by many agencies/institutes of the Ministry  and  various  other  Ministries  and  State  governments,  including  forest departments,  the  findings/outcomes  of  which  are  supplementing  need-based development  of  forests  including  policy/scheme  formulation.  However,  no specific study to utilise barren lands for planting fruit trees has been conducted by the Ministry.

Tree plantation, being a multi-departmental, multi-agency activity, are taken up cross-sectorally under various programmes/funding sources of MoEFCC, other ministries/  organizations  and  also  through  State  Plan  budgets  including  Bihar State. The plantation species is selected by the implementing agencies as per the scheme  guidelines  and  on  the  basis  of  their  needs,  ecological  conditions  and other local factors in consultation with the Forest Department. The native forest species  are  encouraged  for  plantation  in  the  forest  areas  giving  importance  to trees with multiple uses including fruit bearing trees.
Lok Sabha Question No. 5086 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-03
Subject: Policy on Migrant Workers during Covid-19 in Uttar Pradesh
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Keshari Devi Patel, Sanghamitra Maurya

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5086 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.04.2023

## POLICY ON MIGRANT WORKERS DURING COVID-19 IN UTTAR PRADESH

†5086. SHRIMATI KESHARI DEVI PATEL:

DR. SANGHMITRA MAURYA:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)the number of people benefited by the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) launched in March, 2020 for the migrant workers during COVID-19 pandemic;
- (b)the  details  of  the  fund  spent  on  the  said  scheme,  State/UT-wise particularly in Uttar Pradesh;
- (c)whether the Government has conducted any survey on the problems being faced by the migrant workers, if so, the details of the workplaces where the said workers are facing the problems;
- (d)whether  the  Government  proposes  to  formulate  any  substantial policy on migrant workers in future, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)the  details  of  the  measures  taken  to  rescue  and  protect  the  said workers?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a) to (e): The Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan (GKRA) was launched in 116  selected  districts  across  6  States  namely  Bihar,  Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, on 20th June 2020,  for  a  period  of  125  days,  with  resource  envelop  of  Rs.  50,000 crore  to  boost  employment  and  livelihood  opportunities  for  migrant workers  returning  to  villages  and  similarly  affected  citizens  in  rural area. The GKRA ended on 22nd October, 2020. A total of 50.78 crore person-days employment were provided with a total expenditure of Rs. 39,293 crore during the Abhiyaan.

## The  State-wise  details  of  expenditure  incurred  under  the Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan are given as below :

| Sl.No.   | State          | Expenditure (Rs. in crore)   |
|----------|----------------|------------------------------|
| 1        | BIHAR          | 10,992                       |
| 2        | JHARKHAND      | 1,396                        |
| 3        | MADHYA PRADESH | 6,819                        |
| 4        | ODISHA         | 2,042                        |
| 5        | RAJASTHAN      | 8,715                        |
| 6        | UTTAR PRADESH  | 9,330                        |
| Total    | Total          | 39,293                       |

In  order  to  safeguard  the  interest  of  the  migrant  workers, the Central Government had enacted the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979. This Act  has  now  been  subsumed  in  the  Occupational  Safety,  Health  and Working  Conditions  (OSH)  Code,  2020.  The  OSH  Code,  provides  for decent  working  conditions,  minimum  wages,  grievances  redressal mechanisms, toll free helpline, protection from abuse and exploitation, and  social  security  to  all  category  of  organized  and  unorganized workers including migrant workers.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5082 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-03
Subject: 16th Finance Commission
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Ritesh Pandey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5082 TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY 03 th  April, 2023 [Chaitra 13, 1945 (Saka)]

'16th Finance Commission'

## No.   5082.  Shri Ritesh Pandey

Will the Minister of Finance be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is planning to constitute 16th Finance Commission in the year 2023 and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) the  terms  of  references  of  the  said  Commission  and  the  year  of  data  to  be referenced by them;
- (c) whether the  16th  Finance  Commission  would  work  in  tandem  with  the  GST council with regard to the Council's decisions on tax rate changes that could alter  the  revenue  calculations  made  by  the  Commission  for  sharing  fiscal resources and if so, the details thereof and if not, reasons therefor; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  take  up  the  matter  of  the  NorthSouth divide with respect to the devolution of taxes, a concern raised by the Southern States on being unfairly  treated  by  the  Commission  and  if  so,  the details and if not, reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

- (a)            :  Yes, Sir.
- (b) to (d) : The terms of reference and other modalities are governed under Article 280 of the  Constitution.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 5080 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-03
Subject: Implications of removing the Minimum Threshold on Online Gaming Platforms
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Rajveer (Raju Bhaiya) Singh, Bhola Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5080

TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, APRIL 3, 2023/ CHAITRA 13, 1945 (SAKA)

## IMPLICATIONS OF REMOVING THE MINIMUM THRESHOLD ON ONLINE GAMING PLATFORMS

5080. SHRI RAJVEER SINGH (RAJU BHAIYA):

SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO:

SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK:

SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR:

DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR:

DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

a) whether the Government is aware of the implications of removing the minimum threshold on online gaming platforms for the ease of doing business and if so, the details thereof and

the reaction of the Government thereto;

b)  the  measures  taken  by  the  Government to promote the online gaming industry given its huge potential to add value to the GDP of the country;

c) the reasons for removing minimum threshold of Rs. 10,000 under Section 194BA of the

Finance Bill, 2023 pertaining to TDS applicable on online gaming while the threshold of Rs.

10,000  was  retained  for  betting  and  gambling  under  Sections  194B  and  194BB  for  TDS

purposes;

- d) the provisions applicable to online gaming Industry under the Finance Bill, 2023;

e) whether these provisions will enable ease of doing business for the said sector and if so, the details thereof; and

- f)  the  steps proposed to be  taken by the Government to promote the growth of this sunrise sector?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY) (a), (b), (c) and (d): Finance Act 2023 has amended section 194B of the Income-tax Act (the Act) relating to winnings from lottery or crossword puzzle etc. and section 194BB of the Act relating  to  winnings  from  horse  race  to  provide  that  deduction  of  tax  under  the  aforesaid sections shall be on the amount or aggregate of the amounts exceeding Rs. 10,000/- during the financial year. Further, vide the Finance Act 2023, online games have been removed from the purview of section 194B of the Act and section 194BA has been inserted in the Act with effect from 1 st April 2023, to provide for tax deduction at source (TDS) at the rate of 30% on 'net winnings' from  online  games.  The  minimum  threshold  of  Rs.  10,000/-  has  been  removed  since  TDS under section 194BA of the Act is applicable on the 'net winnings' in the user account. In  addition,  vide  Finance  Act  2023,  section  115BBJ  has  been  inserted  in  the  Act  which provides for taxation at a rate of 30% on net winnings from online games. (e) and (f): The Government has provided certainty in taxation for the online gaming sector which will enable ease of doing business and will help the industry in its growth.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5072 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-03
Subject: Health Insurance Penetration
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: M V V Satyanarayana

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5072

ANSWERED ON - 3.4.2023

## HEALTH INSURANCE PENETRATION

5072. SHRI M.V.V. SATYANARAYANA:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of persons covered under Health Insurance during the Financial Year 2021-22;
- (b) whether it is a fact that Health Insurance penetration is considerably low in the country;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to create awareness about health insurance policies in the country?

## ANSWER

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

(a): Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has informed that during the financial year (FY) 2021-22, the number of persons covered under health Insurance is 52.04 crore.

(b) and (c): IRDAI has informed that the overall general insurance penetration (including health insurance segment) in the country during FY 2021-22 is 1%, out of which 0.34% is contributed by the health insurance segment.

(d): IRDAI has informed that it has adopted a multi-pronged approach using print and electronic media  to  enhance  consumer  awareness  on  various  aspects  of  insurance including  Health Insurance on Pan India basis and encouraging all stakeholders to promote insurance awareness among the public. The following are some of the initiatives:

- i. Consumer Education Website is in place for general public and policyholders as single point reference for dissemination of information about consumer guidance and protection. Handbooks, comic books and FAQs relating to insurance including health insurance are available at this website ( www.policyholder.gov.in),
- ii. Pan India Insurance Awareness Campaign through print and electronic media on Motor, Health, Rural and Property Insurance was sponsored by General Insurance Council in English, Hindi and various other languages,
- iii. Distribution of insurance education material in various financial inclusion and insurance education programmes and seminars being organized by various stakeholders,
- iv. IRDAI has also advised all insurers to have a Board approved insurance awareness policy for  dissemination  of  insurance  education  and  made  it  as  part  of  IRDAI  (Protection  of Policyholders' Interests) Regulations, 2017.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5067 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-03
Subject: Propagation of Regional Languages
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Harsimrat Kaur Badal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 5067

ANSWERED ON - 03/04/2023

## PROPAGATION OF REGIONAL LANGUAGES

5067.  SHRIMATI HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  steps  taken  by  Government  for  propagation  of  Regional  Languages  in  the country;
- (b) whether the Government has any proposal or taken any steps for propagation of Regional Language Gurmukhi;

(c) if so, the details thereof; (d) whether the Government has any plan for propagation of Gurmukhi; and

- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUBHAS SARKAR)

(a):  The  National  Education  Policy  (NEP),  2020  focuses  on  the  promotion  of  all scheduled  and  non-scheduled  Indian  Languages.  NEP,  2020  provides,  wherever possible, for medium of instruction to be in the home language/mother tongue/local language upto at least class 5 and preferably upto class 8.  The policy also provides for  making  available  high  quality  text  books  in  home  language/mother  tongue  and encouraging teachers to use bilingual approach while teaching. Government of India has  taken  number  of  steps  for  the  promotion  of  Regional  Languages.  National Eligibility  cum  Entrance  Test  (NEET)  has  been  conducted  in  13  languages.  Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) which was conducted in 3 languages earlier is now conducted in 13 languages.  Technical education is being imparted in certain All India Council for  Technical  Education  (AICTE)  approved  institutions    in  8  regional  languages. Course material including text books and teaching resource are available on Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing (DIKSHA) portal in 33 Indian languages.

(b) to (e): Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) works for the promotion of all Indian languages including Scheduled/Non-Scheduled languages, Classical Languages and Regional Languages. Gurmukhi is a script and not a language. It is used to write Punjabi language.  CIIL works for the promotion of Punjabi language under its various schemes and projects.

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