opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 598 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-02
Subject: Houses to Slum Dwellers
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: GOPAL CHINAYYA SHETTY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 598

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2015

## HOUSES TO SLUM DWELLERS

†598. SHRI GOPAL SHETTY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has formulated or proposes to formulate any scheme to provide houses to the slum dwellers residing near the railway lines in various railway zones of the country before demolishing their slum dwelling units under the plan of the Hon'ble Prime Minster providing houses to all by 2022;
- (b) if so, the details thereof ; and
- (c) the details of the progress made so far in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## ( SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a)  to  (c):  Most  of  the  slums/encroachments are on narrow strips of vacant  railway  land  in  close  vicinity  of  Railway  track.  This  narrow strip  of  land  is  required  for  servicing  and  maintenance  of  track, bridges and other operational uses and also utilized for execution of various  infrastructural  projects  for  meeting  future  growth  needs  of Railways which include projects like doubling/tripling, traffic facilities  etc.  Housing  being  a  State  Subject,  resettlement  and rehabilitation  (R  &  R)  of  persons  living  on  Railway  land  is  the responsibility  of  State  Government.  As  such,  for  slums  on  Railway land, State Government or Urban Local Bodies may have to provide alternative sites for rehabilitation/resettlement and Ministry of Railways cannot contribute towards cost of construction/land.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 596 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-02
Subject: Modernisation of Railway
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: ABHISHEK SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 596 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2015

## MODERNISATION OF RAILWAY

## 596.     SHRI ABHISHEK SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of steps being taken by Central  Government  for modernisation of Railways and to make it a big contributor in Make in India programme;
- (b) the  details  of  measures  being  taken  by  Central  Government  to promote  foreign  investment  and  private  investment  in  railway sector; and
- (c) the details of fund spent for modernisation of Railways during the last three fiscal years?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a): Railways have initiated various steps for modernisation of Railways like  mechanised  maintenance  of  track,  induction  of  new  generation diesel  and  electric  locomotives,  high-  speed  potential  LHB  coaches, upgradation  of  sub-urban  coaches,  green  toilets  on  all  passenger trains,  development  of  modern  high  pay  load  to  tare  ratio  wagons, enhancement of customer amenities at stations and on trains, issue of import new station development policy and policy circular for substitution etc.

(b): A participative policy for rail connectivity and capacity augmentation  was  issued  in  December,  2012  which  provides  five models for building rail connectivities. Ministry of Railways in November, 2014 has also issued sectoral guidelines for Domestic and Foreign Direct Investment.

(c):  There  is  no  specific  plan  head  accounting  for  modernisation  of Railways. However,  the Plan expenditure by Railway  for assets acquisition, construction and replacement which includes the modernisation component during the last three years is as under:

| Year    |   Plan Expenditure (₹ in crores) |
|---------|----------------------------------|
| 2012-13 |                          50383.4 |
| 2013-14 |                          53989.3 |
| 2014-15 |                          58718.9 |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 595 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-02
Subject: Central Monitoring System
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: A.P. JITHENDER REDDY

## MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 595 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2 nd  December, 2015

## CENTRAL MONITORING SYSTEM

## 595. SHRI A.P. JITHENDER REDDY:

Will  the  Minister  of  COMMUNICATIONS  AND  INFORMATION  TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  progress  made  by  the  Government  in  rolling  out  the  Central Monitoring  System  (CMS),  as  well  as  the  expected  timeline  for  operationalization  of CMS across the country;
- (b) the total funds approved/released by the Government for setting up of the CMS;
- (c) whether the scope, objectives and framework of the CMS has struck a balance between national security, online privacy and free speech;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  is  considering  any  other  similar  initiatives  for  lawful interception and monitoring of communications, along with the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

- (a) & (e) Madam, Government has decided to set up the Centralized Monitoring System  (CMS)  to  automate  the  process  of  Lawful  Interception  &  Monitoring  of telecommunications. Technology development and Pilot trials have been completed and the  system  is  anticipated  to  be  progressively  operationalised  from  the  end  of  the financial year.
- (b) Cabinet Committee on Security has approved the project of CMS  with government funding of Rs 400 Crores.
- (c) & (d) To take care of the privacy of citizens, lawful interception and monitoring is governed  by  the  Section  5(2)  of  Indian  Telegraph  Act,  1885  read  with  Rule  419A  of Indian  Telegraph  (Amendment)  Rules,  2007  wherein  oversight  mechanism  exists  in form  of  review  committee  under  chairmanship  of  the  Cabinet  Secretary  at  Central Government level and Chief Secretary of the State at the State Government level. The same  mechanism  is  applicable  for  the  interception  under  the  CMS  Project  also. Additionally, there is an inbuilt  mechanism  of  check  and  balance  as Security Agencies/Law Enforcement Agencies cannot provision the target and the provisioning agency cannot see the content.

*******************
Lok Sabha Question No. 593 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-02
Subject: Indo-US Anti-Terrorism Pact
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN, G. HARI

## 593.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.593

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2015

## INDO-US ANTI-TERRORISM PACT

## SHRI NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN: SHRI G. HARI:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  India  and  the  United  States  of  America  have  made  any  joint declaration on combating terrorism in the recent past;
- (b)
- (c)
- (d)
- if so, the details in this regard;
- whether any dialogue by both the countries have been held in the recent past;
- if so, the details in this regard;
- (e) whether India and US have also agreed to sign pact on terror database and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the benefits likely to accrue to India as a result thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) to (d) Both  India  and  the  US  have  resolved  at  the  highest  level  to  further deepen bilateral cooperation to counter terrorism and radicalism. During the visit of  US  President  Barack  Obama  to  India  in  January  2015,  India  and  the  US committed  to  undertake  efforts  to  make  the  India-US  partnership  a  defining counterterrorism relationship  for  the  21st  Century  by  deepening  collaboration  to combat the full spectrum of terrorist threats and keep their respective homelands and citizens safe from attacks. India and the US  reiterated their strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations with 'zero tolerance' and reaffirmed their deep concern over the continued threat posed by transnational  terrorism  and  called  for  eliminating  terrorist  safe  havens  and infrastructure,  disrupting  terrorist  networks  and  their  financing,  and  stopping cross-border movement of terrorists.

At  the  first  India-US  Strategic  and  Commercial  Ministerial  Dialogue  in Washington DC on 22 September 2015, a Joint Declaration on Combating Terrorism was issued. The Declaration identifies specific steps to further strengthen counterterrorism cooperation.

There  is  a  bilateral  Joint  Working  Group  on  Counter-terrorism.  The  last meeting was held in June 2012 in Washington DC.

- (e) & (f) The  Governments  of  India  and  the  US  have  agreed  to  finalise  an agreement to expand intelligence sharing and terrorist watch-list information.
Lok Sabha Question No. 591 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-02
Subject: SRF and JRF under various Projects
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: SULTAN  AHMED

## 591.SHRI SULTAN AHMED:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNO LOGY òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó Ùðüëðó

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Senior Research Fellows (SRFs) and Junior Research Fellows (JRFs) taken under various projects have come down over the years;

- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the reasons  th erefor  during  each  of  the  last  three years  and  the current year;

- (c) whether the Government has not issued notification for SRFs granted by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR);

- (d) if so, the reasons therefor; and

- (e) the details and nu mber offellowships funded by the CSIR during each of the last three years and the current year?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES

(SHRI.Y. S. CHOWDARY)

òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó +ÉÉè® ÑðöÆãðó òãðìððÐð ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó

(gÉÉÒ ´ÉÉ<Ç. AºÉ. SÉÉèvÉ®ÉÒ)

- (a) & (b): No Madam. Senior Research Fellows (SRFs) and Junior Research Fellows (JRFs) ta under various projects funded by the Ministry of Science & Technology have not come down over the years. The number of fellows working in these projects in the last three years and t year are given below:

| Financial Year                 |   Number of SRF & JRF |
|--------------------------------|-----------------------|
| 2012- 13                       |                  1688 |
| 2013- 14                       |                  1700 |
| 2014- 15                       |                  1710 |
| 2015- 16 (Till November, 2015) |                   804 |

(c) & (d):    Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has issued notificatio in the 'Employment News' dated November 14 - 20, 2015 and is also available on CSIR websit www.csirhrdg.res.in .

- (e) Even though the project based fellowships have not come down, the number of di fellowships given by CSIR has shown decline over the years. The details during the la years and current year are given below:

| Financial Year                 |   Number of fellowships |
|--------------------------------|-------------------------|
| 2012- 13                       |                    3388 |
| 2013- 14                       |                    3177 |
| 2014- 15                       |                    2690 |
| 2015- 16 (Till November, 2015) |                    1166 |

********

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.591

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02/12/2015

## SRF AND JRF UNDER VARIOUS PROJECTS
Lok Sabha Question No. 590 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-02
Subject: Alternate Course for SDEP
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: MANSHANKAR NINAMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 590

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2015

## ALTERNATE COURSE FOR SDEP

## QUESTION

## †590.  SHRI MANSHANKAR NINAMA:

## Will  the  Minister  of  SKILL  DEVELOPMENT  AND  ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  companies  can  now  offer  alternate  courses  for  Skill  Development Entrepreneurship Training (SDEP);
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the benefits likely to accrue therefrom;
- (c) whether there is any provision for increasing honorarium for semi-skilled people in this regard; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY)

- (a) & (b) All companies including Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) desirous  of  imparting  skill  training  and  having  the  requisite  infrastructure,  can  offer training  in  skill  development  courses  linked  to  available  infrastructure.  Further,  to encourage  entrepreneurship  as  a  viable  carrier  option,  Government  has  considered entrepreneurship as the integral part of the skill education  and training.  A module on entrepreneurship is being integrated in all skill courses in order to enable skilled person to also explore the option of self-employment in addition to wage employment.
- (c) No, Madam.
- (d) Does not arise in view of (c) above.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 589 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-02
Subject: Appointment of Wards of Group-D Employees
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: KESHAV PRASAD MAURYA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 589 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2015

## APPOINTMENT OF WARDS OF GROUP - D EMPLOYEES

† 589. SHRI KESHAV PRASAD MAURYA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether there is any provision to appoint the wards of Group 'D' employees in their place after their retirement;

(b)    if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  number  of  persons employed under the said scheme during the last three years to till date; and

- (c)      the  number  of  those  persons  who did not get appointed even after clearing the due process and the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a)          Yes,  Madam.  There  is  a  provision  under  Liberalized  Active Retirement  Scheme  for  Guaranteed  Employment  for  Safety  Staff (LARSGESS)  for  simultaneous  retirement  of  the  railway  employee belonging to Specified Safety categories in erstwhile Group 'D' and recruitment of their ward in the same category.

(b)     A Safety Related Retirement Scheme (SRRS) was introduced in January  2004,  exclusively,  for  two  frontline  safety  categories  viz. Drivers and Gangmen.    These  categories can seek voluntary retirement under the Scheme.  However, the request for voluntary

retirement is accepted if the ward is found suitable for appointment in all respects, including medical fitness for the same post.  In 2010, the Scheme was renamed as Liberalized Active Retirement Scheme for Guaranteed Employment for Safety Staff (LARSGESS) and it was extended  to  certain  other  Specified  Safety  categories  staff  with Grade Pay upto Rs. 1900.

From  2012  to  June  2015,  approximately  24650  persons  have been  employed  under  the  said  Scheme  in  erstwhile  Group  'D' category.

- (c)     Approximately 1945 persons did not get appointment for the reason that either the employee or the ward or both failed to fulfil the eligibility conditions prescribed under the Scheme.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 588 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-02
Subject: Delayed in Giving Information
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: PINAKI MISRA

## MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL AND TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 588

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2015)

## DELAYED IN GIVING INFORMATION

## 588. SHRI PINAKI MISRA:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the RTI Act is not being implemented with the same vigor and thrust with which it was brought and is constantly and consistently losing its sheen and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the number of cases where the response to an RTI application was delayed for more than a year without any reason;
- (c) the action the CIC has taken in such cases and the cases which have been brought to its notice during the last three years and the current year; and
- (d) the details of cases where punishment was awarded by the CIC?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office. (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a):   No, Madam.
- (b)  to  (d):    No  such  data  is  maintained  centrally.    The  Central  Information  Commission, however, while disposing the appeals and complaints exercises its statutory powers under the provision  of  the  RTI  Act,  2005  and  decides  cases  on  merit,  keeping  in  view  the facts  and circumstances  of  a  particular  case.    The  details  of  penalties  imposed  by  the  Central Information  Commission  on  Central  Public  Information  Officers  (CPIOs)  during  the  last three years and current year are as under:

| Year                     |   Penalty imposed (numbers) |
|--------------------------|-----------------------------|
| 2012-13                  |                          87 |
| 2013-14                  |                         138 |
| 2014-15                  |                          17 |
| 01.04.2015 to 30.11.2015 |                          39 |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 586 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-02
Subject: Non-compliance of Orders by NRIs
Ministry: OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: B. SREERAMULU

## Government of India

## Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 586

To be answered on December, 2015 2nd

## Non-compliance of Orders by NRIs

## 586. SHRI B. SRIRAMULU:

Will the Minister of OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) are not complying with the orders issued by the Indian courts including summons issued to them;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government in this regard;
- (c) the total number of cases pending in Indian courts against NRIs at present; and
- (d) the efforts being made for quick disposal of the aforesaid pending cases?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS GENERAL V.K. SINGH (RETD:)

- (a) & (b): The Ministry of Home Affairs examines and forwards Judicial documents including summons issued the various Indian Judicial Authorities to the Indian Missionl Judicial Authorities abroad for further service upon the persons residing there irrespective of their citizenship. Similar assistance is sought by the Ministry of Law & Justice in respect of civill commercial matters. There is no information received from the Hon'ble Indian Courts about non-compliance of their summons, i.e. appearance in the respective Indian Courts by NRIs: by
- (c) & (d): Such information is not maintained by the Government:

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 585 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-02
Subject: Railway University
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: JOSE K. MANI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 585

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2015

## RAILWAY UNIVERSITY

585.   SHRI JOSE K. MANI :

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state :

- (a) whether  a  high  level  delegation  visited  China's  famous  railway universities earlier this year;
- (b) if so, the recommendations of the delegation;
- (c) whether  the  Railways  has  shelved  the  plan  to  open  railway universities  in  the  country  as  propagated  by  the  Prime  Minister last year;
- (d) if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) if  not,  the  progress  made  in  the  direction  of  setting  up  these universities?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) & (b) Yes, Madam. The delegation has recommended tie ups with Chinese Universities and Training Institutes to the extent of designing  multi-disciplinary  and  multi-speciality  course  content  and detailed  course-curriculum,  design  and  development  of  research centres and joint research programmes.
- (c) No, Madam.
- (d)  Does not arise.
- (e)  It  has  been  decided  to  set  up  the  first  Railway  University  by upgrading  the  National  Academy  of  Indian  Railways  at  Vadodara. Detailed  Project  Report  for  setting  up  the  Railway  University  has been prepared by M/s. EdCIL (India) Ltd.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 584 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-02
Subject: Guidelines for Emigration Clearance
Ministry: OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: SURESH KODIKUNNIL

## Goveernment of India Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.

## 584

To be answered on 2nd December, 2015

Guidelines for Emigration Clearance

## 584. SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

Will the Minister of OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has issued fresh guidelines regarding emigration clearance of Indian citizens who are travelling to Saudi Arabia for jobs for the first time;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the number of applications for emigration clearance to Saudi Arabia pending before the emigration offices for the last three months; and
- (d) the action contemplated by the Government to settle the issues expediently?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS GENERAL V.K: SINGH (RETD:)

- (a) & (b): No Madam, such fresh guidelines specific to Saudi Arabia have been issued by the Government:
- (c): The status of emigration clearances to Saudi Arabia processed during the last three months and pending applications are as under;

## (No of applications)

|           |   August 2015 |   September 2015 |   October 2015 |
|-----------|---------------|------------------|----------------|
| Opening   |          1432 |             4507 |           3115 |
| Received  |         23622 |            19153 |          12330 |
| Processed |         20547 |            20545 |          13313 |
| Pending   |          4507 |             3115 |           2132 |

(d): Normally emigration clearance is given within one working day where complete documents are available. The pending cases are due to incomplete documentation on part of applicant: