opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 111 (STARRED), answered on 2024-12-03
Subject: Reservation for OBCs
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri Kaushalendra Kumar, Shri Dinesh Chandra Yadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. **111 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2024

## RESERVATION FOR OBCs

## **111. SHRI DINESH CHANDRA YADAV: SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the upper ceiling of income for creamy layer under the Other Backward Class reservation is fixed at rupees six/eight lakhs, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the upper ceiling of income for creamy layer under the General Category Reservation Quota is fixed at rupees six/eight lakhs;
- (c) if so, the details thereof including the reasons and basis for said inequality in the criteria fixed for OBC and General Category reservation quota; and
- (d) whether the Government proposes to remove the said anomaly in OBC and General Category reservation in Creamy Layer criteria, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR)

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

*****

Statement in answer to parts (a) to (d) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No.111 for 03.12.2024 by Shri Shri Dinesh Chandra Yadav and Shri Kaushalendra Kumar regarding Reservation for OBCs.

The annual income limit for determination of creamy layer both for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) under the General Category, is Rs. 8.00 lakh. Hence, there is no inequality in income criteria fixed for OBC and EWS reservation quota.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 110 (STARRED), answered on 2024-12-03
Subject: Vibrant Villages Programme
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Dilip Saikia, Shri Pratap Chandra Sarangi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *110

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3 RD  DECEMBER, 2024/ AGRAHAYANA 12, 1946 (SAKA)

VIBRANT VILLAGES PROGRAMME

†*110.     SHRI DILIP SAIKIA: SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) the objectives and salient features of Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) for  the  development  of  villages  at  the  northern  borders  initiated  by  the Government;

(b) the details of the activities started under VVP along with the villages approved for comprehensive development under it; and

(c)  the  total  amount  of  funds  allocated  by  the  Government  for  villages located at border?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the table of the house.

## STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (C) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.110 FOR ANSWER ON 03.12.2024

Central Government has approved Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme on 15 th  February, 2023 for comprehensive development of the select villages in 46 blocks abutting northern border in 19 districts in the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and UT of Ladakh.

The  Programme envisages  focused  areas  of  interventions  in  the select  villages  for  creation  of  opportunities  for  livelihood  generation through  promotion  of  tourism  &  cultural  heritage,  skill  development  & entrepreneurship  and  development  of  cooperative  societies  including agriculture/horticulture,  cultivation  of  medicinal  plants/herbs  etc.    The interventions  also  include  providing  road  connectivity  to  unconnected villages, village infrastructures, energy  including  renewable  energy, television & telecom connectivity. The objective of the programme is to create sufficient incentives for people to stay on in the selected villages.

The details of villages covered under the programme are as follows:

| States/UT         |   No of villages |
|-------------------|------------------|
| Arunachal Pradesh |              455 |
| Sikkim            |               46 |
| Uttarakhand       |               51 |
| Himachal Pradesh  |               75 |
| Ladakh (UT)       |               35 |

Under the programme,  more than 6800 activities have been undertaken  including  awareness  drive,  service  delivery  camps,  training and  capacity  building  activities,  health  and  veterinary  camps,  fair  & festivals and promotion of tourism activities, etc.

The total financial outlay approved for the programme is Rs. 4800 Crore.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 103 (STARRED), answered on 2024-12-03
Subject: Setting up of Steel Plant in Meerut
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: Shri Arun Govil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF STEEL

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *103

## FOR ANSWER ON 03.12.2024

## SETTING UP OF STEEL PLANT IN MEERUT

- *103.   SHRI ARUN GOVIL:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state :

(a) whether the Government has any proposal to set up a steel plant in Meerut so as to generate employment opportunities at local level and the youth of the region  can get benefited from the industrial development; and

- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STEEL (SHRI H. D. KUMARASWAMY)

(a)&(b):

A statement is laid on the Table of the Lok Sabha.

*****

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A)&(B) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED (*) QUESTION NO. *103 FOR ANSWER ON 03/12/2024 TABLED BY SHRI ARUN GOVIL, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT REGARDING 'SETTING UP OF STEEL PLANT IN MEERUT'

(a)&(b):  Steel  is  a  deregulated  sector  and  Ministry  of  Steel  acts  as  a  facilitator.  The decision  regarding  setting  up  of  a  steel  plant  is  taken  by  industry  based  on  technocommercial consideration including raw material availability, distance from port, logistics etc.

- ******
Lok Sabha Question No. 101 (STARRED), answered on 2024-12-03
Subject: National Commission for Weavers
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Shri Giridhari Yadav

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *101 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2024

## NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR WEAVERS

## *101. SHRI GIRIDHARI YADAV:

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

- (a) whether Bunkar Ayog has not been constituted to address the problems of weavers upliftment at the national level and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  constitute  Rashtriya  Bunkar  Ayog/National  Commission  for Weavers, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the time by which the said Ayog is likely to be set up?

उत्तर

ANSWER

मंत्री

वस्त्र

(

श्री

गिररराज सिंह

)

MINISTER OF TEXTILES (SHRI GIRIRAJ SINGH)

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

## Statement referred to in reply to part (a) to (c) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *101 for answer on 03.12.2024.

(a) to (c): There  is  no  proposal  to  constitute  Rashtriya  Bunkar  Ayog/National  Commission  for Weavers.

Ministry  of  Textiles,  Office  of  the  Development  Commissioner  for  Handlooms  is  implementing  the following schemes across the country:

- (i) National Handloom Development Programme;
- (ii) Raw Material Supply Scheme;

Under the above schemes, financial assistance is provided to eligible handloom agencies/weavers for raw materials, procurement of upgraded looms & accessories, solar lighting units, construction of workshed, skilling,  product  &  design  development,  technical  and  common  infrastructure,  marketing  of  handloom products in domestic/overseas markets, concessional loans under weavers' MUDRA scheme and social security etc.

Ministry of Textiles, Office of the Development Commissioner for Handlooms and its field establishments  are  functioning  in  good  synergy  with  other  Divisions  of  Ministry  of  Textiles  and  State Handlooms Departments and implementing various schemes for overall development of handloom sector and welfare of handloom weavers. Since the existing Government mechanism is already catering to all the  concerns  and  requirements  of  handloom  weavers,  a  separate  National  Commission  for  Handloom Weavers is not needed.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1378 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-03
Subject: Employment in Handloom Sector
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Shri Ajay Kumar Mandal

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1378 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2024

## EMPLOYMENT IN HANDLOOM SECTOR

## 1378. SHRI AJAY KUMAR MANDAL:

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

(a) the details of the employment in the Handloom Sector which have been promoted by the Government under the programme of 'Make in India';

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) If not, the reasons thereof?

उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र राज्  य मंत्री ( श्री पबित्र मार्घेररटा )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA)

(a) to (c): Handloom weaving is inherently an integral part of 'Make in India' initiative. Handloom sector is an unorganized sector & handloom weavers are largely self employed. Ministry of Textiles is implementing central sector schemes such as (i) National  Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) and    (ii)  Raw  Material  Supply  Scheme  (RMSS)  to  promote  the  handloom  sector  and  for  welfare  of handloom weavers across the country. Under these schemes, financial assistance is provided to eligible handloom  agencies/weavers  for  raw  materials,  procurement  of  upgraded  looms  &  accessories,  solar lighting units, construction of workshed, skilling, product & design development, technical and common infrastructure, marketing, concessional loans under weavers' MUDRA scheme and social security etc.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1373 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-03
Subject: Ongoing Paddy Procurement
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Sher Singh Ghubaya, Shri Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1373

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3 RD  DECEMBER, 2024

## ONGOING PADDY PROCUREMENT

1373.  SHRI SHER SINGH GHUBAYA :

SHRI SUKHJINDER SINGH RANDHAWA :

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान क̵  याण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the ongoing paddy procurement crisis in Punjab;
- (b) if so, the steps taken to ensure the welfare of farmers;
- (c) whether it is a fact that the rice millers in Punjab have refused to mill paddy due to issues related to rice yield and space shortages; and
- (d) if so, the steps being taken by the Government to resolve these issues?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ िष एवं िकसान क̵  याण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

- (a) & (b) : The period of paddy procurement for Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2024-25 in Punjab commenced from 01.10.2024 and continued till 30.11.2024. A quantity of 169 LMT paddy has already been procured at Minimum Support Price (MSP) by the State Govt. procuring agencies and Food Corporation of India (FCI), through  Arhatiyas  against  the  reported  arrival  of  171  LMT  in  the  mandis  till 27.11.2024.  In  addition  to  1823  regular  notified  mandis,  951  Public  places  cum temporary  yards  and  475  rice  mills  cum  temporary  yards  have  been  made operational by the State Govt. for paddy procurement at MSP.
- (c) & (d) : Approximately, 4800 millers have already been reported registered and have been allocated paddy by the State Govt. Agencies for its storage under joint custody and milling.

Creation  /  vacation  of  godown  for  receipt  /storing  incoming  stocks  is  a continuous process by moving out the already stored foodgrains stocks there. In order to make additional storage capacity available for receipt/storage of rice after milling of current crop of paddy, measures like prioritising movement/evacuation of wheat  stocks  kept  in  covered  godowns  in  the  State,  hiring  of  additional  storage capacity, additional outward movement of rice from Punjab, are being resorted to.

With respect to claim regarding lesser out-turn ratio of rice from certain new hybrid varieties of paddy grown in Punjab, a study has been entrusted to IIT Kharagpur on yield related issue.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1366 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-03
Subject: Honorarium to Head of Panchayat
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: Shri Ramashankar  Vidharthi Rajbhar

## GOVERNMENTOF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1366

ANSWERED ON - 03.12.2024

## HONORARIUM TOHEADOFPANCHAYAT

1366. SHRI RAMASHANKAR RAJBHAR:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

(a) whether honorarium is provided to the head of Panchayat, district Panchayat Member, Pradhan and Block Development Council (BDC), if so the details thereof; and

(b) whether the Government proposed/plans to increase the said honorarium and if not, there as on s there for?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTEROF STATE FOR PANCHAYATI RAJ

(PROF. S. P. SINGH BAGHEL)

(a ) & (b) 'Panchayat', being 'Local Government', is a State subject and part of State List of Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. Panchayats are set up and operate through the respective State Panchayati Raj Acts which may vary from State to State, subject to the provisions of the Constitution. Accordingly, all matters relating to Panchayats, including to provide or to increase honorarium/remuneration/allowance to the representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions, come within the purview of the State Government. States and Union Territories, covered under Part-IX of the Constitution, have made provisionsrelating to honorarium/remuneration/allowance to the representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions, in their respective Panchayati Raj laws.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1362 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-03
Subject: Kasturi Cotton Bharat Programme
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Smt. Kamaljeet Sehrawat

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1362 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2024

## KASTURI COTTON BHARAT PROGRAMME

1362. SMT. KAMALJEET SEHRAWAT:

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

(a) the details of the Kasturi Cotton Bharat Programme and allocated budgetary support; and (b) the list and details of milestones achieved under the Programme?

उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र राज्  य मंत्री ( श्री पबित्र मार्घेररटा )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA)

- (a): Kasturi Cotton Bharat programme is an initiative that focuses on traceability, certification and branding of Indian cotton. This initiative was formalized through an MoU signed on 15.12.2022 between Cotton  Corporation  of  India  (CCI)  on  behalf  of  Ministry  of  Textiles,  Govt.  of  India  and  The  Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL), with a budgetary support of Rs. 30 Crore including Rs.15 crores from Trade and Industry Bodies.
- (b): Under this Programme, certification protocol has been finalized for standardization of quality for 29 mm and 30 mm cotton, under long staple cotton category. Kasturi Cotton Bharat website has been launched which provides a digital platform for necessary information and updates on this initiative. As on 30.10.2024, 47,300 bales have been certified as Kasturi Cotton Bharat. Further, 456 units, including 369 Ginners & 87 supply chain members have been on-boarded for producing Kasturi Cotton Bharat Brand as per stipulated protocol.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1360 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-03
Subject: Setting up of Heavy Industries
Ministry: HEAVY INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Shri Rodmal Nagar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1360

ANSWERED ON 03.12.2024

## SETTING UP OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES

## 1360.  SHRI RODMAL NAGAR:

Will the Minister of HEAVY INDUSTRIES भारी उद्योग मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  there  are  plans  to  establish  heavy  industries  to  promote  regional  economic development in rural and semi-rural areas of Madhya Pradesh, including Rajgarh Constituency;
- (b)  the  current  status  of  projects  approved  for  the  development  of  industrial  infrastructure  in Madhya Pradesh particularly Rajgarh constituency;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  implemented  any  specific  schemes  to  support  traditional industries and artisans in Rajgarh and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the details of job training programmes to help local residents in Rajgarh secure employment in heavy industries?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES (SHRI H.D. KUMARASWAMY)

- (a): Since  Industry  is  a  State  Subject,  the  Ministry  of  Heavy  Industries  (MHI)  does  not maintain  any  centralized  data  relating  to  setting  up  of  heavy  industries  to  promote  regional economic  development  in  rural  and  semi-rural  areas  of  Madhya  Pradesh,  including  Rajgarh Constituency.
- (b): This Ministry does not have any projects for development of Industrial infrastructure in Madhya Pradesh particularly Rajgarh constituency.

(c) & (d):

Do not arise.

*************
Lok Sabha Question No. 1359 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-03
Subject: Upgradation of Biswanath College of Agriculture
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Ranjit Dutta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1359

TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 RD  DECEMBER, 2024

## UPGRADATION OF BISWANATH COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

## 1359. SHRI RANJIT DUTTA:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k  vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) the current number of seats available for students at Biswanath College of Agriculture in Biswanath Chariali, Assam;
- (b) whether the Government has any plan or proposal to upgrade Biswanath College of Agriculture into an Agricultural University;
- (c) if so, the details of the proposed plan or timeline for this upgrade; and
- (d) if not, the reasons for not considering such an upgrade?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k jkT; ea=h (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)

- (a): The total number of seats available for the Under Graduate course is 100 and for  the  Post  Graduate  courses  is  37  at  Biswanath  College  of  Agriculture, Biswanath Chariali for the Academic Session 2024-25.
- (b)  to  (d):  Biswanath  College  of  Agriculture,  Biswanath  Chariali  is  under  the administrative control of Government of Assam.

As per the information obtained from the Government of Assam, there is no  proposal  of  State  Government  at  present  to  upgrade  the  College  into  an Agricultural University.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1356 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-03
Subject: Legal Guarantee of MSP
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri E T Mohammed Basheer

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1356

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3 rd  DECEMBER, 2024

## LEGAL GUARANTEE OF MSP

## 1356. SHRI E T MOHAMMED BASHEER:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  the steps that are being taken to address farmers' demands for a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP); and
- (b)  the details of MSP for the 2024 crop season in light of inflation?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)

- (a) :  A committee has been constituted on 12th July, 2022 to make suggestions so as to make Minimum Support Price (MSP) more effective and transparent.
- (b) The details of MSP (marketing season-wise) announced for the year 2024 are given at Annexure .

## Annexure  referred  to  in  reply  to  part  (a)  &  (b)  of  Lok  Sabha  Untarred Question No. 1356 due for reply on 03.12.2024

## Minimum Support Price (marketing season-wise)

(Rs. per quintal)

| Sl. No.   | KHARIF CROPS           | 2024-25   |
|-----------|------------------------|-----------|
| 1         | PADDY(Common)          | 2300      |
|           | PADDY (Grade A)        | 2320      |
| 2         | JOWAR (Hybrid)         | 3371      |
|           | JOWAR (Maldandi)       | 3421      |
| 3         | BAJRA                  | 2625      |
| 4         | RAGI                   | 4290      |
| 5         | MAIZE                  | 2225      |
| 6         | ARHAR(Tur)             | 7550      |
| 7         | MOONG                  | 8682      |
| 8         | URAD                   | 7400      |
| 9         | COTTON (Medium Staple) | 7121      |
|           | COTTON (Long Staple)   | 7521      |
| 10        | GROUNDNUT IN SHELL     | 6783      |
| 11        | SUNFLOWER SEED         | 7280      |
| 12        | SOYABEAN               | 4892      |
| 13        | SESAMUM                | 9267      |
| 14        | NIGERSEED              | 8717      |
| Sl. No.   | Rabi Crops             | 2025-26   |
| 1         | WHEAT                  | 2425      |
| 2         | BARLEY                 | 1980      |
| 3         | GRAM                   | 5650      |
| 4         | MASUR (LENTIL)         | 6700      |
| 5         | RAPESEED/MUSTARD       | 5950      |
| 6         | SAFFLOWER              | 5940      |
|           | Commercial Crops       |           |
|           |                        | 2024      |
| 1         | Copra (Milling)        | 11160     |
|           | (Ball)                 | 12000     |
|           |                        | 2024-25   |
| 2         | JUTE                   | 5335      |

*****