opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3393 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-18
Subject: Inconvenience to Bank Customers
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: SURESH KODIKUNNIL

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3393 TO BE ANSWERED ON DECEMBER 18, 2015 / AGRAHAYANA 27, 1937 (SAKA) INCONVENIENCE TO BANK CUSTOMERS

## 3393. SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) the measures taken by the Government/Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to overcome the inconvenience caused to the customers on account of consecutive holidays in the banking sector that happens very frequently;
- (b) whether the Government/RBI proposes to pass instructions to both public and private sector banks to keep internet banking, mobile banking and ATM services fully active during such a prolonged holiday period; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

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

(a): The matter of declaration of bank holidays has been left to the States / Union Territories Government to choose any of the 15 holidays (including three national holidays, namely, Republic Day, Independence Day and Birthday of Mahatma Gandhi). The 12 holidays are to be chosen by State Governments in consultation with the Regional Directors of the Reserve Bank of India, in such a manner that as far as possible, there should not be two or more consecutive holidays in banks in order to avoid inconvenience to banks' customers, trade and industry.

(b) and (c): Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has adopted a concept of Uniform Holiday system for Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS), National Electronic Fund Transfer System (NEFT) and Cheque Truncation System (CTS) to ensure uniformity and smooth functioning of the centralised payment systems. Under this Uniform Holiday approach for RTGS and NEFT the systems are operational even if one of the metro center, namely, New Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata, is open. The system does not run only on those days when there is a common holiday declared in all the four metros.

In case of CTS, RBI has adopted the same RTGS holiday and also one more parameter that CTS will be closed in case of all the participating states in the grid are observing holidays, even though RTGS is working on such days.

Since Internet Banking and Mobile Banking are online services, available on continuous basis, these are not affected during the holidays.

As regards ATM services, banks ensure that the ATMs are fully stocked during the holiday period and up-time of ATM services is monitored by banks to ensure that ATM services are not affected during the holiday period.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3392 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-18
Subject: Food Testing Laboratories
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: P.R. SUNDARAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3392 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 TH DECEMBER, 2015

## FOOD TESTING LABORAT ORIES

## 3392. SHRI P.R. SUNDARAM:

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

- (a) whether reportedly 24 food testing laboratories are conducting test and analysis of food items of various companies without being accredited and notified with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI);
- (b) if so, the details of those food testing laboratories; and
- (c) the action taken by the Government to ensure that the food tested and analysed by these laboratories are not sold in the market?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

(a) to (c ): Presently, food samples are being tested in 166 Food Testing Laboratories as per following details: -

- (i) 72  State/Public  food  laboratories  functioning  under  the  State/  Union  Terri Government;
- (ii) 12 Referral Laboratories notified by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of for referral testing; and
- (iii) 82 National  Accreditation  Board  for  Testing  and  Calibration  Laboratories  ( NABL) accredited private laboratories notified by FSSAI.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3389 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-18
Subject: Reducing Interest Rates
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: B. S. YEDDYURAPPA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE PLAN FINANCE-I DIVISION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3389

TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY THE 18 th  DECEMBER 2015/27 AGRAHAYANA, 1937 (SAKA)

## REDUCING INTEREST RATES

## 3389.  SHRI B.S. YEDIYURAPPA

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Union Government has received representations from States to reduce the interest  rate  on  loans  granted  under  various  development  programmes,  State/UT-wise including Karnataka; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) and (b): No  representation  from  States  has  been  received  in  recent  past  in  Ministry  of Finance to reduce the interest rate on loans granted under various development programmes.
2. Under the Debt Consolidation and Relief Facility (DCRF) recommended by the Twelfth Finance  Commission  (TFC),  Central  loans  amounting  to  Rs.1,22,604  crore  from  Ministry  of Finance contracted by the States upto 31.03.2004 were consolidated for a fresh tenure of 20 years  at  an  interest  rate  of  7.5%  per  annum  resulting  in  interest  relief  of  Rs.  18688  crore  to eligible  States  including  Karnataka.  Thirteenth  Finance  Commission  has  also  recommended reset of interest rates on loans from National Small Savings Fund, contracted up to 2006-07 and outstanding at the end of the year preceding the year of enactment/amendment of the States' FRBMAs, at a common rate of 9% per annum. The total interest relief provisionally granted to the States, including Karnataka, was Rs. 5222 crore on this account from 2010-11 to 2013-14.
3. As regards the lending policy regarding Central Government Loans, TFC had inter-alia recommended that the  Central  Government  should  not  act  as  an  intermediary  for  lending  to States. In accordance with TFC recommendation, Central Government has discontinued its loan intermediation  role  and  stopped  direct  disbursement  of  Central  loans  to  the  States  from  TFC Award period 2005-10, except for EAP loans transferred  on  back to back  basis.  TFC further recommended  that  external  assistance  may  be  transferred  to  State  on  the  same  terms  & conditions as attached to such assistance by external funding agencies, thereby making Govt. of India a financial intermediary without any gain or loss. Accordingly, loans to States are being passed on back to back basis and on the same terms and conditions of the donor agencies.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3388 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-18
Subject: Mid-Term Appraisal of 12th Plan
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: JOSE K. MANI, RAVNEET SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3388 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2015

## MID TERM APPRAISAL OF 12 th  PLAN

## 3388 SHRI JOSE K. MANI : SHRI  RAVNEET SINGH:

Will the Minister of Planning be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has completed the mid-term review of the Schemes of 12 th Five Year Plan ; if  so,  the  details  of  the  achievements  made  regarding  the  schemes  related  to  the  basic  needs  like  water,
- (b) electricity, health and education; and
- (c) the  targets  fixed  for  investment  in  basic  infrastructure  during  the  12 th Five  Year  Plan,  along  with  the investment made in this regard so far?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR DEFENCE (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

(a) to (c): Pursuant to the decision taken in the meeting of the Governing Council  held on 8 th February, 2015, NITI Aayog has  undertaken appraisal of the 12 th Five Year Plan which is in advance stage of finalization. The appraisal document will be made available in public domain in due course of time.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3387 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-18
Subject: Share of Women in the Labour Market
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: NEELAM SONKER

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  conducted/commissioned  any  study  for  participation  of women,  particularly  tribals,  in  the  labour  market  and  its  impact  on  GDP  growth  in  the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the comparative position in the current Five Year Plan; and
- (c)  the  steps taken or proposed to be taken to encourage women involvement especially tribal women in the development programmes?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  &  (b):    The  Government  has  not  conducted  /  commissioned  any  specific  study  for participation  of  women,  particularly  tribals,  in  the  labour  market  and  its  impact  on  GDP growth in the country. However, according to 68 th National Sample  Survey  titled 'Employment  and  Unemployment  Situation  Among  Social  Groups  in  India',  the  workers population ratio (WPR) for women was 219 per 1000 persons whereas in respect of tribal women, WPR was 346 during July 2011-June 2012.
- (c)  Tribal  Sub  Plan  (TSP)  component  of  the  Central  Ministries/Departments  and  State Governments provides for various developmental / welfare programmes of scheduled tribes under the livelihood, education, health and nutrition, etc. components. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs  provides  additional  support  to  States  by  way  of  filling  critical  gaps  and  reiterates effective implementation of TSP through Coordination Committees meetings with State/UT Governments.

Scheduled tribe women are also eligible to avail the benefits of various schemes for women implemented  by  various  Central  Ministries/  Departments  and  State  Governments.  The Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  gives  due  priority  to  schedule  tribe  women  under  its  income generating activities, skills and vocation training, education programmes. Due representation  of  women  in  various  Committees  of  the  Scheduled  Tribes  and  other Traditional  Forests  Dwellers  (Recognition  of  Forest  Rights)  Act,  2006  have  also  been provided  for.  In  order  to  empower  scheduled  tribe  women,  National  Scheduled  Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) launched the Adivasi Mahila Sashaktikaran Yojana. Under the scheme, financial assistance upto 90 per cent for projects costing  Rs.1  lakh  has  been  provided  at  concessional  rate  of  interest  of  4  per  cent  per annum. In addition,  scheduled  tribe  women  are  also  eligible  to  seek  financial  assistance under the Term Loan, Micro Credit and Adivasi Shiksha Rrinn Yojana of NSTFDC.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3386 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-18
Subject: Backlog Vacancies in Banks
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: GANESH SINGH, KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED ADMITTED QUESTION NO.3386 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 18 TH  DECEMBER, 2015/AGRAHAYANA 27, 1937 (SAKA)

## BACKLOG VACANCIES IN BANKS

3386: SHRI GANESH SINGH SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether vacancies reserved for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (SCs/STs)  Other  Backward  Classes  (OBCs)  categories  in  schedule  commercial banks have not been filled up:
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether there is a huge backlog of vacancies of reserved posts in pertaining to all categories due to improper implementation and non-adherence to the  reservation policy in the banks;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the corrective steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(a)and(b):Vacancies  reserved  for  Scheduled  Castes/  Scheduled  Tribes  (SCs/STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) are filled up every year based on vacancies identified including due reservation for SC/ST/OBC categories, as per Government guidelines and man power planning of such banks. The backlog of SC/ST/OBC vacancies, if any, due to non-availability of  candidates  or  non-reporting  of  the  selected  candidates  are included in the next year's recruitment process.

(c)and(d):PSBs and RRBs are adhering to the reservation policy of the Government for  SC/ST  and  OBC  categories  in  letter  and  spirit  and  there  is  no  improper implementation.

- (e):          In view of the reply to parts (c) and (d) above, the question dose not arise.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 3385 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-18
Subject: Defence Land
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: JITENDRA CHAUDHURY

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3385

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 18 TH  DECEMBER, 2015

## DEFENCE LAND

3385.  SHRI  JITENDRA CHAUDHURY:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether complaints regarding use of defence land for building or shopping malls and cinema halls etc. have been received by the Government;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether some institutions have been found to be involved in exploitation of defence land;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the action taken by the Government in the said matter?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF DEFENCE                                   (SHRI MANOHAR PARRIKAR)

j{kk ea=h

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(a) to (e): The information is being collected and will be laid on the Table of the House.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 3384 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-18
Subject: Corruption in MCI
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: RAJ KUMAR SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3384 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 TH DECEMBER, 2015

## CORRUPTION IN MCI

## 3384. SHRI R.K. SINGH:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of the various instances of entrenched corruption in the Medical Council of India (MCI) and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the proposal for amendments in the MCI Act t o reform the MCI are pending;
- (c)  whether  various  attempts  to  reform the  MCI  by  amending  the  MCI  Act  have been reportedly stalled and if so, the details ther of; and
- (d) if so, the reasons therefor and the time by which the Government proposes to bring the legislation before the Parliament in this regard?

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

(a) to (d): In order to put in place an effective monitoring mechanism to tackle corrup in  medical  education  and  to maintain  the  quality  of  regulatory  framework  in  medical education, the Central Government, in the year 2010, amended the Indian Medical Coun (IMC) Act, 1956 through the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Act, 2010 and superseded the Medical Council of I ndia (MCI), for one year, with constitution of Board of Governor (BoG)  to  perform  the  function  of  the  Council. Subsequently,  the  term  of  the  BoG  was extended by amending the Act in 2011 and 2012. The Ministry again extended the term BoG for a period of 180- days i.e. upto 10 th November, 2013 by way of IMC (Amendment) Ordinance, 2013 on 21st May, 2013. The Council was reconstituted on 6 th November, 2013.

However, the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2013 introduced in Rajya Sabha  on 19.8.2013  was  subsequently  referred  to  the  Department  related  Parliamentar Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare.

The  Committee  in  its  73 rd report,  presented  to  the  Chairman  Rajya  Sabha  on  20 th November,  2013  has  recommended  some  modifications in  the  Bill  and  desired  that  the Government  may  incorporate  the  modifications  in  the  Bill  replacing  the  Indian  Medi Council (Amendment) Second Ordinance, 2013.

A Group of Experts (GoE) was constituted in July, 2014 to study the existing Indian Medical Coincil (IMC) Act, 1956 and to look at the proposed amendments to the Act and a to make recommendations to the Government to make the Medical Council of India modern and suited to the prevailing conditions. The GoE h as submitted its final report .

N o final decision has been taken in this regard.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3383 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-18
Subject: Closure of Road in Cantonment Area
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3383

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 18 TH  DECEMBER, 2015

## CLOSURE OF ROAD IN CANTONMENT AREA

3383.  SHRI  PRABHAKAR REDDY KOTHA:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Army has ordered to close the road from AOC Centre to Gough Road in Cantonment Area, Secunderabad;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  received  any  request  from  the  State  Government  of Telangana for not to close the road in view of the inconvenience being caused to the general public; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF DEFENCE                                   (SHRI MANOHAR PARRIKAR)

j{kk ea=h

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<!-- image -->

(a) to (d): Night  time  restrictions  on  civil  traffic  are  presently  in  place  for past one year.  Consequent to the orders of Hon'ble High Court of Telangana & Andhra Pradesh dated 26.9.2014, an order was issued by the Local Military Authority to close Gough Road for civil traffic during day time also with effect from  1.12.2015.    Subsequently,  based  on  the  request  of  Chief  Minister, Government of Telangana vide his letter dated 12.11.2015 it has been decided to keep the proposed closure during day time, in abeyance till 31.5.2016.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3382 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-18
Subject: Internationalise the Indian Rupee
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: KAVITHA KALVAKUNTLA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3282

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18th DECEMBER, 2015 (FRIDAY)/AGRAHAYANA 27, 1937 (SAKA)

## Financial Inclusion Fund

## 3282. SHRIMATI K. MARAGATHAM:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Reserve Bank of India announced merger of Financial Inclusion Fund and Financial Inclusion Technology Fund to create a new Financial Inclusion Fund with a corpus of Rs.20,000 crore to support developmental and promotional activities for expanding reach of banking services;
- (b) if so, the details and the salient features of the said fund; and
- (c) the extent to which the move is beneficial to financial sector and developmental provisional activities as well?

## Answer The Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance (SHRI JAYANT SINHA)

(a) to (c ) In view of the various developments in the area of Financial Inclusion, Government of India has merged the Financial Inclusion Fund (FIF) and Financial Inclusion Technology Fund (FITF) to form a single Financial Inclusion Fund. The new scope of activities and guidelines for utilization of the new FIF has been finalized by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in consultation with Government of India. The FIF will be administered by the reconstituted Advisory Board and will be maintained by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). The corpus of the fund will be Rs.2000 crore. The fund shall be in operation for another three years or till such period as may be decided by RBI and Government of India in consultation with other stake holders. The objective of FIF shall be to support developmental and promotional activities including creating Financial Inclusion infrastructure across the country, capacity building of stakeholders, enhanced investment in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions etc. with a view to securing greater Financial Inclusion.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3380 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-18
Subject: AIIMS
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: DEEPENDER SINGH HOODA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3380 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 TH DECEMBER, 2015

## AIIMS

## 3380. SHRI DEEPENDER SINGH HOODA:

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

- (a) the present status of the AIIMS Phase- II project, initiated in 2009 in Jhajjar, Haryana with a proposed 710 bed strong National Cancer Center as well as an AIIMS - 2 Outreach OPD;
- (b) the details on the funds allocated in the year 2014 - 15 as well as 2015 - 16 for continuing the project;
- (c) whether the Government has set any deadline for completion of the project and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government plans to open a Medical College at the AIIMS Phase - II campus and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) : The Bhumi Pujan Ceremony of the National Cancer Institute Jhajjar was held on 12.12.2015. The civil works for construc tion of the Institute Block have commenced. An amount  of  Rs.  60  crores  has  been  allocated  for  the  project.  Completion  of  the  proj dependent on availability of funds and other factors.

No.