opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 186 (STARRED), answered on 2023-08-02
Subject: Vande Bharat Train Service in Kerala
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Suresh Kodikunnil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 186 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2023

## VANDE BHARAT TRAIN SERVICE IN KERALA

- *186. SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  intends  to  introduce  new  stops  to Vande Bharat express service in Kerala;
- (b) if  so,  whether  the  Government  intends  further  to  include Chengannur  railway  station  in  the  stoppage  schedule  of  Vande Bharat service;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  soiling  and  tampering resorted to in Vande Bharat express train in Kerala; and
- (d)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and the total number of Vande Bharat trains that have been vandalized till date in the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 186 BY SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH TO BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  02.08.2023  REGARDING  VANDE BHARAT TRAIN SERVICE IN KERALA (a)  &   (b)  Railway  network  straddle  across  State  boundaries  and trains  are  introduced  across  State  boundaries  as  per  network requirement.  20633/20634  Kasaragod  -Thiruvananthapuram  Vande Bharat Express, already has scheduled stoppages at seven stations viz. Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam Town, Thrisur, Shoranur, Kozhikode  and  Kannur,   located  in  the  State  of  Kerala.  Further, Chengannur is presently being served by 76 train services. Besides, stoppages  of  train services is  an  ongoing  process  on  Indian Railways subject to operational feasibility, traffic justification etc. (c)  &  (d)  'Police'  and  'Public  Order'  are  State  subjects  under  the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India and, therefore, State Governments are responsible for prevention, detection, registration and  investigation  of  crime  and  maintenance  of  law  and  order  on Railways through their law enforcement agencies viz. Government Railway Police (GRP)/District Police. Railway Protection Force (RPF) supplements  the  efforts  of  GRP/District  Police  to  provide  better protection  and  security  to  railway  property,  passenger  area  and passengers and for matters connected therewith. An  incident  of  pasting  posters  on  the  window  glasses  of  Vande Bharat Express (Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod) on its inaugural run on 25.04.2023 was reported at Shoranur Railway station. In this incident,  RPF/  Shoranur  registered  case  in  Crime  No.989/2023  u/s 145 (C), 147 and 166 (b) of Railway Act against arrested 5 persons and legal action was taken against them. During the years 2019 to 2023 (up to June), 283 incidents of pelting stone  on  Vande  Bharat  trains  were  reported  over  the  Indian Railways  in  which  151  persons  have  been  arrested  followed  by  a legal course of action.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 182 (STARRED), answered on 2023-08-02
Subject: Implementation of CCTV at Railway Stations
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Tirath Singh Rawat, Sanjay Jaiswal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.182

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2023

## IMPLEMENTATION OF CCTV AT RAILWAY STATIONS

## †*182. SHRI TIRATH SINGH RAWAT: DR. SANJAY JAISWAL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  any  hurdles  are  being  faced  in  the  implementation  of Closed  Circuit  Television  (CCTV)  surveillance  system  at  all  the major railway stations across the country;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is a fact that  the  Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)  of  the  surveillance  cameras  are  reluctant  to  get  cyber security  clearance  and  not  even  a  single  camera  manufacturer got the said clearance and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether it is also true that the insistence on clearance is to rule out  vulnerability  from  OEM  outside  India  and  if  so,  the  details thereof; and
- (e) the  details  of  tenders  finalised  for  taking  up  the  work  of installation of Video Surveillance System project in the Railways?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 182 BY SHRI TIRATH SINGH RAWAT AND DR. SANJAY JAISWAL TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 02.08.2023 REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF CCTV AT RAILWAY STATIONS

(a)  to  (e)  :  CCTV  Surveillance  System  has  been  provided  at  866 Railway  Stations  for  ensuring  safe  and  secure  journey  to  Railway passengers.

Since  implementation  of  CCTV  Surveillance  System  is  an  ongoing process based on the vulnerability of premises at Railway Stations and surrounding areas, continuous effort is being made for its implementation by introducing latest technology taking care of cyber security threats.

As  the  matter  is  related  to  security  of  State,  to  rule  out  any  cyber security  related  vulnerabilities  in  the  OEM's  products  from  within  & outside the country, cyber security clearance are part of the Railway's specifications  for  Internet  Protocol  (IP)  based  Video  Surveillance System.

Tenders have been finalized for major portion of the work.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2299 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-02
Subject: Training in PSUs
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: Pashupati Nath Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF STEEL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2299

FOR ANSWER ON 02.08.2023

## TRAINING IN PSUs

2299. SHRI PASHUPATI NATH SINGH:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

(a) the total number of displaced local unemployed youths trained in the Public Sector Undertakings of the Ministry; and

- (b) the number of trained youths who have been provided employment?

## ANSWER

(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF STEEL

(a)&(b):  The data indicating number of displaced local unemployed youths trained in the Public Sector Undertakings of the Ministry and the number of trained youths who have been provided employment is as under:-

|   S. No. | Name of PSU                                     | Number of displaced local unemployed youths trained   | Number of trained youths provided employment   |
|----------|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Steel Authority of India Ltd.(SAIL)             | 2127                                                  | 1003                                           |
|        2 | Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL)            | Nil                                                   | Nil                                            |
|        3 | National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) | 791                                                   | 612                                            |
|        4 | MOIL Limited                                    | Nil                                                   | Nil                                            |
|        5 | Metal Scrap Trade Corporation(MSTC)             | Nil                                                   | Nil                                            |
|        6 | Ferro Scrap Nigam Limited (FSNL)                | Nil                                                   | Nil                                            |
|        7 | MECON Limited                                   | Nil                                                   | Nil                                            |
|        8 | Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited(KIOCL)       | Nil                                                   | Nil                                            |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2297 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-02
Subject: Import of Potatoes
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: E. T. Mohammed Basheer

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2297 ANSWERED ON 02/08/2023

## IMPORT OF POTATOES

## 2297.  SHRI E.T. MOHAMMED BASHEER:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether India is importing Potatoes from other countries; and
- (b) if so, the details of import during the year 2023 till June from different countries?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h ¼Jherh vuqfiz;k iVsy½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. India has been importing potatoes. Country-wise value of import of potatoes during last three years is as follows:

(value in US$ million)

| Sl. No:   | Country       | 2020-21   |   2021-22 | 2022-23   |
|-----------|---------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| 1         | Bhutan        | 0.03      |      0.76 | 1.02      |
| 2         | Bangladesh Pr |           |      0.01 |           |
|           | Total         | 0.03      |      0.77 | 1.02      |

Source: DGCI&S

There has been no import of potato during 2023-24 (till June, 2023).

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2296 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-02
Subject: Common Gauge for Rail Network
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Khagen Murmu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2296 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2023

COMMON GAUGE FOR RAIL NETWORK

2296. SHRI KHAGEN MURMU:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) the policy of common gauge for the rail network of the country;

(b) the  details  of  work  done  under  this  policy  since  its  inception; and

(c) the  details  of  railway  lines  where  gauge  conversion  work  is pending along with the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2296 BY SHRI KHAGEN MURMU TO BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  02.08.2023  REGARDING  COMMON GAUGE FOR RAIL NETWORK

- (a) to (c):   Brief details of the Policy for Project Uni-gauge taken up in 1992 to convert selected routes for conversion into broad gauge is as under:
- (i) To  take  up  conversion  of  lines  to  develop  alternative  Broad Gauge (BG) routes obviating the need for Doubling of existing Broad Gauge lines on these routes.
- (ii) To  establish  BG  connection  to  ports,  industrial  centers  and locations having potential for growth.
- (iii)   To take up conversion of lines required on strategic considerations.
- (iv) To minimize trans shipment and to improve wagon turn around by avoiding delays at trans shipment points.
- (v) To carry out the conversion of lines as per the above policy at least  cost  yet  providing  a  standard  of  service  not  lower  than what the rail users were getting.

As  on  01.04.1992,  Indian  Railways  had  a  network  of  27,349  Km  of Meter  Gauge  (MG)/  Narrow  Gauge  (NG)  railway  lines.  25,368  km  of MG/NG  railway  lines  have  been  converted  into  Broad  Gauge  upto 31.03.2023.

As  on  01.04.2023,  across  Indian  Railways,  39  Gauge  Conversion projects  of  total  length  5,405  Km,  costing  `48,580  crore,  are  in planning/sanction/construction stage, out of which 3,514 Km length has  been  commissioned  and  an  expenditure  of  `20,580  crore  has been incurred upto March, 2023.

The completion of any Railway project(s) depends on various factors like quick land acquisition by State Government, forest clearance by officials  of  forest  department,  deposition  of  cost  share  by  State Government  in  cost  sharing  projects,  shifting  of  infringing  utilities, statutory clearances from various authorities, geological and topographical conditions of area, law and order situation in the area of project(s) site, number of working months in a year for particular project  site  due  to  climatic  conditions  etc.  and  all  these  factors affect the completion time of the project(s).

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2295 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-02
Subject: Monitoring of PMGKAY
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Thalikkottai Rajuthevar Baalu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2295 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2ND AUGUST 1 2023

## MONITORING OF PMGKAY

## 2295a SHRI TnRa BAALU:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD  AND PUBLIC

DISTRIBUTION wvfIna VTR+, um ah 1IT&TfRq fq€wr tit  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the  Government agrees with the view that the  Pradhan Manta Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) needs to  be monitored with the help of the community to ensure sustainable nutrition security;
- (b) if so, the measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this  regard; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefore

ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSUMER AFFAIRSI FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a) to (c):  Government enacted the  National Food Security Act1 2043 which provides food and nutritional security in human life cycle approach, by  ensuring  access to  adequate  quantity of  quality food  at  affordable prices to people to live a life with dignity. The Act provides for coverage of upto 75% of the rural and upto 50% of the urban population! i.en about twothirds of the total  population of the countryl for  receiving foodgrains i.e. rice/ wheat/ coarsegrains at prices specified in Schedule-I of the Act. In addition to  this, the Act provides that pregnant women and lactating mothers and children in the age group of 6 months to 14 years are entitled to  meals as  per  prescribed nutritional norms under Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and PM-POSHAN schemes, Higher nutritional norms are prescribed for malnourished children upto 6 years of age.,

The Central Government1 in order to remove the financial  burden of the  poor beneficiaries and to  ensure nationwide uniformity  and effective implementation of the Act,  is  providing food grains free of cost  to NFSA beneficiaries i.e. Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households and Priority Households (PHH) beneficiaries! for a period of one year beginning from Ist January 2023 under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).

The Act provides for periodic social audits on the functioning of fair price  shops, Targeted Public  Distribution System and  other  welfare schemes, through local authority, or any other authority or bodyl as may be authorized by the  State  Government. The Central Government may also conduct or cause  to be  conducted social audit through independent agencies having experience in conduct of  such audits. The Act  defines "social audif· as the process in which people collectively monitor and evaluate the  planning and  implementation of  a  programme or  scheme. Thus, the Act contains necessary provisions for monitoring of schemes by the people or communityH

++++
Lok Sabha Question No. 2293 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-02
Subject: Ban on Purchase of Wheat and Rice
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Dinesh Chandra Yadav, Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2293 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2ND AUGUST, 2023

## BAN ON PURCHASE OF WHEAT AND  RICE

t2293. SHRI DINESH CHANDRA YADAV: SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND  PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION  TV VfreT TWIN @rw BiT tIT&fRqf+Tor  =m be pleased  to  state:

- (a) the reason behind the ban Imposed by the Government on purchase of
- wheat and rice by the States from Food Corporation of India (FOI);
- (b) whether the said ban will not hinder the implementation of Food Security
- scheme in the country  particularly in the  poorer States;
- (c) whether inflation in the country can be kept under check by maintaining
- higher stocks of food grains in the godowns of FeI; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to  (d): Government of  India has discontinued the  sale of rice  and wheat under Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) [OMSS (D)] to  all  State Governments w.,e,f., 13th June, 2023, barring northeast, hilly states and those facing law and order situations and natural calamities. Keeping in view the benefit of A  140 crore citizens of the country, Government of India has taken this decision to maintain adequate stock in Central Pool for distributIon under National Food Security Act  (NFSA) and other welfare schemes IOWS) amid concerns over monsoon due to  expected deficiency in rainfall caused by ElNino which will  adversely affect  Kharif crop production in  country, control inflationary trends and the ongoing geopolitical situation. Alsol it  was decided to offer rice under OMSS(D) to retail buyers for controlling the price rise in the market and thereby controlling the food inflation. However, Government is providing foodgrains to NFSA beneficiaries as per their  entitlement  free of cost as commited under Pradhan Manta Garib Kalyan Anna Yojna (PM-GK/FF) w-e-f1 st January, 2023.

Government  has  taken  various  steps  from  time  to  time  to  augment domestic availability and stabilize the prIces of essential food commodities· These steps, inter-alia, include releases of  wheat and rice under OMSS(D) from central pool stock of Food Corporation of India (FOI) to  cool down prices·

++++
Lok Sabha Question No. 2292 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-02
Subject: Privatisation of Navratna Companies
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF STEEL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2292

FOR ANSWER ON 02.08.2023

## PRIVATISATION OF NAVRATNA COMPANIES

2292. SHRI RAM MOHAN NAIDU KINJARAPU:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

- ( a) the names and details of the Navratna companies in the country which have been or are planned to be leased out to the private companies;
- (b) whether these Navratna companies have reported profit/loss during the last three years and if so, the details thereof, Navratna companies and yearwise;
- (c) the forecasted revenues to be received by the Government by such privatization of Navratna companies;
- (d) whether the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) has also been allotted to any private company and if so, the details thereof along with the period for which it is to be allotted and the price at which it is sold;
- (e) whether the norms of privatization have been discussed with the State Government of Andhra Pradesh and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (f) whether the State Government agreed to sell the plant to private companies and if so, the details thereof; and
- (g) the steps taken by the Andhra Pradesh Government to safeguard/compensate the interests of the employees?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF STEEL

(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

(a)to(c):    As per the New Public Sector Enterprise (PSE) policy for Atmanirbhar Bharat notified by the Government of India, the existing Public Sector Enterprises (PSE) have been broadly classified under Strategic and Non- Strategic Sectors. PSEs in the nonstrategic sectors shall be considered for privatization where feasible, otherwise such enterprises shall be considered for closure. A decision has been taken on strategic disinvestment of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL), a Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE), under the administrative control of the Ministry of Steel.

The profit/loss of RINL during the last three years are as under:-

(Rs. in Crs)

| Particulars             | 2020-21 #   | 2021-22   | 2022-23 ##   |
|-------------------------|-------------|-----------|--------------|
| Revenue from Operations | 18,080.88   | 28,359.35 | 22,809.40    |
| Profit Before Tax (PBT) | -1,035.96   | 941.58    | -3,236.46    |
| Profit after Tax (PAT)  | -789.10     | 913.19    | -2,858.74    |

# 2020-21 Restated PBT (-) Rs.1259.02 Crs and PAT (-) Rs.1012.16 Crs. ## Provisional subject to C&AG Audit.

(d) In line with the new PSE Policy, the Government of India has accorded an inprinciple  approval  for  100%  disinvestment  of  Government  of  India  shareholding  in RINL along with the RINL's stake in its Subsidiaries/ Joint Ventures through strategic disinvestment.

(e)to(g):   The State Government does not have any equity in RINL. However, the State Government is consulted in specific matters as and when needed and their support is also solicited in the matters that require their intervention.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2291 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-02
Subject: Simplification of System
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: C. Lalrosanga

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF PENSION & PENSIONERS' WELFARE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2291

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2023)

## SIMPLIFICATION OF SYSTEM

## 2291. SHRI C. LALROSANGA:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is true that the Government has planned a Unique Face Recognition System for pensioners of Central Government and if so, the manner in which it would benefit the Central Government Pensioners;
- (b) whether this unique System will be simplified specially for old/sick pensioners and for those living in the remote areas of North-East; and
- (c) the manner in which the Government is trying to coordinate with different Nationalised Banks so that no life certificate is required when the said system is implemented?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) to (c): Yes Sir. The Government has introduced Face Authentication Technology to submit 'Life Certificate' by Pensioners through the Jeevan Pramaan App with a view to enhance 'ease of living' for pensioners on 29 th November 2021. As per this facility, the identity of a person is established  through  face  authentication  technique  using  a  mobile  smart  phone.  This  facility  is available for all Central Government Pensioners.

PSB Alliance Banks as well as India Post and Payments Bank (IPPB) provide Doorstep Banking services for submission of life certificate by pensioners.

Pensioners aged 80 years and above can now submit their Life Certificates in the month of October too, to enable them to have an additional exclusive window for submission of Life Certificate.

*****