opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1395 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-28
Subject: Implementation of Inland Waterways Projects
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: P. Ravindhranath

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  1395

ANSWERED ON 28.07.2023

## IMPLEMENTATION OF INLAND WATERWAYS PROJECTS

1395.SHRI P. RAVINDHRANATH:

## Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state:

## पȅन , पोत पįरवहन और जलमागŊ मंũी

(a) the  current  status  of  implementation  of  Inland  waterways  projects,  by  Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), in the State of Tamil Nadu, towards improvement of existing logistic setup throughout southern States of the country; (b) whether any Project Oversight Committee (POC) is being constituted, exclusively for evaluation of the ongoing waterways projects, in Tamil Nadu; and

- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

- No  inland  waterway  project  is  under  implementation  by  Inland  Waterways

(a) Authority of India (IWAI) in the state of Tamil Nadu at present. (b) to (c)        Question does not arise in view of reply to part (a) above.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1394 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-28
Subject: Constitution of Specialised Benches
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Manoj Kishorbhai Kotak

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW & JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1394

## TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 28 TH  JULY, 2023

## CONSTITUTION OF SPECIALISED BENCHES

## 1394. SHRIMATI RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE:

## SHRI MANOJ KOTAK:

## Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- whether the Government is considering to Constitute specialized benches to deal with cases related to direct & indirect Taxation, land acquisitions, compensation including  motor  vehicle  cases  involving  death  or  injury,  arbitration,  IBC  & Corporate  Law  for  their  early  disposal  as  they  were  dealt  with  during  special multiple  vacation  benches  constituted  during  summer  vacation  in  view  of
- (a) spurting of such cases in the SC; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

(a) to (b): As per Article 145(1)(b) of the Constitution read with clause (2) thereof, the Supreme Court is  empowered  to  make  rules  to  regulate  its  own  procedure  for  hearing appeals  and  other  matters  pertaining  to  appeals  and  may  fix  the  minimum  number  of judges who are to sit for such purposes. The Supreme Court in the past and as per its decisions,  has  constituted  specialised  benches  to  deal  with  cases  engaging  different subject  matters.  As  the  issue  primarily  falls  within  the  purview  of  the  court,  the Government has no role in constituting specialized benches in the said court.

As  per  information  provided  by  Supreme  Court  regarding  the  constitution  of Special Benches by it, since November 2022, six Special Benches have been constituted by the Hon'ble Chief Justice  of  India;  the  sitting  of  such  Special  Benches  is  on  every Wednesday  and  Thursday  which  are  designated  as  'Regular  Hearing  Days'  and  these Benches deal with:

- (i) Death Reference Cases & Criminal Matters;
- (ii) Land Acquisition and Requisition Matters;
- (iii) Compensation Matters and Matters relating to Consumer Protection
- (iv) Indirect Tax matters and Arbitration matters
- (v) Service Matters and
- (vi) Direct Tax Matters.

*********
Lok Sabha Question No. 1389 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-28
Subject: Shortage of Forensic Science Laboratories
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Harsimrat Kaur Badal

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH RESEARCH

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1389 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 TH JULY, 2023

## SHORTAGE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE LABORATORIES

## 1389. SHRIMATI HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that absence of forensic science laboratories caused delay in examination of the cases under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in the country;
- (b) whether Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) Madhuban has been asked to follow the directions of Supreme Court in ensuring that DNA PCR kits are purchased immediately for testing critical evidences in the cases under POCSO;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether forensic science laboratories in the country have sufficient stock of DNA PCR testing kits; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (PROF. S.P. SINGH BAGHEL)

- (a): The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has informed that registration of cases against offences and its investigation is a continuous process. Forensic examination for all cases including those booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act are undertaken in all 7 Central Forensic Science Laboratories and 32 State Forensic Science Laboratories.

MHAhas taken several steps for strengthening forensic capacities in the country, which includes, inter-alia:

- (i) Setting-up a State-of-the-art DNA Analysis and Research & Development facility at the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory at Chandigarh.
- (ii) Setting-up a National Cyber Forensic Science Laboratory at the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory, Hyderabad to investigate important cases of digital fraud / cyber forensics.

(iii) Assistance to States/ Union Territories for strengthening the DNA analysis, Cyber-forensics and related facilities in their forensic laboratories. Projects have been approved for 30 States/ Union Territories at a total cost of about Rs. 250 Crore.

(iv) A Scheme for Modernization of Forensic Capacities has been approved. This will provide assistance to States / Union Territories to develop high quality forensic science facilities for modernization of machinery and equipment, and facilitating availability of trained manpower in these laboratories through expansion of educational facilities for forensic science in the country.

(b) and (c): 'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects as per the seventh schedule to the Constitution of India. The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Madhuban comes under the control of the Government of Haryana.

(d) and (e): The availability of the number of DNA PCR testing kits depends on the cases received and their use. The kits have a shelf life and cannot be stocked in bulk. However, the DNA kits have been made available on Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal for ease of procurement

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1386 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-28
Subject: Reforms in Voting Method in Elections
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Pushpendra Singh Chandel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1386

TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, 28 TH  JULY, 2023

Reforms in Voting Method in Elections

## †1386.  Shri Kunwar Pushpendra Singh Chandel:

## Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is contemplating upon bringing reforms in the existing method of voting in elections in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether the Government has received any proposal to conduct both the General and Assembly elections simultaneously in the country and if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto;
- (c)  whether the  Government has held talks with those States where the terms  of  the  State  Government  have  not  been  completed  yet  regarding conducting  assembly  elections  along  with  at  the  forthcoming  general elections; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF MINISTRY OF THE LAW AND JUSTICE; MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

- (a):  No sir.
- (b):  The Department Related Parliament Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice had examined the issue of simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies in consultation with various stake-holders including Election Commission of India. The Committee  has  given  certain  recommendations  in  this  regard  in  its  79th

Report.  The matter now stands referred to the Law Commission for further examination to work out practicable road map and framework for simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.

- (c):  No sir.
- (d):  Does not arise, in view of reply (c) above.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1384 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-28
Subject: Nurses to Patient Ratio
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Chandra Sekhar Bellana

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1384 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 th JULY, 2023

## NURSES TO PATIENT RATIO

## 1384: SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR BELLANA

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the country has been able to fulfill the World Health Organization (WHO) norms of nurses to patient ratio;

- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government is taking any steps to improve the working conditions of nurses;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether the Government is taking any steps to increase the number of nurses; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

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

(a) and (b) As informed by Indian Nursing Council (INC), there are 36.14 lakh nursing personnel in the country resulting in a nurse to population ratio of 2.10 nurses per thousand population. There are 5203 Nursing institutions including 715 government institutions producing nearly 3.55 lakh nursing personnel annually, to meet the requirement of nursing personnel in the country

(c)and(d) Government ensures adequate working conditions for all health care personnel including nurses in various healthcare establishments and makes efforts to improve them. These working conditions are governed by various Acts and government orders, which are framed to provide a conducive working environment to health professionals in order to enhance patient care and contribute substantially to the overall healthcare outcomes.

(e) to (f) In order to promote nursing education in the country, the central government is implementing a central sector scheme 'Development of Nursing Services' under which Schools of Nursing (SoN) are given Grants-in-aid to upgrade them into Colleges of Nursing (CoN). Further, establishment of 157 new nursing colleges has been announced in the budget speech 2023-2024.

Other steps taken by the Government to increase nursing manpower in the country are as follows: -

- i. The requirement of land for School/College of Nursing and Hostel has been relaxed.
- ii. Relaxation in the norms of having a 100 bedded parent hospital for hilly and tribal areas has been done.
- iii. The student teacher ratio for M.Sc.(N) programme has been relaxed from 1:5 to 1:10.
- iv. Student patient ratio for Nursing Institutions has been relaxed from 1:5 to 1:3.
- v. Maximum number of 100 seats for Nursing College to be given to parent hospitals with 300 beds without insisting for a Medical College.
- vi. Distance from school/college to hospital relaxed.
- vii. Eligibility criteria to admission for Diploma and Degree has been relaxed.
- viii. Relaxation in norms for opening M.Sc. (N) programme by allowing Super Speciality Hospital to start M.Sc. (N) without having under graduate programme.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1382 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-28
Subject: Cadets of Sainik Schools
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: S. Muniswamy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## DEPARTMENT OF   DEFENCE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1382

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 th  July, 2023

## CADETS OF SAINIK SCHOOLS

## 1382.  SHRI S. MUNISWAMY:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

(a)  whether any mechanism exists to uphold the academic interest of the cadets of 33 Sainik Schools as there could be more focus on extra curricular activities in these schools thereby partially depriving them of academic excellence;

- (b)  if so, the details thereof;

(c)  whether the Government proposes to instruct the Sainik School Society for better academic career of these cadets, if so, the details thereof;

(d)  whether the Government considers sops, awards, recognitions and other monetary benefits separately for the teachers of these Sainik Schools; and

(e)  if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## A  N  S  W  E  R

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## (SHRI AJAY BHATT)

(a) & (b):  The primary aim of Sainik Schools is to prepare cadets academically, physically and mentally for entry into the National Defence Academy. Various steps are in place for ensuring the  academic  excellence  of  the  cadets  of  33  Sainik  Schools.  These  include  conducting  of interactive training & close monitoring of progress of cadets, remedial classes for slow learners, introduction of latest pedagogical practices, in service course and training for teachers, guest lectures & motivational tours for cadets etc.

(c):  Sainik Schools Society, Ministry of Defence issues guidelines to all Sainik Schools from time to time to ensure that academic excellence is achieved by each student in particular and the school in general.

(d) & (e):  The Government recognizes the role of teachers of Sainik Schools in shaping the future of the cadets. Teachers of Sainik Schools are eligible for nominations to the following awards instituted by Ministry of Education:

- (i) National Awards to Teachers
- (ii) Information Communication Technology Awards

Further, to ensure the motivational level of teachers, due appreciation and recognition from  the  Chairman,  Local  Board  of  Administration  and  Principal  of  the  respective  Sainik School is given to the teachers of Sainik Schools.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1381 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-28
Subject: Laying off in USA
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Jayadev Galla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

ANSWERED ON- 28/07/2023

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1381

## LAYING OFF IN USA

1381. SHRI JAYADEV GALLA Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :(a) the number of Indians holding H1-B and L1 visa in USA alongwith the number of such persons who are currently employed; (b) the number of persons who have lost their jobs due to laying off in the USA; (c) whether the Government has extended the time period to find new jobs for the persons who have been laid off by collaborating with the Government of USA; (d) if so, the details of the new norms that will be applied; and (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## (SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN)

(a to e) Data about the number of Indians currently holding H1B and L1 visas in USA and the number of such persons who are currently employed in USA, is not available. However, as per US Department of State 1,66,271 H1B visas and 20,051 L1 visas were issued from India in 2022.

Government is aware about reports regarding professionals having been laid off by US companies in recent months.   The Government of India has consistently raised issues relating to the movement of high skilled workers, including IT professionals, with the US Government.   It   has   also   been   working   with   various   stakeholders   including   industry organizations and business chambers on these issues.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 118 (STARRED), answered on 2023-07-27
Subject: Air Connectivity from Biju Patnaik International Airport
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Jual Oram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## Lok Sabha

STARRED QUESTION NO. : 118

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  27th July 2023 )

## AIR CONNECTIVITY FROM BIJU PATNAIK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

118.    SHRI JUAL ORAM Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) the details of international destinations to which air connectivity has been made available from Biju Patnaik International Airport at Bhubaneswar;
- (b) whether tourists from near International destinations have shown interest to visit Odisha for various reasons;
- (c)  if  so,  the  additional  flights  proposed  to  be  connected  to  those international destinations to facilitate such foreign tourists; and
- (d) the current status of the steps taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

Minister of CIVIL AVIATION      (Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia) (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the table of the house.

******

Statement referred in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question 118 regarding "Air Connectivity from Biju Patnaik International Airport" to be answered on 27.07.2023.; ; (a) Biju Patnaik International Airport at  Bhubaneswar  is currently connected to Bangkok, Dubai and Singapore.  (b) The  Ministry  of  Civil  Aviation  does  not  maintain  specific data in this regard. (c) and  (d) International flight operations are governed by bilateral Air Services Agreement (ASA) between India and the respective countries.   Bhubaneswar is included in the list of 18 tourist destinations  where  the  Indian  carriers  and  carriers  of SAARC  (except  Afghanistan  and  Pakistan)  and  ASEAN countries (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Philippines and Laos) can operate  unlimited  frequencies  subject  to  availability  of slots at the airport.   Moreover, in accordance with ASA, Indian  designated  carriers  are  free  to  mount  operations to/from any international airport including Bhubaneswar to foreign destinations as per mutually agreed capacity limits. However, start of international flight from any point in India is purely a commercial decision of the airlines on the basis of  economic  viability  of  the  route  and  other  associated factors.
Lok Sabha Question No. 109 (STARRED), answered on 2023-07-27
Subject: Sabeya Airstrip under UDAN
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Alok Kumar Suman

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. : 109

(To be answered on the 27 th  July 2023)

## SABEYA AIRSTRIP UNDER UDAN

## *109. DR. ALOK KUMAR SUMAN

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Sabeya (Hathua) airstrip located in Gopalganj district of Bihar is included in the routes awarded under UDAN Scheme and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  said  Airstrip  requires  upgradation/development  for commencement  of  UDAN  operations  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof;
- (c) whether it is covered under the Revival of unserved and underserved airports Scheme;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government has encouraged the interested airlines based on their assessment of demand on particular routes to submit their proposals at the time of bidding under UDAN, and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

(Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia)

- (a) to (f): A statement is laid on the table of the House.

*****

STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 109  REGARDING  "SABEYA  AIRSTRIP  UNDER  UDAN"  TO  BE ANSWERED  ON  27.07.2023

(a) to (f): Sabeya (Hathua) airstrip in Bihar is available in the list of unserved airports in the UDAN Document. UDAN is a demand-driven scheme, wherein airline operators assess the feasibility of operation on a particular route and bid under the scheme from time to time. None of the airline bidders have submitted proposals to operate RCS flights from Sabeya (Hathua) airport till the completion of four rounds of bidding. As per  the provisions of UDAN Scheme, revival / upgradation of unserved & underserved airports is carried after its identification through valid bids  and award to the  Selected Airline Operator (SAO).

If any airline submits a valid bid connecting Sabeya Airstrip for the operation of RCS flights in future rounds of UDAN, the same may be considered as per provisions of UDAN Scheme.

- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 106 (STARRED), answered on 2023-07-27
Subject: Bridge on Kosi River
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Gopal Jee Thakur

## be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  a  road  between  Umgaon  (Uchchaith  Bhagwati  Sthan)  to Mahishi Tarasthan and country's largest bridge on the Kosi river namely Bheja bridge is being constructed on the said road under Bharatmala Pariyojana;
- (b) whether there is a plan to connect Bheja bridge to Gandaul (SH-17) via two-lane link road (paved shoulder) connecting the three districts of Madhubani, Supaul and Saharsa; and
- (c) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  time  by  which  it  is  likely  to  be completed?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

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

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 106

## ANSWERED ON 27 TH  JULY 2023

## BRIDGE ON KOSI RIVER

- *106. SHRI GOPAL JEE THAKUR:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 106 ANSWERED ON 27 TH  JULY, 2023 ASKED BY SHRI GOPAL JEE THAKUR REGARDING 'BRIDGE ON KOSI RIVER' ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(a) Yes Sir. The project corridor of Umagaon to Saharsa, including BhejaBakaur bridge on Kosi river has been awarded for construction under National Highway Original [NH(O)]. (b)  &  (c)    The  connectivity  between  Bheja  bridge  and  Gandaul  is  through National  Highway  (NH)  -  527A,  NH-327E  and  State  Highway  (SH) -17 (connecting Bangaon to Gandaul). There is also an existing bund road, directly connecting the Bheja bridge with Gandaul, which comes under the jurisdiction of State Government.

*****