opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2522 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Social Security Schemes for Tea Plantation Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Raja Amareshwara Naik, Sukanta Majumdar, Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Bhola Singh, Vinod Kumar Sonkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2522 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023

## SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEMES FOR TEA PLANTATION WORKERS

## 2522. SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK:

SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR:

SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO:

SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR:

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

- (a)whether the Government has any social security schemes including ESI for tea plantation workers in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)whether the Government has taken any action on plantation owners who do not pay their share of Provident Fund and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)whether Tea Garden workers are not getting the prescribed minimum daily  wages  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons therefor;
- (d)whether the Government has any scheme to pay compensations to dependents of labourers of Tea Gardens in case of death and if so, the details thereof;
- (e)whether  the  Government  has  any  plan  to  improve  the  health  and wellness conditions of the plantation labourers in the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f)other  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  for  welfare  of  tea plantation workers in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

- (a) to (f): Welfare measures for tea plantation workers are implemented by concerned State governments in line with the Plantation Labour Act, 1951 which mandates the tea estates to provide basic welfare services and amenities viz. housing, medical and primary education, water supply, sanitation etc. to the tea workers.

The Plantation Labour Act has now been subsumed in the Labour Code on Occupational, Safety, Health and Working Conditions, 2020 and Social Security Code, 2020.  The Code on Social Security 2020 envisages  giving  option  to  plantation  owners  to  enrol  its  workers  as member of ESIC (Employees State Insurance Corporation).

The workers of the tea industry are also covered by all social security  legislations  like  Gratuity,  Pension,  Bonus,  Maternity  Benefit, Wages etc. Plantation workers are not covered under Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948.

Besides, the government implements various welfare activities for tea plantation workers and their dependants in tea estates through the Tea Board.

The fixation of minimum wages for tea garden workers falls under the purviews of State Governments as per the Minimum Wages Act, 1948.

In case of non-payment of provident fund share by plantation owners, action is taken in accordance with the Employees' Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2515 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Death of Tigers in Nilgiris Biosphere, Tamil Nadu
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Andimuthu Raja, A. Ganeshamurthi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 2515 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023

## Death of Tigers in Nilgiris Biosphere, Tamil Nadu

## 2515. SHRI A. RAJA:

SHRI A. GANESHAMURTHI :

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  more  than  10  tigers  have  died  recently  at  the  Nilgiris biosphere in Tamil Nadu;
- (b) if  so,  whether  any  team  or  committee  formed  to  investigate  the  deaths  after conducting postmortems of the tigers including cubs;
- (c) whether  National  Tiger  Conservation  Authority  (NTCA)  protocols  were  followed while investigating the deaths of these tigers;
- (d) if so, the reasons for sudden deaths of large number of tigers; and
- (e) the details of follow-up action proposed for the prevention of unnatural deaths and to conserve and protect wild animals in the region?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) As  reported  by  the  State,  there  were  ten  tiger  deaths  in  the  Nilgiris  region  between 16.08.2023 and 19.09.2023.
- (b) Yes  Sir.  A  committee  was  constituted  by  the  National  Tiger  Conservation  Authority (NTCA) to ascertain reasons for the said tiger deaths in the Nilgiris.
- (c) & (d) Yes Sir.  The reasons, as reported by the Committee, are given below:
- (i) Two adult tigers died due to infighting while 6 cubs died due to starvation.
- (ii) The death of  two tigers in Avalanche  region  was  due  to  poisoning  wherein  the culprit has already been arrested by the Forest Department.
- (e) The follow-up action proposed for the prevention of unnatural deaths and to conserve and protect wild animals in the region are as under:-
1. Implement a landscape strategy with focus  on  potential future  conflict  considering movement ecology of tiger and land-use changes in the landscape.
2. Detailed  monitoring  using  M-STrIPES  mobile  application  and  intensive  camera trapping in the region has been recommended.
3. Investigation  into  tiger  movement  in  human  dominated  areas  to  forecast  risk  and threat faced by people based on situation analysis has been recommended.
4. Collaborative mitigation strategies with all relevant stakeholders have been visualized  and  implementation  through  microplanning  at  local  or  panchayat  level under guidance of the Forest Department has been initiated.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2508 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Social Security to Gig Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Ramesh Bidhuri, Subrata Pathak

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2508

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023

## SOCIAL SECURITY TO GIG WORKERS

2508. SHRI RAMESH BIDHURI: SHRI SUBRATA PATHAK:

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

- (a)the social security benefits offered to Gig Workers over the past decade; and (b)the categories of workers encompassed within the Gig Workers
- group?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a) & (b): The  Social  Security  code,  2020  envisages  framing  of suitable  social  security  schemes  by  Central  Government  for  Gig workers  and  platform  workers  on  matters  relating  to  life  and disability cover, accident insurance, health and maternity benefits, old  age  protection,  etc.  As  per  section  2  (35)  of  the  Code,  a 'gig worker' means a person who performs work or participates in a work arrangement  and  earns  from  such  activities  outside  of  traditional employer-employee relationship.

The provisions under the Code relating to gig workers are yet to come into force.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2503 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Retail Inflation Since April 2022
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Pratima Mondal, Sougata Ray

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2503

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023

## RETAIL INFLATION SINCE APRIL 2022

2503.   SHRIMATI PRATIMA MONDAL: PROF. SOUGATA RAY:

Will the Minister of FINANCE

be pleased to state the details of retail inflation in the country since April 2022 to till date, month-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

Retail  inflation  rates  based  on  the  Consumer  Price  Index-Combined  since  April  2022  are given in the table below.

Retail Inflation rate (Base 2012=100)

| Month          | Inflation Rate (%)   |
|----------------|----------------------|
| April 2022     | 7.79                 |
| May 2022       | 7.04                 |
| June 2022      | 7.01                 |
| July 2022      | 6.71                 |
| August 2022    | 7.00                 |
| September 2022 | 7.41                 |
| October 2022   | 6.77                 |
| November 2022  | 5.88                 |
| December 2022  | 5.72                 |
| January 2023   | 6.52                 |
| February 2023  | 6.44                 |
| March 2023     | 5.66                 |
| April 2023     | 4.70                 |
| May 2023       | 4.31                 |
| June 2023      | 4.87                 |
| July 2023      | 7.44                 |
| August 2023    | 6.83                 |
| September 2023 | 5.02                 |
| October 2023   | 4.87                 |
| November 2023  | 5.55*                |

Source: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation

Note: *Provisional figure

*** ***
Lok Sabha Question No. 2501 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Health Insurance Companies
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Imtiaz Jaleel Syed

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2501

ANSWERED ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023/AGRAHAYANA 27, 1945 (SAKA)

## HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES

## 2501. SHRI SYED IMTIAZ JALEEL:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  formulated  any  policy  for  rating  of  the  Health  Insurance companies on the basis of their performance and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has lifted the regulations for the approval-seeking process to launch new products by the insurance company under use and file system and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has taken note that the policies introduced under the use and file system lack sustainability and affordability for the targeted customers and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the number of health insurance schemes suspended or withdrawn due to non-compliances during the last three years?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (DR. BHAGWAT KARAD)

(a): The insurance sector regulator Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) vide circular dated 30.09.2021 has specified that the insurers should disclose 24 critical ratios which include Gross Direct Premium Growth Rate, Growth Rate of Net worth, Combined Ratio, Net Incurred Claims to Net Earned Premium, NPA Ratio etc. This reporting provides an enabling environment for assessing the performance of health insurance companies.

(b) and (c): In order to meet the health insurance needs of people and for making available tailor-made products that meet requirements of different segments, IRDAI has introduced the 'Use and File' procedure for all categories of products and add-ons or riders vide circular dated 01.06.2022.  This new system provides scope for innovation and a wider choice of products to prospective policyholders.

The pricing of health insurance products is broadly driven by the market environment and the expenses of management of insurers, claims experience etc.

In terms of Use & File procedure, Insurers are directed to ensure that the product pricing is viable,  self-sustainable  and  affordable  to  the  targeted  market.  Further,  the  pricing  shall  be based on generally accepted actuarial principles and the revision in price, if any shall be only based on the underlying claims experience. However, to ensure that insurer do not revise prices frequently, IRDAI has advised them not to revise prices, ordinarily, within three years of introduction of the product.

(d): IRDAI has informed that no health insurance schemes have been suspended or withdrawn due to non-compliances during the last three years.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2500 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: ESIC Hospital in Shahjahanpur
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Arun Kumar Sagar

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2500

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023

## ESIC HOSPITAL IN SHAHJAHANPUR

†2500. SHRI ARUN KUMAR SAGAR:

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

- (a)whether  the  Government  had  performed  Bhoomi  Pujan  (land worship) of ESIC's hospital at village Paina Bujurg under Shahjahanpur Parliamentary Constituency of Uttar Pradesh;
- (b)if  so,  the  details  of  the  expenditure  likely  to  be  incurred  on  the construction of the hospital along with the time limit fixed for its completion; and
- (c)whether the work is going on as per time schedule and if so, the details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons  therefor  along  with  the persons responsible for the delay?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a) to (c):  Government has laid the foundation stone on 24.12.2021 at  Village  Pana  Buzurg,  Shahjahanpur,  Uttar  Pradesh  for  the construction  of  a  30  bedded  (upgradable  to  100  beds)  hospital. Construction  work  has  been  assigned  to  Central  Public  Works Department (CPWD) at an estimated amount of Rs.92.48 crore. The Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has requested the state government for conversion of land use to start the construction.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2497 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Language Spoken and Language Survey
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Kishan Kapoor

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 2497

ANSWERED ON - 18/12/2023

## LANGUAGE SPOKEN AND LANGUAGE SURVEY

## † 2497.  SHRI KISHAN KAPOOR:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of language being spoken in the country;
- (b) whether there is any such language which is on the verge of extinction in the country; and
- (c) the time when the last linguistic survey has been done in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUBHAS SARKAR)

- (a)    As  per  the  Census-2011,  there  are  121  languages  including  22  scheduled  and  99  non scheduled languages in the country. In addition, there are 270 identifiable mother tongues having more than 10,000 speakers.
- (b)    The  policy  of  the  Government  is  to  promote  all  Indian  Languages  including  endangered languages.  The Government of India has initiated a Scheme known as 'Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages of India' (SPPEL).  Under this Scheme, the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru works on protection, preservation and documentation of all the mother tongues/languages of India spoken by less than 10,000 people which are called endangered languages. 117 endangered languages/mother tongues have been chosen from all over India for study and documentation on a priority basis by CIIL.
- (c)        As  informed  by  the  Registrar  General  and  Census  Commissioner  of  India,  information regarding  Mother  Tongue  and  Other  Languages  Known  is  collected  during  the  census enumeration,  and  according  to  the  census  tabulation  plan,  the  C-16  table  is  prepared  for scheduled and non scheduled languages.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2496 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Fake Universities
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Queen Oja, Haji Fazlur Rehman

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 2496

ANSWERED ON- 18/12/2023

## Fake Universities

## 2496. SHRIMATI QUEEN OJA:

## SHRI HAJI FAZLUR REHMAN:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state :

(a) whether the Government has any data about the fake universities in the country, if so, the details thereof, State-wise;

- (b) whether any legal action has been taken against the fake universities owner and the steps taken by the Government to disaffiliate the fake universities, if so, the details thereof, Statewise;
- (c) whether the Government is aware that a large number of fake universities are cheating the students;
- (d) whether the Government has any data about the students, studying in fake universities, if so, the steps taken by the Government in favour of students;
- (e) if so, the number of such cases reported during the last four years and current year along with the action taken by the Government thereon; and
- (f) the remedial steps taken by the Government apart from issuing a notice to alert the public against such fake universities and the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## (DR. SUBHAS SARKAR)

(a) to (f): The list of fake universities are available in the website of the University Grants Commission (UGC) at https://www.ugc.gov.in/page/Fake-Universities.aspx. Currently 19 institutions figure in this list.

The Central Government as well as the UGC are taking various steps to protect the innocent students from the trap of such Universities/Institutions, which inter-alia include:

- i. From  time  to  time,  the  UGC  writes  letters  to  Chief  Secretaries  and  Education Secretaries of respective State/UT Governments to take action against fake universities/institutes located in their jurisdiction.
- ii. UGC has filed FIRs against some of these fake universities.
- iii. UGC has issued show-cause/ warning notices against such self-styled institutions.
- iv. In  addition,  the  Ministry  has  also  requested  the  Chief  Secretaries  of  all  State/UT Governments  to  take  appropriate  action  against  those  involved  in  defrauding  and cheating students by misrepresenting themselves as 'Universities', awarding degrees and using the word 'University' with their name.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2494 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Non-NET Fellowship of UGC
Ministry: Education
Asked by: S.R. Parthiban

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 2494

ANSWERED ON- 18/12/2023

## Non-NET Fellowship of UGC

2494. SHRI PARTHIBAN S.R.:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  number  of  Universities  and  M.Phil/PhD  scholars  covered  under  the  non-NET fellowship  of  the  UGC,  their  proportion  with  the  total  number  of  scholars  registered  for M.Phil/PhD programs;
- (b)  the  increase  in  the  amount  or  other facilities  available  under non-NET fellowship  since 2019;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  is  planning  to  increase  the  non-NET  fellowship  amount  and other facilities;
- (d) whether the Government intends to make non-NET fellowship universal to all M.Phil/PhD scholars; and
- (e) the increase in Junior Research Fellowship/ Senior Research fellowship amount including HRA in the same period?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (Dr. SUBHAS SARKAR)

- (a)  As  informed by the University Grants Commission (UGC),  as on 31.03.2023, Non-NET Fellowship  has  been  released  to  16270  M.Phil.  and  Ph.D.  students  in  45  UGC-funded Central  Universities.  During  2022-23,  23731  students  were  enrolled  in  M.Phil  and  Ph.D  in these Universities.
- (b) to (d) UGC has further informed that the Non-NET fellowship is being given to all students admitted  in  M.Phil./Ph.D.  as  per  UGC  (Minimum  Standards  and  Procedure  for  Award  of M.Phil./Ph.D.  Degrees)  Regulations,  2016  who  are  not  getting  any  scholarship  from  other schemes.
- (e)    With  effect  from  01.01.2023,  the  monthly  emoluments  for  Junior  Research  Fellowship and Senior Research Fellowship have been increased from Rs. 31,000/- to Rs. 37,000/- and Rs.35,000/- to Rs. 42,000/- respectively. Wherever provision of hostel accommodation is not possible,  HRA  is  allowed  as  per  Central  Government  norms  applicable  in  the  city/location where  they  are  working.  The  percentage  required  for  calculating  HRA  is  based  on  the fellowship amount.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2492 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Data of Hotels
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Thirumaa Valavan Thol

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2492 ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023

## DATA OF HOTELS

## 2492. SHRI THIRUMAAVALAVAN THOL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  the  data  about  the  number  of hotels, tourist homes owned and operated by the Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC);
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the ITDC has leased the hotels, tourist homes to others; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the net profit from the hotel segment during the last three years?

## ANSWER

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(a)  and  (b):  Yes,  Sir.  At  present  the  number  of  hotels,  tourist  homes owned  and  operated  by  the  India  Tourism  Development  Corporation Limited (ITDC) are as follows:

|   S. No. | Name                                  | State / UT             |
|----------|---------------------------------------|------------------------|
|        1 | The Ashok Hotel                       | New Delhi              |
|        2 | Hotel Samrat                          | New Delhi              |
|        3 | Hotel Kalinga Ashok                   | Bhubaneswar, Odisha    |
|        4 | Hotel Jammu Ashok (Operations Closed) | Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir |

The Joint Venture Hotels of ITDC are as follows:

|   S. No. | Name of Hotel                            | State / UT        | Joint Venture                                                                                     |
|----------|------------------------------------------|-------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | The Ashok Beach Resort                   | Pondicherry       | ITDC with PIPDICL (Pondicherry Industrial Promotion Development & Investment Corporation Limited) |
|        2 | Hotel Ranchi Ashok (Operations Closed)   | Ranchi, Jharkhand | ITDC with BSTDC (Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation)                                     |
|        3 | Hotel Nilachal Ashok (Operations Closed) | Puri, Odisha      | ITDC with OTDC (Odisha Tourism Development Corporation)                                           |

(c): No, Sir. (d): Does not arise. **********