opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2791 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-16
Subject: Yatri Ticket Suvidha Kendras
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SHASHI THAROOR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2791 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.12.2015

## YATRI TICKET SUVIDHA KENDRAS

2791.  DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  total  number  of  private  operators  who  have  been authorized  to  sell  reserved,  unreserved  and  tatkal  railway tickets under the Yatri Ticket Suvidha Kendra(YTSK) scheme including  those  which  are  servicing  the  Southern  Railway Zone;
- (b)  whether  there  have  been  concerns  that  the  ticket  premium charged  by  such  private  operators  coupled  with  the  alternate facility  of  e-ticketing  is  likely  to  dissuade  the  passengers  from booking tickets at these centres;
- (c)  if so, the steps taken by the Government to promote this new service of the railways;
- (d)  whether the railways is entitled to a share of 25 percent on the total premium charged by private operators in addition to the actual cost of the ticket and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)    whether  the  Government  would  review  this  and  reduce  the cost of the premium charged by the private operators and if not, the reasons therefor ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a)    At  present,  127  licencees  under  Yatri  Ticket  Suvidha Kendra  (YTSK  )  scheme  are  functioning  on  Indian  Railways, out of which 04 are working  on Southern Railway.

- (b)  No  Madam.  The  service  charges  to  be  realised  by  YTSKs have been fixed keeping in view the investment made by them and  also  the  facility  provided  to  the  passengers  to  secure railway tickets nearer to their doorstep. The scheme has been working satisfactorily. (c)  Instructions  have  been  issued  to  all  zonal  Railways  to proliferate the scheme of YTSK. (d)  The  YTSK  licensee  shares  25%  of  the  revenue  collected from  the  service  charges  levied  on  the  customer  for  the booking  or  cancellation  of  reserved  tickets.  There  is  no revenue  sharing  arrangement  in  case  of  unreserved  tickets sold by YTSKs through Unreserved Ticketing System(UTS). (e)  Commissioning  of  new  schemes  to  facilitate  passengers and  its  review  based  on  the  feedback  is  a  continuous  and
- ongoing process.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2789 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-16
Subject: Allotment of Shops
Ministry: URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: HEMANT TUKARAM GODSE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  2789

## TO BE ANSWERED ON DECEMBER 16, 2015

## ALLOTMENT OF SHOPS

No. 2789    SHRI GODSE HEMANT TUKARAM:

Will the Minister of URBAN DEVELOPMENT be pleased to refer  to  the  reply  given  to  USQ  No.  3850  on  06.08.2014 regarding allotment of shops and state:

- (a) whether allotment of these shops has not been executed due  to  present  policy  of  Delhi  Development  Authority (DDA);
- (b) if so, whether a large number of applications have been received per year for allotment of these shops on hire, from needy
- purchase or on reserve price basis widows/handicapped/jobless/BPL families and persons belonging to scheduled castes; and
- (c) if so, the reasons for not to reviewing present policy for
- allotment of these shops?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT

(SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

(a): Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has informed that after physical verification and reconciliation of litigation Cont…

status, 350 shops were placed on e-auction in March, 2015; and out of these, 174 shops were disposed of.

Subsequently,  DDA  reviewed  its  policy  for  fixing  reserve price  for  residential,  industrial  and  commercial  plots  as well  as  built  up  properties  that  includes  disposal  of  the remaining  shops  and  issued  direction  through  circular dated 06.05.2015.

(b):            No,  Madam.    DDA  has  informed  that  it  invites applications from persons of eligible categories after giving publicity  in  the  leading  newspapers.    As  per  the  existing policy of DDA, reservation in allotment of shops is given to SC/ST,  Physically  Handicapped,  Ex-Servicemen,  Freedom Fighters and the persons whose land was acquired. (c): Does not arise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2788 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-16
Subject: Wagon Factory
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RITA TARAI, Pratyusha Rajeshwari Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2788 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.12.2015

## WAGON FACTORY

## 2788. SHRIMATI RITA TARAI:

SHRIMATI PRATYUSHA RAJESHWARI SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is a plan to establish a wagon factory at the identified patch of land in village Sitalapalli of Ganjam  district and another  wagon maintenance workshop in Kalahandi district of Odisha;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the time by which it is likely to be started; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## ANSWER (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) to (c) Wagon factory has been sanctioned at Sitapalli, Odisha. However, the existing  wagon  manufacturing  capacity  including  both  private  and  public sector units is adequate to meet the current demand for new wagons based on traffic projections. As a result, setting up of this wagon factory could not be started.

As  regards  new  wagon  maintenance  workshop  at  Kalahandi,  such facilities are planned based on operational requirements. Presently, no such facility is planned in the State of Odisha.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2786 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-16
Subject: Indians in Foreign Prisons
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: KIRIT PREMJIBHAI SOLANKI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2786 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.12.2015

## INDIANS IN FOREIGN PRISONS

2786. DR. KIRIT P. SOLANKI:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  several  Indian  citizens  are  still  in  foreign  prisons  even after the completion of their sentence;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof, country-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any step to bring them back to the country;
- (d)
- if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government had identified those prisoners and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) Due  to  the  strict  provisions  of  their  privacy  laws,  many Western countries do not  share information about foreign nationals who are  in  their  jails.    However,  as  per  information  available  with  our Missions/Posts  abroad,  446  Indian  nationals  are  in  prisons/deportation centres in five countries i.e. Bahrain (7), Bangladesh (18), Malaysia (246), Pakistan (174) and Syria (1), even after completion of their sentences.
- (c) to (e) Our  Missions/Posts  regularly  take  up  with  the  respective foreign  governments  the  early  release  of  Indian  prisoners  who  have completed  their  sentences.    Steps  taken  by  Indian  Missions/Posts  also include visiting the detained/arrested Indian nationals to know their wellbeing,  ensuring  fair  and  humane  treatment  in  foreign  jails/detention centres and providing humanitarian assistance wherever necessary. After confirmation of Indian nationality, Indian Missions/Posts issue appropriate  travel  documents  where  necessary  and  also  provide  air tickets  in  deserving  cases,  for  the  return  of  such  Indian  nationals  to India.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2785 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-16
Subject: Utilization of Scholarship Funds
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: DILIP PATEL, FEROZE VARUN GANDHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2785 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16/12/2015

## UTILIZATION OF SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS

## 2785.  SHRI DILIP PATEL: SHRI FEROZE VARUN GANDHI:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has issued guidelines to the State Governments regarding proper utilization of funds meant for scholarships for minority students particularly post-matric scholarships;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of application received and amount disbursed under the post matric scholarship scheme in the last three years, year-wise;
- (d) whether there  have  been  considerable  delays  in  disbursing  the  scholarship  payments  in various States and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (e) the number of complaints received regarding disbursal process during the above period, State-wise; and
- (f) the reaction of the Government thereon?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)

- (a) &  (b)  For  effective  implementation  of  scholarship  schemes  and  timely  disbursal  of scholarships, Ministry of Minority Affairs prescribes a Time Schedule at the start of the financial year for the States/Union Territories (UTs) to follow under the schemes of PreMatric, Post-Matric and Merit-cum-Means Scholarship schemes.
- (c) Year-wise details of eligible applications received and amount disbursed under the Postmatric Scholarship Scheme during the last three years, is as under:
- (d) to (f) No, Madam. In order to make disbursal process transparent and smooth, the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) has been launched by the Central Government for submission of  online  applications by  the students and transfer of scholarship amount directlyin the bank accounts of students under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.

| Year    | Number of eligible applications received   |   Fund released (Rs. in Crore) |
|---------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| 2012-13 | 7,55,643                                   |                         326.55 |
| 2013-14 | 8,90,467                                   |                         515.56 |
| 2014-15 | 9,05,620                                   |                         501.11 |

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2784 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-16
Subject: Empty Rakes
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: ASADUDDIN OWAISI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2784 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.12.2015

## EMPTY RAKES

## 2784.  SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  approximately  46,000  rakes  run  empty every year after dropping off freight;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Railways  proposes  to  launch  freight  rebate  scheme offering incentives to customers to carry load on these empty flow direction rakes;
- (d)     if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)      the  total  revenue  estimated  so  far  generated  after  launching  said scheme?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a)  &  (b)  Running  of  empty  rakes  is  an  integral  part  of  freight  train operations. During the year 2014-15, the ratio of loaded run to empty run of the freight stock was 63:37.

(c)  &  (d)  Yes,  Madam.  Railways  have  introduced  an  Automatic  Freight Rebate Scheme with effect from 25.06.2015 wherein all loaded rakes in notified  empty  flow  directions  are  charged  at  class  LR1  for  trainload traffic and at Class 100 for wagonload traffic. Customer does not need to apply for availing benefit under the scheme. The rebate is automatically granted to customers through Freight Operation Information System(FOIS). This scheme is applicable to (i) all Goods Sheds, Sidings and Private Freight Terminals (PFTs) and (ii) wagons of BOXN group, BCN &  BCNHL  group,  BRN  and  BOST  group  and  CONCORD  rakes.  Coal  and coke, minerals and ores, POL traffic etc., and commodities under class LR2 and class LR3 are not eligible under the scheme.

(e)  Till  09.12.2015,  an  additional  revenue  of  ₹  48  crores  has  been generated through this scheme.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2783 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-16
Subject: Compliance of RTI Guidelines
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: OM BIRLA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL AND TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2783 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.12.2015)

## COMPLIANCE OF RTI GUIDELINES

## 2783. SHRI OM BIRLA:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether all  the  Ministries/  Departments  are  following  the Right  to  Information  Act guidelines;
- (b) if not, the name of Ministries/ Departments which are yet to implement the same;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to make it mandatory to mention RTI guidelines and details of relevant authorities on the homepage  of respective Ministry/ Department websites; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## 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) to (d):    Section 26 of the RTI Act requires the Government to compile a guide containing such  information,  in  an  easily  comprehensible  form  and  manner,  as  may  reasonably  be required by a person who wishes to exercise any right specified in the Act.

A guide on Right to Information Act, 2005 was published online on 28 th November, 2013  for  the  benefit  of  all  the  stake-holders  viz.  (i)  Information  Seekers  for  getting information; (ii) Public Information Officers (PIOs) in dealing with the RTI application; (iii) First Appellate Authorities (FAAs) in taking cogent decisions on appeals; and (iv) the Public Authorities (PAs) in implementing various provisions of the Act in right earnest.

In addition, the Government issued instructions under Section 4 of the RTI Act, 2005 from time to time requesting all Ministries/Departments to upload the details of the  public authority  on its website  to make  is  user-friendly for  which  appropriate  information technology infrastructure should be suitably designed, developed and operationalised.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2782 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-16
Subject: Assessment of Socio-Economic Challenges
Ministry: DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION
Asked by: KANWAR SINGH TANWAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION. NO. 2782

TO BE ANSWERED ON

Wednesday, December 16, 2015/ Agrahayana 25, 1937 (Saka)

## QUESTION

## ASSESSMENT OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHALLENGES

†2782.  SHRI KANWAR SINGH TANWAR:

Will  the  Minister  of  DEVELOPMENT  OF  NORTH  EASTERN  REGION  be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has made any assessment regarding various socioeconomic challenges and infrastructural hindrances being faced by the North Eastern Region;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof and the findings in this regard; and
- (c)  if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region [Dr. Jitendra Singh]

(a) to (c)  Difficult hilly terrain, inaccessible areas, sparse population, inadequate physical infrastructure, poor financial resource base are the major challenges for development of the North Eastern Region (NER) of the country. Recognizing the challenges and the need for significant levels of investment in the region, there has  been  constant  focus  of  the  Government  of  India  for  development  of  the region through special programmes  for  social and  physical Infrastructure development, human resource development, capacity building, etc. Development efforts  of  the  States  of  the  region  are  also being  supplemented through liberal funding  pattern  of  the  sectoral  developmental  schemes  and  area  specific development packages.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2781 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-16
Subject: Racial Attacks in US
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2781

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.12.2015

## RACIAL ATTACKS IN US

## 2781. SHRI A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  Persons  of  Indian  Origin  (PIOs)  have  been  coming  under  racial  attacks  in America during the last few years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof for each of the last three years;
- (c) whether the Government has taken/is taking any step to check such attacks on persons of Indian origin; and
- (d) if so, the outcome thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) There  are  no  clear  indications  to  suggest  racial  attacks  generally  directed against persons of Indian origin in the United States in the last few years. However, a few incidents  of  attacks  on  persons  of  Indian  origin  have  been  brought  to  the  notice  of  this Ministry. These are given below:

- (i) On April 2, 2012 a gunman opened fire  in Oikon University in Oakland, California, where one Indian student was killed;
- (ii) On August 5, 2012 an incident of firing happened in a Sikh Temple in Wisconsin where six persons were killed;
- (iii) On  August  23,  2012,  two  employees  working  in  a  convenience  store  at  Fresno, California, were attacked by assailants. In the process one was killed and the other person was injured;
- (iv) One August 06, 2013, one person was shot dead in Lake Tahoe area;
- (v) On  February  10,  2014,  one  person  was  reportedly  stabbed  and  robbed  and  was admitted to the hospital in San Francisco;
- (vi) On  February  6,  2015,  a  57-year  old  Indian  national,  who  was  visiting  his  son  in Madison, Alabama was assaulted by a Madison County Police Officer, which left him partially paralyzed;
- (vii) On March 09, 2015, a dentist student was found dead in an apartment in Albany, California;
- (viii)
- (ix)

In March 2015, one young Sikh boy was racially abused in a school in Georgia; and On September 8, 2015 one resident in the Darien city was assaulted near Chicago.

- (c) & (d) Government of India is sensitive to such incidents.  Missions and Posts remain vigilant and closely monitor any untoward incidents. These issues are regularly raised during meetings  with  the  US  Government  officials.  Government  brings  to  the  attention  of  US federal  and  local  authorities  any  incidents  seen  as  'hate  crimes'  or  racial  attacks. The representatives of the Indian-American community and members of India Caucus in the US Congress and Senate have been impressed upon to take up such cases of serious assault for further investigation. The safety and security of Indians abroad is among the top diplomatic priorities for the Government of India.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2780 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-16
Subject: Cost and Time Overruns
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SAKUNTALA LAGURI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2780 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.12.2015

## COST AND TIME OVERRUNS

## † 2780.  SHRIMATI SAKUNTALA LAGURI :

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any mechanism has been put in place in the Railways for regular monitoring  at  various  levels  of  administration  to  avoid  cost  and  time overruns;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the extent to which cost and time overruns has been brought down after the setting up of the said mechanism; and
- (d) the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) to (d):     Mechanism to monitor and review Railway projects is in place at different levels starting from field units, Zonal Railways, Ministry of Railways etc.  However,  completion  of  projects  depends  on  many  factors  such  as  land acquisition, forestry & wild life clearances, shifting of services, construction of road over and road under bridges by road maintaining agencies etc. apart from availability  of  funds.  As  many  of  these  factors  are  not  within  the  control  of Railways, it is not feasible to fix timelines for all the projects. As a result, most of the ongoing projects are facing time and cost overrun.   It is not possible to measure extent of reductions in time and cost over-runs due to several factors as  mentioned  above.  However,  it  is  Railways'  endeavour  to  complete  the ongoing projects expeditiously.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2779 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-16
Subject: Old Coaches
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: A.T. (NANA) PATIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2779 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.12.2015

## OLD COACHES

## 2779.  SHRI A.T. NANA PATIL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  old  coaches  that  have  outlived  their  utility  are widely deployed in express trains across the country posing a major safety threat;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  total  number  of coaches which are more than 20 years old and are still being deployed in trains, zone-wise;
- (c) the reasons for delay in replacement of the old coaches; and
- (d) the corrective steps taken by the Railways in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): No, Madam.
- (b): Does not arise.
- (c) & (d): Replacement of old coaches is carried out timely and no coach is allowed to remain in service beyond its permitted service life.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2778 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-16
Subject: Expansion of Rail Network
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: ALOK SANJAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2778 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.12.2015

## EXPANSION OF RAIL NETWORK

†2778. SHRI ALOK SANJAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  expand  rail  network  in Madhya Pradesh;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  received  the  proposal  of  BhopalBairasiya-Sironj rail line; and
- (d) if so, the time by which the train operation are likely to be started on said line?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  2778  BY  SHRI  ALOK  SANJAR  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 16.12.2015 REGARDING EXPANSION OF RAIL NETWORK

(a) & (b): Total 33 major rail network expansion projects viz. 5 New Lines, 5  Gauge  Conversion  and  23  Doubling  projects  (including  16  projects included  in  Budget  2015-16  subject  to  requisite  government  approvals) falling  partly  or  fully  in  the  State  of  Madhya  Pradesh  having  aggregate length of 5141 km at a cost of ` 43027 crore have been taken up.  An expenditure of ` 4496 has been incurred on these projects upto March, 2015.  An outlay of ` 3265 crore has been provided in 2015-16.

(c)  &  (d):    Representations/proposals,  both  formal  as  well  as  informal, from  various organizations, users, elected representatives  etc. are received  from  time  to  time  at  various  levels  in  Railways  including Divisional  Headquarters,  Zonal  Headquarters  and  Railway  Board.    A centralized  compendium  of  such  representations  is  not  maintained. There is no proposal for a survey of Bhopal-Bairasiya-Sironj rail line.

*****