opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2860 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-20
Subject: Multidimensional Poverty Index
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: Sanjay(Kaka) Ramchandra Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2860

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2023

## MULTIDIMENSIONAL POVERTY INDEX

## 2860.   SHRI SANJAY KAKA PATIL:

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that using individual level data sources such as NFHS for  making household level conclusions in the Multidimensional Poverty  Index leads to underestimation of poverty;
- (b) if so, the steps taken by the Government to improve the methodology of the Index in this regard;
- (c) whether the Government is aware of criticism from experts regarding indicators selected in the Index; and
- (d) if  so,  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  Indicators  of  Multidimensional Poverty?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION; MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS

## (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a) and (b) NITI Aayog has recently published a report, 'National Multidimensional Poverty Index: A  Progress  Review  2023',  estimating  multidimensional  poverty  at  national,  state  and  district levels.  The  estimates  in  the  National  MPI  are  based  on  the  National  Family  Health  Surveys (NFHS), sourced by the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).

Like  the  global  MPI,  India's  national  MPI  has  three  equally  weighted  dimensions  -  Health, Education,  and  Standard  of  living.    India's  MPI  covers  12  indicators  which  include  nutrition, child  and  adolescent  mortality,  maternal  health,  years  of  schooling,  school  attendance,  cooking fuel,  sanitation,  drinking  water,  electricity,  housing,  bank  accounts  and  assets.    Of  these,  in indicators  like  nutrition,  maternal  health  and  school  attendance,  if  any  individual  within  the household for whom data indicates deprivation, then the entire household is considered deprived. Accordingly, it is unlikely that the poverty is underestimated using individual data (rather than 'household' data).

- (c) and (d) Certain individuals have raised concerns in the past with respect to the methodology used in the national MPI and definitions of the indicators used therein. However, MPI is based on a globally accepted Alkire-Foster methodology. In addition, NITI Aayog has constituted the MPI Coordination Committee (MPICC), which includes representatives from key Ministries/ Departments.  Experts  from  the  Ministry  of  Statistics  and  Programme  Implementation  (MoSPI) and technical partners like the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are also involved in the process, to ensure that the methodology is robust.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2857 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-20
Subject: Procurement of Foodgrains by Millers
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Nalin Kumar Kateel

## INISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC  DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2857 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20TH DECEMBER, 2023

## PROCUREMENT OF FOODGRAINS BY MILLERS

## 2857n SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD  AND PUBLIC

DISTRIBUTION a$fttm qm8, vrH at  tiT+rfqq fqTwr ++ be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is true that some  of  the state Goverments  procured
- foodgrains from millers and wholesale merchants;
- (b) if  so,  whether it is  also  true that some  farmer associations made
- representations demanding for local procurement from farmers; and
- (C) if so, the response of the Government in this regard?

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

- (a): State Government through its agencies and Food Corporation of India (FOI)  procure paddy/wheat from farmers with prescribed Fair  Average Quality (FAQ) specifications at  Minimum Support Price (MSP) for  central pool. The Government  policy of procurement of foodgrains has  broad objectives of ensuring MSP to the farmers and availability  of foodgrains to the  weaker sections at  affordable prices. The procurement under Price Support is supposed to  ensure procurement of foodgrains from the farmers and remunerative prices to the farmers for their produce, which works as an incentive for achieving better  production.

In major wheat and paddy procuring States like  Punjab, Haryana & some parts of  Rajasthan, procurement from farmers is  undertaken by the FC31/State Agencies through Adathiyas as per APMC Acts of the concerned State for which commission is paid as fixed by the Government of India. In some States like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Andhra  Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Bihar, Jharkhand,  Odisha and West Bengal procurement is  made through societies  and they  are paid commissions as  fixed  by  the  Government of  India. However, payment of MSP is being made directly into farmers' bank accounts through online mode.

(b) & (c): No such representations  have been received  in this  Department.

If  the farmers get  prices better than the support price from other buyers such as traders/millers etc., the farmers are free to sell their produce to  them. F01, State Government and State Government's agencies ensure that the farmers are not compelled to sell their produce below MSP.

8888+
Lok Sabha Question No. 2856 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-20
Subject: Status of Green Steel Production
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF STEEL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2856 FOR ANSWER ON 20/12/2023

## STATUS OF GREEN STEEL PRODUCTION

2856.  SHRI LAVU SRI KRISHNA DEVARAYALU:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

- (a) the current status of green steel production in the Country including the percentage of total steel production that adheres to environmentally sustainable practices;
- (b) whether any specific measures have been adopted or promoted by the Government to encourage the production of green steel in the Country;
- (c) whether any study has been undertaken to analyze the role of green steel production in the reduction of air pollution levels in key industrial areas and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the details of the data-assessments on the potential impact of increased green steel production on overall air quality and public health?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE                             (SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

MINISTRY OF STEEL

(a)to(d):    There  are  no  settled  definitions  of  green  steel  nor  there  have  been  studies regarding the role of green steel production in the reduction of air pollution levels. Therefore, no data is available regarding the production of Green Steel or potential impact of green steel production on overall air quality and public health.

However, the measures adopted by the Government for promoting decarbonisation and environmentally sustainable practices in steel industry are as under:

- (1) 13 Task Forces had been constituted with engagement of industry, academia, think tanks, S&T bodies, different Ministries and other stakeholders to discuss, deliberate and recommend upon different levers of decarbonisation of steel sector.
- (2) Steel  Scrap  Recycling  Policy,  2019  enhances  the  availability  of  domestically generated scrap to reduce the consumption of coal in steel making.
- (3) Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has announced National Green Hydrogen Mission for green hydrogen production and usage. The steel sector has also been made a stakeholder in the Mission.
- (4) Motor Vehicles (Registration and Functions of Vehicles Scrapping Facility) Rules September 2021, envisages to increase availability of scrap for the steel making.
- (5) National  Solar  Mission  launched  by  Ministry  of  New  and  Renewable  Energy  in January  2010  promotes  the  use  of  solar  energy  and  also  helps  to  reduce  the emission of steel industry.
- (6) Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme, under National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency, incentivizes steel industry to reduce energy consumption.
- (7) The  steel  sector  has  adopted  the  Best  Available  Technologies  (BAT)  available globally, in the modernization & expansions projects.
- (8) Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) Model Projects for Energy Efficiency Improvement have been implemented in steel plants.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2854 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-20
Subject: DMF
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Ashok Mahadeorao Nete

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2854 ANSWERED ON 20.12.2023

## DMF

†2854. SHRI ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) has been set up as per the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act 1957;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any step/proposes to take step under this Act in the direction of appointing the Lok Sabha public representative of the concerned district in place of the District Collector as the Chairman of the Governing Council of the District Mineral Foundation;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINES, COAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

(a) to (e): Yes, Sir. Section 9B of MMDR Act, 1957 empowers State Governments to establish District Mineral Foundation (DMF) to work for welfare and benefit of persons, and areas affected by mining related operations and make rules for composition and functions of the DMFs in the State. Accordingly, DMF has been constituted in 644 districts in 23 States. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2021 which came into effect on 28.03.2021 further empowers the Central Government to issue directions to the State Governments with respect to composition and utilisation of fund by DMF. Accordingly, Central Government has issued directions to all the States vide order dated 23.04.2021 to include MPs, MLAs and MLCs in the Governing Council in the larger public interest and also in order to maintain the uniformity in the composition of  Governing  Council  and  Managing  Committee.  Revised  guidelines  are  under consideration.

The administrative head of the district, that is District Collector, is the chairman of the DMF and the elected representatives of mining affected area in the district are included as members of Governing Council.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2853 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-20
Subject: Renaming of Railway Station
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Arjunlal Meena

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  2853

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2023

## RENAMING OF RAILWAY STATION

† 2853.   SHRI ARJUN LAL MEENA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has constructed Surkhand ka Kheda railway station in Rajasthan on Udaipur - Ahmedabad via Himmatnagar guage converted line;
- (b) if  so,  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  rename  the  said  railway station as Salumber Hadi Rani Surkhand ka Kheda railway station; and (c) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (c): Surkhand  ka  Kheda  railway  station in  Rajasthan  was constructed  during  the  Gauge  Conversion  of  Udaipur  -  Ahmedabad  via Himmatnagar railway line.

However, change of name of Surkhand ka Kheda railway station is under the  purview  of  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs,  Government  of  India,  which  is done on the recommendation of concerned State Government.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2851 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-20
Subject: Penalty on Telecom Companies
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Gopal Chinayya Shetty

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2851 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

## PENALTY ON TELECOM COMPANIES

## †2851. SHRI GOPAL CHINNAYA SHETTY:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Telecom  Regulatory  Authority  of  India  (TRAI)  has  taken  any  decision  in October, 2015 to impose penalty on the telecom companies in case of call drops with effect from 01 January, 2016;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the amount of compensation per call drop that has to be paid by the telecom companies for the dropped calls under this new system;
- (d) whether  there  is  also  a  provision  to  provide  information  related  to  compensation  to  the consumers by the telecom companies; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e) Telecom  Regulatory  Authority  of  India  (TRAI),  issued  Telecom  Consumers Protection (Ninth Amendment) Regulations on 16.10.2015, which included provisions to impose penalty on the telecom companies in case of call drops.

Hon'ble Supreme Court has set aside the regulations vide Order dated 11th May 2016.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2849 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-20
Subject: Bharat Gaurav Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Reddeppa Nallakonda Gari, Sanjay(Kaka) Ramchandra Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2849

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2023

## BHARAT GAURAV TRAINS

2849.

SHRI N. REDDEPPA:

SHRI SANJAY KAKA PATIL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  number  of  Bharat  Gaurav  trains  which  have  been  introduced since the inception of the scheme;
- (b)    the number of operations undertaken by these Bharat Gaurav trains till date;
- (c) the revenue generated by running of these trains;
- (d) the details of the States that have benefited from this scheme so far;
- (e) whether the Government proposes to increase the number of these trains; and
- (f) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons  therefor,  Statewise?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  to  (f)    Indian  Railways  have  issued  'Bharat  Gaurav  Trains'  policy  in November' 2021. As per the policy, service providers have full flexibility to  decide  the  themes/itineraries  for  operation  of  Bharat  Gaurav  tourist circuit  trains  which  may  include  tourist  circuits  of  any  part  of  India based on market demand, commercial viability etc. A total of 17 rakes have been allotted to various service providers for operation of Bharat Gaurav Trains. As on 30.11.2023, a total of 171 trips of Bharat Gaurav Trains have been operated and a revenue of approximately 102.12 Cr has been earned. These trips covered various tourist destinations spread across 24 States and Union Territories.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2844 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-20
Subject: Amenities to Railway Employees
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Jayadev Galla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2844

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2023

## AMENITIES TO RAILWAY EMPLOYEES

2844.  SHRI RAM MOHAN NAIDU KINJARAPU: SHRI JAYADEV GALLA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  carried  out  any  study  /  research  / survey  into  amenities  provided  to  railway  employees  at  stations  and offices  to  help  them  reduce  stress  and  anxiety  caused  by  their  highpressure jobs;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  regarding  the  infrastructure  built  and  funds allotted for the same in a division-wise manner over the last five years;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  carried  out  any  survey  of  railway employees  in  regard  to  improving  their  working  environment  and conducting mental health awareness promotions;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  carried  out  regular  psychological evaluation  of  railway  employees  engaged  in  high-pressure  areas  over the  last  five  years,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons therefor;
- (f) whether the Government has attached the services of counsellors /  psychologists  to  help  employees  deal  with  mental  health  issues,  if any; and
- (g) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (g) : Indian Railways is the largest civil employer of the country and  it  treats  its  employees  as  assets  to  the  organizations  as  they ensure  un-interrupted  running  of  railway  services  across  the  country. The  organization  has  taken  a  number  of  measures  towards  providing amenities  /  facilities  to  its  employees  at  their  work  places  including railway  stations,  their  residences  etc.  to  minimize  their  stress  and anxiety  level.  Various  amenities  include  provision  of  Rest  Rooms, Railway  Institutes,  Clubs  &  Community  Centres,  Libraries,  Canteens, Creches, sports facilities, Holiday Homes, Hospitals & Health Units, Cooperative Societies, Railway Schools for their wards, housing, handicraft centres, etc. Counsellors  /  psychiatrists  are  posted  in  railway  hospitals  and  take care  of  the  mental  well  being  of  the  employees.  There  are  training centres across the country which provide regular training courses on Stress Management, Yoga, and Meditation etc. Employees are encouraged  to  participate  in  recreation  and  group  activities  like Shramdan,  Trekking,  Thought  Sharing,  Cultural  activities  etc,  which again translate into reducing anxiety and stress level of the employees. There  is  a  unique  concept  of  Staff  Benefit  Fund  which  provides financial support to promote these activities.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2843 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-20
Subject: New Guidelines on MPLADS
Ministry: STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
Asked by: Gyaneshwar Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.2843 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2023

## NEW GUIDELINES ON MPLADS

## 2843. SHRI GYANESHWAR PATIL:

Will  the  Minister  of  STATISTICS  AND  PROGRAMME  IMPLEMENTATION  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has recently issued new guidelines on MPLADS;
- (b) if so, the main objectives of the revision;
- (c) whether the Members of Parliament have expressed concerns over the said guidelines;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (e)  whether  the  increased  centralization  of  allocation  of  funds  affects  the effectiveness of MPLADS projects; and
- (f) if so, the corrective steps taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  OF  THE  MINISTRY  OF STATISTICS  AND  PROGRAMME  IMPLEMENTATION,  MINISTER  OF  STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS [RAO INDERJIT SINGH]

- (a) to (b) Yes, Sir. The MPLADS Guidelines have been revised to make them simpler to understand, free from ambiguities, dynamic and easy to implement; and to make the MPLAD Scheme more flexible, efficient and effective and to bring it in line with the changing development needs of the community.
- (c) to (f) The Ministry receives and examines, on a continuous basis, the new suggestions/representations from Hon'ble Members of Parliament and other stakeholders,  including  suggestions  for  revision  of  provisions  of  MPLADS Guidelines, following due process.

The Revised Fund Flow Procedure came into effect from 01.04.2023 in line with the directions of the Ministry of Finance. Under the Revised Fund Flow Procedure, the Hon'bl e MPs will not be required to wait for the actual fund to be released by the Ministry before recommending new projects as they will be allocated annual drawing limits at the beginning of each financial year subject to  certain  conditions.  The  entire  process  of  fund  flow  operates  on  an  IT platform which allows all the stakeholders, including Hon'ble MPs, the Central and State Govt. agencies, the district authorities etc. to monitor the status of funds and works on real time basis, which facilitate effective implementation of  projects  under  MPLADS  and  also  bring  in  greater  transparency  and accountability in the system.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2841 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-20
Subject: Distribution of Old Pension
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Sanghamitra Maurya, Suresh Kumar Kashyap

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2841 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

## DISTRIBUTION OF OLD PENSION

## †2841. DR. SANGHMITRA MAURYA: SHRI SURESH KUMAR KASHYAP:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether old age pension which was distributed door to door by postmen in Himachal Pradesh has been stopped for the last ten months; and
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) The State Government of Himachal Pradesh has not renewed the earlier Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Posts that included:
- (i) Payment  of  benefits  received  through  Post  Offices  at  the  doorsteps  of  the beneficiaries aged 80 years and above and to the pensioners having disability of 70% and above.
- (ii) Provision  of  information  regarding  re-marriage  of  the  widow  or  shifting  of beneficiary from one place to another or change in disability.
- (iii) Provision of Life Certificate of beneficiaries.
- (iv) Refund of pension pertaining to the period after the death of the beneficiary

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