opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 841 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-24
Subject: Public Contract Bill, 2015
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: JOSE K. MANI

(क) क्या सरकार का पब्लिक कॉन्ट्रैक्ट (रिसोलुशन ऑफ डिस्पुट) बिल, 2015 लाने का विचार है;

(ख) यदि हां, तो तत्संबंधी ब्यौरा क्या है और इसकी प्रमुख विशेषताएं क्या हैं तथा इसके क्या कारण हैं;

(ग) क्या प्रारूप विधेयक का विचार 120 दिनों की दैनिक सुनवाई के आधार पर निर्धारण करते हुए अधिकरण की कार्यवाहियों को समयबद्ध करने का है ताकि यह आदेशों की घोषणा कर सके तथा आदेश को केवल उच्चतम न्यायालय में ही चुनौती दी जा सके; और

(घ) यदि हां, तो तत्संबंधी ब्यौरा क्या है?

**उत्‍तर**

**वित्‍त मंत्रालय में राज्‍य मंत्री (श्री जयंत सिन्‍हा)**

**(क) से (घ):** वित्‍त मंत्री ने केंद्रीय बजट 2015-16 के अपने बजट भाषण में, अन्‍य बातों के साथ-साथ, लोक संविदाओं संबंधी विवादों के समाधान हेतु संस्‍थागत व्‍यवस्‍थाओं को कारगर बनाने की जरूरत पर बल दिया और लोक संविदा (विवादों का समाधान) विधेयक पेश करने का प्रस्‍ताव किया। तदनुसार, लोक संविदा (विवादों का समाधान) विधेयक, 2015 का प्रारंभिक मसौदा तैयार किया गया और हितधारकों की टिप्‍पणियां/विचार प्राप्‍त करने के लिए सरकारी वेबसाइट पर डाल दिया गया। इस प्रस्‍तावित कानून में निर्माण परियोजनाओं और पीपीपी परियोजनाओं सहित अवसंरचना परियोजनाओं के लिए सरकारी प्राधिकरण द्वारा संपन्‍न की गई संविदाओं को निपटाने की परिकल्‍पना की गई है।

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 837 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-24
Subject: Financial Redressal Agency
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: VINOD KUMAR BOIANAPALLI

1. whether the Government has set up a task force to lay the roadmap for setting up of Financial Redressal Agency (FRA) as recommended by  Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission (FSLRC); and

1. if so, the details thereof and the outcome thereon?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE**

**(SHRI  JAYANT SINHA)**

1. & (b) The Government set up a Task Force on Financial Redress Agency (FRA), as recommended by the FSLRC, on 5 th June 2015, with the following Terms of Reference:-

1. Review the international best practices in consumer grievance redress, including ombudsmen and other dispute resolution mechanisms, with a focus on the financial sector.
2. Review the present practices of management of financial consumer redress in India.
3. Support the Ministry of Finance in procuring the services of competent consultants(s) to operationalise the FRA.
4. Guide and monitor the consultant(s) in order to develop the design, business model, funding, financial controls, risk management plan, administrative plan, process manuals, information technology system and accountability and reporting mechanisms, etc.

The Task Force will complete its task within one year.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 835 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-24
Subject: Basic Trainer Aircraft
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF DEFENCE**

**DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE**

**LOK  SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.835**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 24** **TH** **JULY, 2015**

**BASIC TRAINER AIRCRAFT**

835.  SHRI  VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE    j{kk ea=h

be pleased to state:

(a)	whether the Government  proposes to acquire basic trainer aircraft to provide training to and for induction of young boys / girls into flying; and

(b)	if so, the details thereof?

#### A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF DEFENCE                                   (SHRI MANOHAR PARRIKAR)

j{kk ea=h    			         ¼Jh euksgj ijhZdj½

**(a) & (b):** **Yes, Madam.  The Pilatus PC-7 Mk-II (BTA) have been procured for training of pilots in IAF.  The contract for supply of these aircrafts was signed on 24** **th** **May 2012.**

***********
Lok Sabha Question No. 833 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-24
Subject: Levy Charge on Operators
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: N.K. PREMACHANDRAN

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 833**

**(TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2015)**

**LEVY CHARGE ON OPERATORS**

**833 : SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:**

**Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:**

(a)	whether the Government proposes to levy charge on operators like DTH, MSO, DAS and HITS operators;

(b)	if so, the details thereof;

(c)	the criteria fixed by the Government to levy licences fees from the different categories of operators; and

(d)   the details regarding the relaxation granted by the Government for levy licences fee from the above categories of operators?

**ANSWER**

**THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING {COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (Retd.)}**

1. and (b): As per the Direct-to-Home (DTH) Guidelines, the DTH Licensee, in addition to an initial non-refundable entry fee of Rs.10 crores,  is required to pay an annual license fee @ 10% of its Gross Revenue (GR). Under the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994, the provision for registration to Multi System Operators (MSO) to operate in the Digital Addressable System (DAS) prescribes processing fee of Rs. 1 Lakh for registration as MSO. As per Headend-in-the-Sky (HITS) Guidelines, an amount of Rs.10 crores towards onetime non-refundable entry fee is prescribed.

(c) and (d) : The licence fee/processing fee prescribed in the extant guidelines/rules lay down  fee structures  as recommended by  the Group of Ministers (GOM) for DTH and in case of MSOs and HITS, on  recommendations of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). No relaxation has been granted by this Ministry in respect of levy of licence fee.
Lok Sabha Question No. 832 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-24
Subject: Provision for Funding AIBP and MGNREGA
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: RITA TARAI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 832

## TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 24 TH  JULY, 2015/SHRAVANA 02, 1937 (SAKA)

## 'PROVISION FOR FUNDING AIBP AND MGNREGA'

## Q U E S T I O N

## 832.  SHRIMATI RITA TARAI:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to make adequate provision for Central Plan Assistance for the plan schemes like Accelerated Irrigation  Benefit Programme (AIBP) and MGNREGA for clearing backlog commitments for the year 2012-13 and 2013-14 and increase the current year's allocation; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon?

## A N S W E R MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE ( SHRI JAYANT SINHA) :

- (a)& ( b ): Yes Sir. Provisions have been made based on absorptive capacity of these Schemes in the financial year and available fiscal space. Based on these, provision  has  been  made  for  Accelerated  Irrigation  Benefit  Programme (AIBP) and Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).    During  the  financial year 2015-2016,  a  provision of Rs.1000.00  crore  for  AIBP  and  Rs.34,699.00  crore  for  MGNREGA  has been made.  Further, Finance Minister in Para 55 of his budget speech has announced to enhance allocation to MGNREGA by Rs.5,000 crore subject to mobilization of additional resources during the year from tax buoyancy. Depending  on  resources  available  and  expenditure  trend,  request  for additional allocations, if any, would be considered at RE stage.
Lok Sabha Question No. 831 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-24
Subject: Inflation
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: SHOBHA KARANDLAJE

- (a) whether the wholesale price inflation has started showing declining trend, marking the 7 th consecutive month in which it has been negative;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether Wholesale Price Index (WPI) is the main measure of inflation; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and reasons for not measuring inflation on the basis of Consumer Price Index (CPI)?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI JAYANT SINHA)

- (a) & (b) Inflation based on wholesale price index (Base 2004-05=100) remained negative since November 2014 (Table 1).

Table 1: Wholesale price inflation (in per cent)

| Period        |   Jul- 14 |   Aug- 14 |   Sep- 14 |   Oct- 14 |   Nov- 14 |   Dec- 14 |   Jan- 15 |   Feb- 15 |   Mar- 15 |   Apr- 15 |   May- 15 |   Jun- 15 |
|---------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| WPI Inflation |       5.4 |       3.9 |       2.4 |       1.7 |      -0.2 |      -0.5 |      -0.9 |      -2.2 |      -2.3 |      -2.4 |      -2.4 |      -2.4 |

Source: Office of the Economic Adviser, DIPP; Note: Figure for last two months are Provisional.

The decline in wholesale price inflation is due to fall in inflation of majority of the groups like non-food articles, minerals, crude petroleum, fuel & power, rubber & plastic products and basic metals, alloys & metal products.

(c) & (d) In India, inflation is measured in terms of Wholesale Price Index (WPI) as well as Consumer Price Indices (CPIs) viz, Consumer Price Index- Rural, Urban, Combined, Consumer Price Index- Industrial Workers, Consumer Price Index- Agricultural Labourers and Consumer Price Index- Rural Labourers. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has started using CPI- Combined as the sole inflation measure for the purpose of monetary policy. The agreement on Monetary Policy Framework between the Government and the RBI dated February 20, 2015 defines the price stability objective explicitly in terms of the target for inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index- Combined.
Lok Sabha Question No. 829 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-24
Subject: Celebrations Relating to War with Pakistan
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: CHANDRAKANT RAGHUNATH PATIL

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF DEFENCE**

**DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE**

**LOK  SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.829**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 24** **TH** **JULY, 2015**

**CELEBRATIONS RELATING TO WAR WITH PAKISTAN**

829.  SHRI  C.R. PATIL:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE    j{kk ea=h

be pleased to state:

(a)	whether the Government proposes to celebrate fifty years of victory in Indo-Pakistan war of 1965; and

(b)	if so, the details thereof?

#### A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF DEFENCE                                   (SHRI MANOHAR PARRIKAR)

j{kk ea=h    			           ¼Jh euksgj ijhZdj½

**(a) & (b):** **Yes, Madam.  The celebrations of fifty years of victory in Indo-Pakistan war of 1965 would include events like wreath laying at Amar Jawan Jyoti (India Gate), tri-service seminar / exhibition, victory carnival, musical evening etc.**

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 824 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-24
Subject: Chinese Incursions
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: KRISTAPPA NIMMALA, V. SATHYABAMA, KRISHN PRATAP SINGH

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF DEFENCE**

**DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE**

**LOK  SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.824**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 24** **TH** **JULY, 2015**

**CHINESE INCURSIONS**

824.	SHRI  NIMMALA KRISTAPPA:

SHRIMATI  V. SATHYA BAMA:

DR. KRISHAN PRATAP:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE    j{kk ea=h

be pleased to state:

(a)	whether several instances of incursions / transgressions by Chinese Troops along the Indo-China border have come to the notice of the Government;

(b)	if so, the details of such instances reported during the year 2014-15;

(c)	whether the Government has taken steps to resolve border disputes with China and if so, the details thereof; and

(d)	the steps taken / being taken by the Government to modernise Indian Defence Forces and improve its efficiency and to protect the security interest of the country?

#### A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF DEFENCE                                   (SHRI MANOHAR PARRIKAR)

j{kk ea=h    			          ¼Jh euksgj ijhZdj½

**(a) & (b):** **There is no commonly delineated Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China.  There are areas along the border where India and China have differing perception of LAC.  Due to both sides undertaking patrolling upto their perception of the LAC, transgressions do occur.**

**(c)	To resolve the border disputes, the two sides have appointed Special Representative (SR) to explore the framework for a boundary settlement from the political perspective of the overall bilateral relationship.  The 18** **th** **round of Special Representative talks on the India-China boundary**

**.....2/**

**:  2  :**

**question was held in New Delhi from 20-22, March, 2015.  India and China are committed to resolve bilateral issues through dialogue and peaceful negotiations and in a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable manner.**

**(d)	Government is fully seized of the security needs of the country.  Government regularly reviews the threat perception to secure our borders and protect national interest.  Appropriate measures are taken from time to time to maintain / upgrade the country’s defence preparedness along the borders to safeguard the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of India.  Military capacity enhancement and modernization of armed forces including armament and ammunition is    a dynamic and continuous process and is done in consonance with our threat perception.**

***********
Lok Sabha Question No. 823 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-24
Subject: Import of Wheat
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: C. MAHENDRAN, KAMAL NATH

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

(DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 823**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 24** **TH** **JULY 2015**

**IMPORT OF WHEAT**

**823. 	SHRI C. MAHENDRAN:**

**SHRI KAMAL NATH:**

Will the Minister of **COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (´ÉÉÉÊhÉVªÉ A´ÉÆ =tÉÉäMÉ àÉÆjÉÉÒ)** be pleased to state:

- 1.1. whether the Indian flour millers and the local units of global trading giants have reportedly sewn up deals to import wheat on lower global price from foreign countries including Australia despite surplus stocks at home with FCI and without assessing the actual availability of wheat at home;
- 1.2. if so, the reasons and justification of importing wheat;
- 1.3. whether the Government proposes to reassess the situation and cancel such deals to import wheat;
- 1.4. if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- 1.5. whether the Government proposes to impose import duty on wheat to curb shipments and liquidate poor quality of grain lying in FCI godowns and if so, the details thereof ?

### 

### ANSWER

**okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx jkT; ea=h  )Lora= izHkkj)** ( **Jherh fueZyk lhrkje.k** )

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a)&(b) :  Vide Notification No.35 dated 8 th October, 2007, it was decided that import of Durum Wheat (ITC(HS) Code 1001 19 00) and other wheat ITC (HS) Code 1001 99 10) will be allowed freely.  Therefore, private parties are free to take decisions based upon their individual decision making parameters.

(c & d) 	The import and export of agricultural products depends on various factors including availability of surplus over and above the requirement of buffer stock including strategic reserve, concerns of food security, diplomatic/humanitarian considerations, international demand and supply situation, quality standards in the importing/exporting countries, varieties traded and price competitiveness, need to balance between remunerative prices to the growers and availability of agricultural products to common man at affordable prices.  The Government takes into account the above factors before deciding on import or export of agricultural commodities.

(e)	As on date, there is no such Government decision to impose import duty on wheat.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 822 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-24
Subject: Cash Deposit Machine
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: GOKARAJU GANGA RAJU, PONGULETI SRINIVASA REDDY

GOVERNMENT  OF  INDIA

MINISTRY OF FINANCE

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

**LOK  SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION  No.  822**

TO BE ANSWERED ON  24 TH JULY,  2015  (FRIDAY)/SHRAVANA  2, 1937 (SAKA)

**Cash  Deposit  Machine**

**Question**

**822. DR. GOKARAJU GANGA RAJU:**

**SHRI  PONGULETI  SRINIVASA  REDDY :**

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

1. whether  the National  Payment  Corporation of  India (NPCI) has  submitted  any  proposal  to  connect  all  cash  deposits  machine  through  the  National  Finance  Switch (NFS)  to  enable  inter-operable cash  transfer;
2. if  so,  the  details  and  salient  features   thereof;
3. whether  the  aforesaid  connectivity  would  enable  a  business  Correspondent  of one  bank  to  do  payment  services  for  other  banks,  like  Automated   Teller  Machines  (ATMs);  and
4. if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  time   by  which  the system  is  likely  to  be  implemented?

**Answer**

**The  Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance**

**(SHRI  JAYANT  SINHA)**

1. and (b) National  Payments  Corporation  of  India (NPCI) has   informed that  it   submitted a  proposal  for introducing “Interoperable Cash  Deposit” in  National  Finance  Switch  (NFS)  and  has received  in  principle  approval from  Reserve  Bank of  India (RBI)  subject  to certain  conditions.   The  proposed  service inter-alia has  the  facility  of  participating  NFS  member  banks  to  deposit  cash  in  other  bank’s  Cash  Deposit  Machines (CDMs) with  cash  deposit  limit  of  Rs.49,999/-  per  transaction.

(c) and (d) Under  Aadhaar  Enabled  Payment System (AEPS), banks are

providing  Aadhaar  Enabled  and Inter-operable Micro  ATMs to their Business  Correspondents  which are  capable  of  doing  payment  services for  other  banks.   NPCI  has  informed  that  post  final  approval  from   RBI,  the  pilot  launch  will  be  done   within three  months of  such  approval.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 820 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-24
Subject: Amendment in Negotiable Instrument Act
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: V. PANNEER SELVAM, RAM CHARITRA

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF FINANCE**

**DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 820**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON JULY 24, 2014/ SHRAVANA 2, 1937 (SAKA)**

**AMENDMENT IN NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENT ACT.**

**820.	SHRI V. PANNEERSELVAM:**

**SHRI RAM CHARAN BOHRA:**

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

1. Whether the Government has approved an ordinance to amend the Negotiable Instrument Act which provides for filing of cheque bounce cases in place where the cheque was issued ; and

1. If so, the details thereof?

**ANSWER**

**THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE**

**(SHRI JAYANT SINHA)**

**(a) and (b):** The President of India has promulgated the Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Ordinance, 2015 (No. 6 of 2015) on 15 th June, 2015. The Ordinance provides for determination of territorial jurisdiction of courts for trying cases relating to offence of dishonor of cheques under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (NI Act).

The Ordinance has amended the NI Act to, inter-alia, stipulate the following:-

(i)	filing of cases only in a court within whose local jurisdiction the bank branch of the payee, where the payee delivers the cheque for payment through his account, is situated, except in case of bearer cheques, which are presented to the branch of the drawee bank and in that case the local court of that branch would get jurisdiction;

(ii)	providing that where a complaint has been filed against the drawer of a cheque in the court having jurisdiction under the new scheme of jurisdiction, all subsequent complaints arising out of section 138 of the NI Act against the same drawer shall be filed before the same court, irrespective of whether those cheques were presented for payment within the territorial jurisdiction of that court; and

(iii)	providing that if more than one prosecution is filed under section 138 of the NI Act against the same drawer of cheques before different courts, upon the said fact having been brought to the notice of the court, the court shall transfer the case to the court having jurisdiction as per the new scheme of jurisdiction.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 817 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-24
Subject: Integrated Air Command and Control System
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: R. PARTHIPAN

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF DEFENCE**

**DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE**

**LOK  SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.817**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 24** **TH** **JULY, 2015**

**INTEGRATED AIR COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEM**

817.  SHRI  R. PARTHIPAN:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE    j{kk ea=h

be pleased to state:

(a)	whether the Government has taken steps to upgrade the entire Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) infrastructure including advanced early warning and jam-resistant radars;

(b)	if so, the details thereof; and

(c)	the other steps being taken to build a fully automated surveillance network to make the country’s airspace safe?

#### A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF DEFENCE                                   (SHRI MANOHAR PARRIKAR)

j{kk ea=h    			           ¼Jh euksgj ijhZdj½

**(a) to (c):** **The Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) is being implemented in phases.  While 5 nodes are already operational, the proposal to extend IACCS across all operational commands including Andaman Nicobar Command (ANC) is under progress.**

***********
Lok Sabha Question No. 815 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-24
Subject: Subsidies for Rubber Sector
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: JITENDRA CHAUDHURY

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

(DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 815**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 24** **TH** **JULY 2015**

**SUBSIDIES FOR RUBBER SECTOR**

**815. SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY:**

Will the Minister of **COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (´ÉÉÉÊhÉVªÉ A´ÉÆ =tÉÉäMÉ àÉÆjÉÉÒ)** be pleased to state:

- 1.1. whether the Government has not revised the scale of subsidies and other inputs for new planting and replanting of rubber for more than last ten years;
- 1.2. if so, the reasons therefor along with the corrective measures taken in this regard;
- 1.3. whether the Government proposes for expansion of rubber to North-Eastern (NE) region States, other than the Tripura where the soil and climatic condition has been found suitable for rubber cultivation; and
- 1.4. if so, the details thereof along with the fiscal and physical plan chalked out for the next ten years?

### ANSWER

**okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx jkT; ea=h  )Lora= izHkkj)** ( **Jherh fueZyk lhrkje.k** )

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a) & (b): No, Madam. The subsidy rates have been raised during the 12 th Plan to Rs.25,000 per hectare in the traditional region and Rs.35,000 per hectare in the non-traditional region, respectively covering 8% and 15% of the development costs.

(c) & (d): Expansion of rubber cultivation to North East states is an approved activity under the 12 th Plan. The target for expansion of rubber cultivation with financial assistance in NE region states other than Tripura is 16,000 ha under 12 th Plan.   The potential area available in NE states for rubber cultivation is estimated provisionally at around 300,000 ha. Fiscal and physical plans of the special rubber plantation development schemes have not been finalized, yet as the discussions with State Government and concerned Ministries are in process.

*********