opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 4 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-22
Subject: Sports activities for Economically Weaker and Underprivileged families
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Shri K E Prakash

## Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports

## Government of India Department of Sports

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 4

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 22.07.2024

Sports activities for Economically Weaker and Underprivileged families

- 4  Shri K E Prakash:

Will the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  any  scheme  to  motivate  and encourage  economically  weaker  and  underprivileged  families  to participate  in  national  and  international  sports,  if  so,  the  details thereof; and
- (b) if not, the reasons therefor and the necessary steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

(DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

- (a) and (b): Yes Sir. The Government is implementing the scheme of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Program for Sportspersons with the objective of providing financial assistance to outstanding sportspersons/family members living in indigent circumstances for various purposes like ameliorate condition, medical treatment, injuries, procurement of sports equipment's etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-22
Subject: Tourist spots of historical importance
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Pradeep Purohit

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3 ANSWERED ON 22.07.2024

## TOURIST SPOTS OF HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE

- 3 SHRI PRADEEP PUROHIT:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken any steps for the development of tourist spots of historical importance in the State of Odisha; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM            (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (b): The Ministry of Tourism through its central sector schemes of 'Swadesh Darshan (SD)' and 'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage  Augmentation  Drive  (PRASHAD)'  compliments  the  efforts  of tourism  infrastructure  development  by  extending  financial  assistance  to the  State  Governments/UT  Administrations.  The  details  of  the  Projects sanctioned in Odisha under SD & PRASHAD Schemes are as under:

| Scheme   | Project                                               | Amount Sanctioned   |
|----------|-------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
| SD 1.0   | Development of Gopalpur, Barkul, Satapada and Tampara | Rs. 70.82 Crores    |
| PRASHAD  | Infrastructure Development at Puri                    | Rs. 50.00 Crores    |

The Ministry has now revamped its Swadesh Darshan scheme as Swadesh Darshan  2.0  (SD  2.0)  with  the  objective  to  develop  sustainable  and responsible  tourism  destinations  and  has  notified  57  destinations  in  the country  for  development  including  'Koraput'  &  'Debrigarh'  along  with special attraction of 'Khinda Village' in Odisha.  In addition, the Ministry has  also  identified  'Chausath  Yogini  Temple'  and  'Maa  Kichakeswari Temple' in Odisha for development under PRASHAD Scheme.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 375 (STARRED), answered on 2024-12-20
Subject: Setting up of CGHS Centre in Malabar Region
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri E T Mohammed Basheer

## GOVERNMENT OFINDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE

## LOKSABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 375 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 20 TH DECEMBER, 2024

## SETTING UPOFCGHS CENTRE IN MALABAR REGION

## *375. SHRI E T MOHAMMED BASHEER:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received any proposal for setting up CGHS Centre(s) in Malabar Region;
- (b) if so, the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether the Government has any plans to establish a CGHS Centre in Northern Part of Kerala i.e. Malappuram or Calicut; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

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

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 375 FOR 20 TH DECEMBER, 2024

(a) to (d) Augmentation of CGHS infrastructure to serve the beneficiaries more effectively and efficiently is a continuous process. Presently, in the Malabar Region, one CGHS dispensary each is functioning in Calicut (Kozhikode) and Kannur, which caters to the medical needs of approximately 6047 and 2972 CGHS beneficiaries respectively. In total, approximately 9000 beneficiaries are benefited from these wellness centres which is in proportion to CGHS dispensary availability and beneficiaries count.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 373 (STARRED), answered on 2024-12-20
Subject: Ban on FDC Medicines
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Shri S Venkatesan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICALS

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. *373 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 20 th  DECEMBER, 2024

## Ban on FDC Medicines

## *373. Shri S Venkatesan:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has banned 156 Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) medicines which included commonly used antibiotics, painkillers and multivitamins;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the number of FDCs identified by the Kokate Committee as irrational and under production without licences; and
- (d) the measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to protect people from risks associated with these irrational drugs?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

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

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  THE  LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION NO. *373 (13 TH  POSITION) FOR ANSWER ON 20.12.2024 RAISED BY SHRI S VENKATESAN REGARDING 'BAN ON FDC MEDICINES'.

(a)  to  (d):  As  per  the  information  provided  by  M/o  Health  &  Family  Welfare,  there  are provisions under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, under which Central Government may regulate, restrict or prohibit manufacture, etc of any drug including Fixed Dose Combination (FDCs) drugs in public interest if the use of drugs is likely to involve any risk to human beings or animals or there is no therapeutic justification for the ingredients contained in FDCs.

Whenever, any such concerns on any drug including FDCs are reported, the matter is examined in consultation with expert committee/ Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) and appropriate action is taken for prohibition of such drugs.

Central Government constituted an Expert Committee under the chairmanship of Prof C.K. Kokate to examine the safety and efficacy of such FDCs.

Based on the recommendations of the Prof. C. K. Kokate Expert Committee, Central Government prohibited several FDCs. List of such banned FDCs including 156 banned FDCs in the month of August, 2024 is available on the website of Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) i.e www.cdsco.gov.in.

Under  the  provision  of  Drugs  &  Cosmetics  Act  and  Rules,  manufacture/  sale/ distribution  of  any  banned  drug  is  a  punishable  offence.  State  Licencing  Authorities  are empowered to take action in case of manufacture, sale of such unapproved FDCs.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 372 (STARRED), answered on 2024-12-20
Subject: India's Diplomatic Relations
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Devesh Chandra Thakur

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

STARRED Q. NO. 372

## ANSWERED ON 20.12.2024

## INDIA'S DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS

## †*372. SHRI DEVESH CHANDRA THAKUR

Will the Minister of External Affairs be pleased to state:

(a)   the   number   of   countries   with   which   India   does   not   have   any diplomatic relations across the globe;

(b)   the   names   of   such   countries   and   the   reasons   for   not   having diplomatic relations therewith;

(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to establish relations with the said countries; and

(d) the extent to which success has been achieved in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## (DR. SUBRAHMANYAM JAISHANKAR)

(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the table of the House. *****

Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (d) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. †*372 for reply on 20.12.2024 regarding 'India's Diplomatic Relations.' (a) to (d) There are no United Nations (UN) Member States with whom India does not have diplomatic relations. In addition to having diplomatic relations   with   all   192   UN   Member   States,   India   also   has   diplomatic relations with two UN Observer States i.e. The Holy See and the State of Palestine and two non-UN Member States i.e. Niue and Cook Islands. *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 365 (STARRED), answered on 2024-12-20
Subject: Setting up of Cancer Hospital  in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. M K Vishnu Prasad

## GOVERNMENT OFINDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE

## LOKSABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 365 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 20 TH DECEMBER, 2024

## SETTING UPOF CANCER HOSPITALIN TAMIL NADU

## *365. DR. M K VISHNU PRASAD:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is a need to set up a Central Government hospital in Cuddalore Parliamentary Constituency in the State of Tamil Nadu, if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) whether the Government is aware of high cases of cancer in and around Cuddalore district, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

- (a) & ( b) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 365 FOR 20 TH DECEMBER, 2024

(a) & (b) The Central Government implements the Strengthening of Tertiary Cancer Care Centers Facilities Scheme in order to enhance the facilities for cancer care at tertiary level. Under this scheme, 19 State Cancer Institutes (SCIs) and 20 Tertiary Cancer Care Centers (TCCCs) have been approved. 14 SCIs and 18 TCCCs are functional and offering patient care services.

Under the above mentioned Scheme, in Tamil Nadu, State Cancer Institute has been established at Adyar, Chennai. Total financial support of Rs. 120 Crores has been approved which includes Central Share Rs. 72 Crores. Under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), one AIIMS has been approved at Madurai. Also, in the vicinity, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Puducherry is providing high end cancer treatment.

The State Government of Tamil Nadu has informed that Raja Muthaiah Government Medical College and the District Head Quarters Hospital at Cuddalore offers basic investigations for confirmation and staging of common cancers. Further Oncology department at Villupuram Medical College Hospital located at a distance of 50 Km from Cuddalore is equipped with Cobalt Teletherapy unit for cancer treatment.

The Regional Cancer Centre attached to Thanjavur Medical College Hospital which is about 150 Km from Cuddalore, is equipped with high end diagnostics like PET CT and treatment services like LINAC teletherapy and brachytherapy.

The State Government of Tamil Nadu has informed as per the latest data of Tamil Nadu Cancer Registry Project (TNCRP)-2019, Cuddalore has a Crude Incidence Rate (CIR) of 90.5 which is lower than the State average with a CIR of 96.6.

The National Health Mission under National Programme on Non-communicable Diseases covers screening, diagnostic and treatment of the three common cancers, namely, oral cancer, breast cancer and cervical cancer. The State Government has informed that they have established screening services for the 3 common cancers namely cervical cancer, breast cancer and oral cancer in all Government Institutions in Cuddalore and rest of Tamil Nadu.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 4368 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-20
Subject: Passport Seva Kendra in Kerala
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Rajmohan Unnithan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 4368

ANSWERED ON- 20/12/2024

## PASSPORT SEVA KENDRA IN KERALA

4368. SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-

(a) whether it is a fact that there is no adequate seating or other facilities for people who need passports including infants and elderly people in Passport Seva Kendra which operates in Payyannur and Kasargod Head Post Office in the State of Kerala;

(b) if  so, the details thereof alongwith the response of the Government in this regard;

(c) whether necessary intervention has been taken by MEA to solve this problem by shifting the Passport Seva Kendra to another convenient place or additional facilities being arranged in these centres; and

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

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a to d) Adequate seating arrangements and other required facilities are available at the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) in Payyanur and the Post Office Passport   Seva   Kendra   (POPSK)   in   Kasaragod.     A   total   of   570   and   90 appointments   are   being   released   daily   at   PSK   Payyanur   and   POPSK Kasaragod   respectively   and   the   appointment   is   available   within   2   -   4 working days, at both these locations.  Appointments for PSK /POPSK are released   in   a   slot-based   system.   Each   slot   accommodates   a   specified number of applicants, ensuring a manageable flow of people at any given time.   Hence,   adequate   seating   arrangements   and   other   facilities   have accordingly been made available to applicants. In view of this, there is no plan to shift the PSK Payyanur and POPSK Kasaragod to another location.

*****

2
Lok Sabha Question No. 4366 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-20
Subject: Violence against Hindus in Bangladesh
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Arvind Dharmapuri

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 4366

ANSWERED ON- 20/12/2024

VIOLENCE AGAINST HINDUS IN BANGLADESH

## 4366. SHRI ARVIND DHARMAPURI

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-

- (a)   the   total   number   of   cases   of   violence   against   Hindus   and   other minorities reported in neighboring countries during the last three years, country-wise and year-wise;
- (b)   the   steps   taken/proposed   to   be   taken   by   the   Ministry   to   protect minorities, including diplomatic interventions and relief measures; and
- (c)   the   details   of   the   data   of   long-term   strategies   developed   by   the Government to ensure the safety and rights of minorities in neighboring countries alongwith the actions taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

## (a) As per available data from minority/ human rights organisations, the number of cases of violence against Hindus and other minorities are as follows:

|   Year | Bangladesh                   | Pakistan                 |
|--------|------------------------------|--------------------------|
|   2022 | 47                           | 241                      |
|   2023 | 302                          | 103                      |
|   2024 | 2200 (till December 8, 2024) | 112 (till October, 2024) |

Cases of violence against Hindus and other minorities in other neighboring countries (except Pakistan and Bangladesh) - NIL

(b) Government has taken serious note of these incidents and shared its concerns with the Government of Bangladesh. India's expectation is that the Government of Bangladesh will take all necessary measures to ensure safety and welfare of Hindus and other minorities. The same has also been reiterated   during   the   visit   of   the   Foreign   Secretary   to   Bangladesh   on December 9, 2024. The High Commission of India in Dhaka continues to monitor the situation related to the minorities in Bangladesh closely. Government of  India raises the issue of  violence against the minority communities through diplomatic channels and has urged the Government

of   Pakistan   to   take   steps   to   prevent   religious   intolerance,   sectarian violence, systemic persecution and attacks on minority communities and ensure their safety, security, and well-being. India continues to highlight the plight of minorities in Pakistan at appropriate international fora.

(c) The primary responsibility for the protection of life and liberty of all citizens, including minorities, rests with the Government of  the country concerned.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4362 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-20
Subject: Coastal Economic Zones
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Shri Maddila Gurumoorthy

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4362

ANSWERED ON 20.12.2024

## COASTAL ECONOMIC ZONES

4362.  SHRI MADDILA GURUMOORTHY:

Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state: पȅन , पोत पįरवहन और जलमागŊ मंũी

- (a) the status of the Coastal Economic Zones (CEZs) identified under 'Sagarmala' Programme; and
- (b) the  total  amount  of  FDI  inflow  to  develop  CEZs  during  the  last  three  years, project-wise and year-wise?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b)  Under the National Perspective Plan of the Sagarmala Programme, fourteen Coastal Economic Zones (CEZ) were envisaged primarily for Port-Led Industrialization. In order to meet the objectives of Port-Led Industrialization, more than 8000 acres land in  the  Major  Ports  have  already  been  used  for  Industrialization  which  includes  277 hectares multi-sector Special Economic Zones developed at Jawaharlal Nehru Port and Smart Industrial Port City which is being developed at Paradip Port spanning over 700 Acres  of  land.  Other  ports  including  New  Mangalore  Port,  Vishakhtapatnam  Port, Cochin Port, Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port and V.O. Chidambaranar Port have also allotted land for industrialisation.

Further,  National  Industrial  Corridor  Development  and  Implementation  Trust (NICDIT) under the administrative control of Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal  Trade  (DPIIT)  in  partnership  with  respective  State  Govt(s)  has  planned  to develop  various  industrial  corridor  projects  as  part  of  National  Industrial  Corridor Programme which  is  aimed  at  development  of  green  field  industrial  region/  nodes  in India. Government of India has accorded approval for development of 11 corridors (32 projects)  in  Four  Phases  as  part  of  National  Master  Plan  for  providing  multimodal connectivity to economic zones.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4361 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-20
Subject: Biomedical Innovations
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Muhammed Hamdullah Sayeed

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH RESEARCH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4361 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 TH DECEMBER, 2024

## BIOMEDICALINNOVATIONS

## 4361. SHRI MUHAMMED HAMDULLAH SAYEED:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government through the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) has launched the First in the World Challenge to promote pioneering biomedical innovations in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the specific objectives of this initiative including the focus on breakthrough technologies and other interventions;
- (c) whether such initiative includes criteria to avoid funding incremental innovations instead of prioritizing transformative research proposals; and
- (d) if so, the process by which research proposals will be selected and the role of Selection Committee in evaluating high risk, high reward projects?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) to (d): Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has informed that it has launched the "First in the World Challenge" to promote groundbreaking biomedical innovations in the country. This initiative is designed to identify and fund novel, high-impact research ideas that have the potential to achieve unprecedented advancements in health sciences.

The "First in the World Challenge" aims to inspire and support researchers to conceptualize and develop pioneering solutions for complex health challenges. The specific objectives include:

1. Encouraging futuristic and transformative ideas to generate new knowledge and breakthrough health technologies.
2. Supporting the discovery and development of novel vaccines, diagnostics, drugs, therapeutics, and interventions with global relevance and wide-ranging impact.
3. Avoiding incremental innovations by funding projects with bold, high-risk ideas that hold the potential for revolutionary outcomes.
4. Establishing India as a global leader in biomedical science through "first-of-its-kind" achievements.

This initiative is inherently high risk, high reward-accepting the uncertainty of outcomes for the possibility of significant, groundbreaking success.

Only projects that demonstrate novelty and originality, and the potential to achieve "never-before" outcomes in health sciences, qualify. A Selection Committee, comprising eminent scientists, innovators, policymakers, and domain experts, is mandated to evaluate the proposals, assessing the feasibility, transformative potential, and risk-reward ratio of each submission as per the programme norms. The evaluation is done as per the programme norms available on ICMR website https://epms.icmr.org.in/extramuralstaticweb/callforproposal/FIW\_30102024V2.pdf

*****