opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 106 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-25
Subject: Facilities for Skilled and Unskilled Migrant Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shri Rajesh Ranjan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 106 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.11.2024

## FACILITIES FOR SKILLED AND UNSKILLED MIGRANT WORKERS

†106 . SHRI RAJESH RANJAN:

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

- (a)whether the Government has fixed any distance limit in kilometers for  the  skilled  and  unskilled  migrant  workers  especially  those belonging  to  the  States  of  Bihar  and  eastern  Uttar  Pradesh  for moving/migrating to other States for their work;
- (b)if so, the details thereof;
- (c)whether the basic facilities like safe housing and life insurance are extended to such migrant workers at workplace by the employers;
- (d)if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)if  not,  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  take  action  for providing above facilities by the employers to migrant labourers?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

(a) to (e): Migration of workers from one State to another State is a continuous process.

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.

The various schemes are implemented by the Government for migrant workers in the country are (i) Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) (ii)  Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY)  (iii)  PM-SVANidhi  (iv)  Pradhan  Mantri  Awas  Yojana  (v) Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PM-JAY).

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPM-JAY) provides health cover of Rs.5 lakhs per family per year for secondary  and  tertiary  care  hospitalization  to  vulnerable  families. These  families include unorganized workers  including migrant workers as per the defined eligibility.

In order to provide old age protection, the Government of India  launched  Pradhan  Mantri  Shram  Yogi  Maan-Dhan  (PM-SYM) pension scheme in 2019.  It provides monthly pension of Rs.3,000/after attaining the age of 60 years.   The workers in the age group of 18-40 years whose monthly income is Rs.15,000/- or less and not a member  of  EPFO/ESIC/NPS(Govt.  funded)  can  join  the  PM-SYM Scheme under this Scheme  50% monthly contribution is payable by the beneficiary and equal matching contribution is paid by Central Government   Under the Scheme , the fund towards G overnment's contribution is provided to LIC being fund manager.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 105 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-25
Subject: Deposition of Old Rs. 2000 Notes
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Shri Dinesh Chandra Yadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 105

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.11.2024

## Deposition of old Rs. 2000 Notes

## †105 SHRI DINESH CHANDRA YADAV:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is still accepting deposition of old Rs. 2000 notes across all the branches;
- (b)  if  so,  the  total  number  of  demonetized  Rs.  2000  notes  deposited  in  the  RBI  after  their demonetization announced on May 19, 2023 and after the final deadlines of September 30 or October 1, 2023;
- (c)  whether  people  are  receiving  money  in  exchange  for  the  demonetized  Rs.  2000  notes deposited after October 1, 2023; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

- (a) to (d): As per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the facility for exchange and deposit of the ₹2000 banknotes was available at all bank branches in the country up to October 07, 2023. Since May 19, 2023, the facility for exchange of ₹2000 banknotes is available at 19 Issue Offices of RBI. From October 09, 2023, RBI Issue Offices are also accepting ₹2000 banknotes from individuals / entities for deposit into their bank accounts. In addition, the ₹2000 banknotes can also be sent through India Post from any Post Office in the country to any of the 19 Issue Offices of RBI, for credit to the bank accounts in India. The ₹2000 denomination banknote continues to be legal tender. The details related to ₹2000 banknotes received back to RBI from all sources (Issue Offices, bank branches in India, Post Offices) are tabulated below:

| As on              | ₹2000 banknotes in circulation (₹ crore)   | ₹2000 banknotes returned from circulation (₹ crore)   |
|--------------------|--------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|
| May 19, 2023       | 3,55,858                                   | -                                                     |
| September 30, 2023 | 13,018                                     | 3,42,840                                              |
| November 01, 2024  | 6,967                                      | 3,48,891                                              |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 101 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-25
Subject: Increase in Counterfeit Currency
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Shri  Selvaganapathi T.M.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 101 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.11.2024

## Increase in Counterfeit Currency

## 101. SHRI SELVAGANAPATHI T.M.:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the number of counterfeit Rs. 500 notes of the new series which have been detected has nearly quadrupled between the years 2018-19 and 2023-24, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it is also true that the number of fake Rs. 2,000 notes has tripled since the year 2020-21;
- (c)  whether  the  counterfeit  notes  have  become  rife  once  again,  despite  the  claims  by  the Government that the number of counterfeit notes detected has fallen; and (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

- (a) & (b): As per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the data regarding counterfeit notes of ₹500 [Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series] and ₹2000 denominations, detected / reported in the banking system since 2018-19 is given below:

| Denomination (₹)                  | 2018-19            | 2019-20            | 2020-21            | 2021-22            | 2022-23            | 2023-24            |
|-----------------------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
|                                   | (number of pieces) | (number of pieces) | (number of pieces) | (number of pieces) | (number of pieces) | (number of pieces) |
| 500 [Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series] | 21,865             | 30,054             | 39,453             | 79,669             | 91,110             | 85,711             |
| 2000                              | 21,847             | 17,020             | 8,798              | 13,604             | 9,806              | 26,035             |

As per RBI on account of the ongoing withdrawal of ₹2000 banknotes from circulation and processing of these notes in large numbers, counterfeit notes detected in this denomination increased during the year 2023-24.

- (c) & (d): As per the data provided by RBI, the total number of counterfeit currency notes of all denominations detected / reported in the banking system has seen a decline, from 3,17,384 pieces in the year 2018-19 to 2,22,639 pieces in the year 2023-24.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 90 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-25
Subject: Minimum Wages for the Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shri Sudama Prasad

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 90

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.11.2024

## MINIMUM WAGES FOR THE WORKERS

90. SHRI SUDAMA PRASAD:

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

- (a)whether the Government is aware about complaint filed by the AllAssam Contractor Workers Union to ensure minimum wages to the
- workers of Chabua Air Force Station, Dibrugarh, Assam;
- (b)if so, the details thereof along with the action taken thereon;
- (c)if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d)the details of steps that are being taken/will be taken in future by the  Government  to  ensure  minimum  wages  to  the  workers employed  in  all  Union  Government  associated  holdings  and
- specifically for Chabua Air Force Station, Dibrugarh, Assam?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

- (a) & (b): Yes, the complaint dated 24.05.2024 was filed before the Regional Labour Commissioner (Central), Dibrugarh with a request to get  the  establishment  inspected.  Later,  it  was  decided  by  the competent  authority  to  get  all  the  contractors  mentioned  in  the complaint inspected.
- (c):
- Does not arise.
- (d): Both the Central and the State Governments are appropriate Governments to enforce the provisions of the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, and the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, including the provisions  relating  to  non-payment  or  underpayment  of  minimum wages, in their  respective jurisdictions.  In  the  Central  sphere,  the enforcement  is  done  through  the  Inspecting  Officers  of  the  Chief Labour  Commissioner  (Central),  commonly  designated as   Central

Industrial  Relations  Machinery  (CIRM)  and  the  compliance  in  the State sphere is ensured through the State Enforcement Machinery. The designated inspecting officers conduct regular inspections and in the event of detection of any case of nonpayment or underpayment of minimum wages, they direct the employers to make payment of the shortfall of wages. In case of non- compliance, penal provisions prescribed under sections 17A and 20 of the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 and section 22 of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 are taken recourse to.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 89 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-25
Subject: Scheme to Develop Green Schools
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri K C Venugopal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 89 ANSWERED ON - 25/11/2024

## Scheme to Develop Green Schools

- 89 Shri K C Venugopal:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  approved  any  scheme  to  develop  green  schools  equipped with solar panels, LED lights, waste management and water conservation facilities along with providing high-quality education, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the number of schools in the State of Kerala where the Scheme will be implemented; and (c)  the  details  of  the  funds  allocated  and  the  target  set  by  the  Government  for  the  State  of Kerala under the Scheme?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

- (a) Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, in which PM SHRI Schools are set up by strengthening the existing schools from amongst schools managed by Central government/State/UT Government/local bodies. These schools are to showcase all the initiatives of National Education Policy 2020 and emerge as exemplar schools over a period of time, and also offer leadership to other schools in the neighbourhood. They provide leadership in their respective regions in providing high-quality education  in  an  equitable,  inclusive  and  joyful  school  environment  that  takes  care  of  the diverse  background,  multilingual  needs,  and  different  academic  abilities  of  children  and makes them active participants in their own learning process as per the vision of NEP 2020.

Under the scheme, there is a provision of setting up of more than 14500 PM SHRI Schools  by  strengthening  the  existing  schools  from  amongst  schools  managed  by  Central government/State/UT Government/local bodies out of which 12,084 PM SHRI Schools have been selected so far.

These  schools  are  to  be  developed  as  Green  Schools  incorporating  environment friendly aspects like Energy efficient using solar panels and LED lightings, nutrition gardens with  natural  farming,  waste  management,  plastic  free,  water  conservation  and  harvesting, study  of  traditions/practises  related  to  protection  of  environment,  climate  change  related hackathons and awareness generation to incorporate organic lifestyle.

(b)  & (c): The state of Kerala is  yet to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement the PM SHRI Scheme.
Lok Sabha Question No. 84 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-25
Subject: SC/ST Cells of Central Universities
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Dr. Alok Kumar Suman

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 84 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.11.2024

## SC/ST Cells of Central Universities

## 84 Dr. Alok Kumar Suman :

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is true that SC/ST cells in Central Universities are non-functional and have not conducted any awareness campaign in the country;
- (b)  if  so,  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  that  the  existing  Central Universities which do not have any SC/ST cells comply with the UGC guidelines;
- (c)  whether  there  is  a  lack  of  funds  for  the  existing  SC/ST  cells  of  Central Universities in the country;
- (d)  if  so,  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  allocation and  disbursal of adequate funds for these cells; and
- (e)  whether  many  of  the  cells  do  not  have  any  room  allotted  for  meetings  and discussions  and  do  not  have  information  regarding  reservation  or  mechanism  to check the implementation of reserved quota in the Central Universities ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)

- (a)  to  (e): The  Central  Universities  have  functional  Scheduled  Castes/Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) Cells to promote inclusivity and ensure the effective implementation of  Government  policies.  SC/ST  cells  organize  awareness  programs  for  students, teaching  staff,  and  non-teaching  staff. The Central Government through  University Grants Commission (UGC), provides grants to the Central Universities from which expenditure for SC/ST Cell activities is met.

Central Universities under Ministry of Education are statutory autonomous institutions established under respective Central Acts of Parliament and  are governed  by  the  provisions  of  their  Acts/Statutes/Ordinances/Regulations.  The SC/ST Cells of the Central Universities utilise the infrastructure of their universities for  holding  meetings  and  discussions.  Further,  UGC  issues  regular  advisories  to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to prevent discrimination against  SC/ST candidates and effective implementation of reservation policies as per Government of India norms.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 83 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-25
Subject: Co-lending Agreements
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Shri Vishaldada Prakashbapu Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 83

Answered on Monday, November 25, 2024/Agrahayana 4, 1946 (Saka)

## Co-lending Agreements

## 83.   SHRI VISHALDADA PRAKASHBAPU PATIL:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

(a) the number of co-lending agreements signed between private sector and public sector banks during the last ten years;

(b) whether the Government has any substantiation for the claim that co-lending has increased lending to agriculture and MSME;

- (c) if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the measures taken to ensure that the co-lending agreements are transparent and accountable?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

(a)  to  (c):  Reserve  Bank  of  India  (RBI)  vide  its  circular  dated  5.11.2020  has  permitted  Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) to co-lend with all registered Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) including  Housing Finance Companies (HFCs) based on a prior agreement to the priority sector in order to improve the flow of credit to the unserved and underserved sectors of the economy and make funds available to the ultimate beneficiary at an affordable cost, considering the lower cost of funds from banks and greater reach of the NBFCs. Outstanding advances under co-lending arrangement by PSBs have increased from ₹ 1,618.23 Crore in March 2022 to ₹ 11,497.14 crore in March 2024 under Agriculture and MSME segment.

(d): Further, RBI vide circular dated 5.11.2020 has instructed banks and NBFCs to formulate Board approved policies for entering into Co-Lending arrangement and place the Board approved policies on their websites. Based on their Board approved policies, a Master Agreement is required to be entered into between the two partner institutions which shall, inter-alia, include terms and conditions of the arrangement, the criteria for selection of partner institutions, the specific product lines and areas of operation, along with provisions related to segregation of responsibilities as well as customer interface and protection issues.

PSBs  have  informed  that  in  order  to  ensure  the  transparency  and  accountability  in  co-lending agreements they have adopted several measures which, inter alia, includes vetting of Co-lending Master Agreement (CMA) by the legal Department, thorough deliberation of terms of agreements through bilateral discussions, drafting of well-defined and comprehensive roles and responsibilities of co-lending partners in the agreement in compliance with regulatory guidelines.
Lok Sabha Question No. 77 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-25
Subject: Incidents of Theft from Lockers
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Shri Arun Kumar Sagar

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †77

Answered on Monday, November 25, 2024/Agrahayana 4, 1946 (Saka)

## Incidents of Theft from Lockers

## †77 .   SHRI ARUN KUMAR SAGAR:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there has been a sharp increase in the incidents of dacoity, theft of money and jewellery from lockers in various branches of nationalised banks in different States during the last three years till date;
- (b) if so, the year-wise/bank-wise details of such incidents occurred;
- (c) whether each of these cases have been investigated;
- (d) whether the complicity of bank employees/officials have been detected in the said cases;
- (e) if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the action taken or proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (f): No sir. As per the information furnished by Public Sector Banks (PSBs), the number of cases of dacoity and theft from lockers in branches of PSBs in various States decreased from six cases reported during the financial year (FY) 2021-22 to four cases reported during the financial year (FY) 2022-23 and one case reported during the financial year (FY) 2023-24.

PSBs have further informed that in all the aforesaid cases, FIRs were lodged and the matters were investigated. Connivance of bank employee was found in one case during this period and action was taken by the bank as per extant policy guidelines on staff accountability.

Reserve Bank of India vide circular dated 18.8.2021 has advised banks to put in place a detailed Board approved policy outlining the responsibilities owed by bank for any loss or damage to the contents of the lockers due to negligence of banks.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 68 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-25
Subject: Model Schools in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Navaskani K, Shri Selvam G, Shri C N Annadurai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-68 ANSWERED ON -25/11/2024

## MODEL SCHOOLS IN TAMIL NADU

68 Shri Navaskani K: Shri Selvam G: Shri C N Annadurai:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) the number of model schools established by the Government across the country;

(b) the criteria fixed by the Government for selection of their locations;

(c) the total number of districts and States covered by the model schools and the percentage of rural and underserved areas that have been prioritized;

(d) the present status of vacancies of teachers in these schools;

(e)  the  number  of  proposals  received/sanctioned  during  the  last  three  years  and  the  current year for setting  up  of  such  schools  along  with  the  locations  where  such  schools  have  been opened, State-wise especially in Tamil Nadu;

(f) the details of financial assistance provided by the Government during the said period for these schools, State-wise, location-wise especially in Tamil Nadu;

(g)  the  details  of  enrollment  rates  in  model  schools,  particularly  among  girls  and  students from scheduled castes/scheduled tribes communities; and

(h)  the  other  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  that  model  schools  maintain  high standards of education and follow an innovative and modern curriculum?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (h): The  Model  School  Scheme  envisaged  setting  up  of  one  model  school  per block  as  a  benchmark  of  excellence  at  the  block  level.  The  scheme  has  two  modes  of implementation,  viz.  (i)  setting  up  of  schools  in  educationally  backward  blocks  (EBBs) through  State/UT  Governments,  and  (ii)  the  remaining  schools  under  Public-Private Partnership  (PPP)  mode  in  blocks  which  are  not  educationally  backward.  The  model schools  are  meant  to  be  schools  of  excellence  and  are  expected  to  be  pace  setters  for neighbourhood  schools.  Basically  a  model  school  has  infrastructure  and  facilities  of  the same standard as in a Kendriya Vidyalaya and with stipulations on pupil-teacher ratio, ICT usage,  holistic  educational  environment,  appropriate  curriculum  and  emphasis  on  output and outcome.

The scheme has been delinked from the support of the Government of India with effect from 2015-16 and stands transferred to States/UTs. Since Model School Scheme has been transferred to States / UTs w.e.f. 2015-16, therefore no proposal has been received / sanctioned since 2015-16.

The administrative control of the Model  School  Scheme  is with the State Government  and  since  Education  is  a  subject  in  the  concurrent  list  of  the  Constitution, majority of the schools and teachers in the country are under the administrative  control of the State Governments and UT Administrations.

*****