opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 441 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-22
Subject: Extension of Knowledge Network to SAARC Countries
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: R. VANAROJA

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.441

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2015

EXTENSION OF KNOWLEDGE NETWORK TO SAARC COUNTRIES

441.		SHRIMATI VANAROJA R.:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)	whether it is true that India is in the process of extending its National 	Knowledge Network to all members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation to allow students unimpeded access to digital libraries and networking resources;

(b)	if so, the details thereof;

(c)	whether it is also true that in the coming days and years we will work 	assiduously to make the region more connected and more prosperous; and

(d)	if so, the details thereof?

#### 1 

#### 2 ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) & (b)	Yes, India has committed to extend India's National Knowledge 	Network, to all countries in SAARC. This will help to connect students in SAARC countries with e-libraries and other digital resources in India.

(c) & (d)	Yes. A SAARC Framework Agreement for Energy Cooperation (Electricity) has been signed. Similarly SAARC Regional Railways Agreement for SAARC Member States, Motor Vehicles Agreement for the Regulation of Passenger and Cargo Vehicular Traffic Amongst SAARC Member States have been discussed by the SAARC leaders. Increased connectivity links will lead to increased 	trade and capitalize on synergies for regional growth and development.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 440 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-22
Subject: Research on use of Fly Ash in Construction Work
Ministry: URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: RAJU ALIAS DEVAPPA ANNA SHETTI

**O.I.H**

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 440**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON JULY 22, 2015**

**RESEARCH ON USE OF FLY ASH IN CONSTRUCTION WORK**

**No. 440 	SHRI RAJU SHETTY:**

**Will the MINISTER OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:**

**(a)	Whether any research has been done regarding the use of fly ash in replacing sand in construction work;**

**(b)	if so, the details thereof;**

**(c)	the present status thereof; and**

**(d)	the success rate achieved in this regard?**

**ANSWER**

**THE MINISTER OF STATE**

**IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT**

**(SH. BABUL SUPRIYO)**

1. **:No, Madam, no research work has been done by this Ministry regarding the use of Fly-Ash replacing sand in construction work.**

**(b)to(d): Does not arise.**

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 439 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-22
Subject: Death of Indians in Qatar
Ministry: OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: BAIJAYANT "JAY" PANDA

Government of India

Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 439**

To be answered on 22 nd July, 2015

**Death of Indians in Qatar**

**439. SHRI BAIJAYANT JAY PANDA:**

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

izoklh Hkkjrh; dk;Z ea=h

(a) the details of the Indian migrant workers in Qatar who have died since 2010 in connection with 2022 Football World Cup preparations;

(b) whether the Government is collaborating and taking measures along with human rights organisations relating to reports of forced labour and inhumane working conditions; and

(c) if so, the details thereof?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF STATE FOR OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS**

**GENERAL V.K. SINGH (RETD.)**

(a) As reported by the Embassy of India, Qatar, based on the information available with them, a co-relation cannot be established between cases of demise of Indian migrant workers and the ongoing preparations for FIFA World Cup scheduled to be held in Qatar in 2022.

The number of deaths registered with the Embassy of India with regard to the Indian community in Qatar since 2010 are given in the table below. Most of these deaths appear to be due to natural causes.

| Year           |   Total Number of deaths |
|----------------|--------------------------|
| 2010           |                      233 |
| 2011           |                      239 |
| 2012           |                      237 |
| 2013           |                      241 |
| 2014           |                      279 |
| 2015 [14 July] |                      158 |

Contd/...2

-2-

(b) & (c):	The Embassy of India regularly discusses issues related to safety, security, wellbeing and welfare of Indian workers in Qatar at various levels with the Government of Qatar.  India and Qatar also have a Joint Working Group on Manpower which provides a useful mechanism for engaging on these issues.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 438 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-22
Subject: Amendment of Immigration Act, 1983
Ministry: OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: P.K.SREEMATHI TEACHER

Government of India

Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 438**

To be answered on 22 nd July, 2015

**Amendment of Immigration Act, 1983**

**438. SHRIMATI P.K. SREEMATHI TEACHER:**

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

izoklh Hkkjrh; dk;Z ea=h

(a) whether the Government proposes to amend/modify the Immigration Act 1983; and

(b) if so, the details thereof?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF STATE FOR OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS**

**GENERAL V.K. SINGH (RETD.)**

(a) & (b) Government has not proposed any amendment in the Emigration Act, 1983. However, there is a proposal for new Emigration Management Bill to replace the Emigration Act, 1983 for streamlining management of migration from India, and protection and welfare of emigrants etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 436 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-22
Subject: Syllabus and Teacher Student Ratio
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: ABHISHEK SINGH

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 436**

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2015

**Syllabus and Teacher Student Ratio**

436. SHRI ABHISHEK SINGH:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has conducted any survey to see whether the syllabus of primary and secondary education is in sync with the other educationally and technically advanced countries and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government proposes to restructure the syllabus of primary and secondary education to make it more practical in approach, more skill oriented and in sync with the present day demand and if so, the details thereof;

(c) the present student-teacher ratio in primary and secondary schools in the country;

(d) whether some schools are not maintaining this ratio and if so, the action taken against such schools; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to reduce dropout rate especially from backward regions?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**(SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)**

(a)   No Madam.

(b)   There is no such proposal in the Ministry at present.

(c)  As per UDISE Flash Statistics for the year 2013-14, the student-teacher ratio is 25:1 in Primary Schools and 17:1 in Upper Primary Schools. As per UDISE Flash Statistics (provisional) 2014-15, the student-teacher ratio in Secondary Schools is 14:1.

(d) & (e) In the light of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009,  States/UTs have been asked to ensure redeployment of teachers as there are surplus teachers in some schools and also fill up the vacancies of teachers to maintain adequate Pupil-Teacher Ratio in schools. In order to reduce the drop-out rates at primary and upper primary stage, the following major steps have been taken:

1.	Implementation of the provision of Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat in all schools including schools in backward regions.

2.	Mid Day Meal Scheme, distribution of free uniform and free text books.

3.	Residential hostels in backward and tribal regions.

4.	Focus on multi-lingual education.

In order to reduce drop out of students at secondary stage, the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) scheme was launched in year 2009. The schemes provides for additional classrooms, science laboratory, library, computer room, art/craft/culture room, toilets, drinking water facilities etc in the new and existing secondary schools.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 434 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-22
Subject: Law Suit Against India in ICJ
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: POONAM  MAHAJAN

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.434**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2015**

**LAW SUIT AGAINST INDIA IN ICJ**

434.	    SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

1. whether the Republic of the Marshal Islands filed a lawsuit against India at the International Court of Justice in The Hague for failure to fulfil the obligations of customary international law with respect to cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament;
2. if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and
3. the current status of the lawsuit?

#### ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) to (c)	The Republic of the Marshall Islands has instituted proceedings at the International Court of Justice against all nuclear weapon states, including India, contending breach of customary law obligations on nuclear disarmament flowing from Article VI of the NPT.  Government believes that given our consistent and principled position on the NPT, NPT provisions cannot be extended to India as a legal obligation.  India has written to the International Court of Justice denying this contention and reiterating India’s position of principle on nuclear disarmament ***.***

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 433 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-22
Subject: Database among Minority Communities
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: C.S. PUTTARAJU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 433

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2015

## DATABASE AMONG MINORITY COMMUNITIES

## 433.   SHRI C.S. PUTTA RAJU:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to have a database in respect of socially and economically backward sections amongst the minority communities;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to identify the socially and economically backward sections amongst the minority communities?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINORITY AFFAIRS

## (SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)

(a)  to  (c):  The  present  schemes/programmes  of  the  Government  of  India  for  the welfare  of  minority  communities  have  been  prepared  based  on  the  PM's  new  15 Point  Programme and the decisions taken on the recommendations of the Sachar Committee  Report.  The  data  made  available  by  the  Census  of  India  2001  is  also used  for  the  purpose  wherever  required.  However,  the  Census  of  India  2011, community-wise, data is yet to be published. As soon as the same is published, the Government may take a view on the issue of socially  and  economically  backward sections among the minority communities.

* * * * *
Lok Sabha Question No. 432 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-22
Subject: Construction of New Building
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: ANTO  ANTONY

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION No.432**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2015**

**Construction of New Building**

**432. SHRI ANTO ANTONY:**

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

1. whether the construction of new building for the Indian Institute of Science Education & Research (IISER) at Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala has been delayed;

1. if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and

1. the steps being taken by the Government in this regard?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)**

(a) & (b):  Yes, Madam.  Delays have taken place on account of later than anticipated handing over of the land and delay on the part of the contractor, M/s Consolidated Construction Consortium Ltd, Chennai. Subsequently, the contract was terminated by the Board of Governors of the Indian Institute of Science Education & Research (IISER), Thiruvananthapuram.

(c):   	The remaining work was measured and categorised as the priority construction works including essential services and the balance work for making the campus operational at the earliest. These priority construction works were awarded through open and competitive bidding and progress of work is as per schedule.  Further, the Institute decided to entrust the balance works to the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) in January 2015.  In addition, work order for constructing the hostel complex has also been issued.

*********
Lok Sabha Question No. 431 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-22
Subject: Overseas Indian Centre
Ministry: OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: V. SATHYABAMA, P. KARUNAKARAN

Government of India

Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 431**

To be answered on 22 nd July, 2015

**Overseas Indian Centre**

**431. SHRIMATI V. SATHYA BAMA:**

**SHRI P. KARUNAKARAN:**

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

izoklh Hkkjrh; dk;Z ea=h

(a) whether Government has established Overseas Indian Facilitation Centres (OIFC) in the country and if so, the purpose thereof;

(b) the number of such facilitation centre for the NRI that are functioning in the country and whether Government is planning to set up more such centres;

(c) whether the centres that are functioning currently are able to solve the problems faced by the Indian living in different countries;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether these centres are monitored regularly by any organisation or any higher officials directly, if so, the details thereof?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF STATE FOR OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS**

**GENERAL V.K. SINGH (RETD.)**

(a) In May 2007 the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs setup the Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre (OIFC) with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), to facilitate and strengthen economic engagement with overseas Indians.

(b) There is only one OIFC in Gurgaon, Haryana. The Government is not planning to set up more such centres.

(c) & (d) OIFC is focussed on strengthening economic engagement of overseas Indians with India; advising them on their investment related queries; facilitating their business partnerships and projecting to them the investment opportunities in India.

Contd/….2

-2-

(e)  OIFC is working in close coordination with the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) with Secretary, MOIA being chairman of the organisation. The Governing Council of OIFC, which includes senior officers of four Ministries as ex-officio members, provides guidance to OIFC on its strategy and activities.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 430 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-22
Subject: Recruitment by Fake Agencies
Ministry: OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: ANIRUDHAN SAMPATH

Government of India

Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 430**

To be answered on 22 nd July, 2015

**Recruitment by Fake Agencies**

**430. DR. A. SAMPATH:**

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

izoklh Hkkjrh; dk;Z ea=h

(a) whether recruitment for overseas jobs by the fake agencies are on the rise;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the corrective action taken by the Government in this regard ?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF STATE FOR OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS**

**GENERAL V.K. SINGH (RETD.)**

(a)& (b):  Complaints are received from time to time about cheating by fake recruitment agencies. If the complaint is against registered recruiting agencies, action is taken by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs as per provisions of the Emigration Act, 1983 and rules thereof. If the complaint is against unregistered agencies, it is referred to the concerned State Government for taking action under the relevant law of the land.  The figures for the last three years in respect of complaints received and action taken thereon is given at the table below:

| **Year**           |   **No. of complaints received** |   **Cases referred to State Govt. /POE for action** |   **Prosecution**  **Sanction sought** |   **Prosecution sanction issued** |
|--------------------|----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| 2012 -13           |                              254 |                                                 240 |                                     16 |                                16 |
| 2013-14            |                              272 |                                                 261 |                                     05 |                                05 |
| 2014-till 30.06.15 |                              198 |                                                 175 |                                     12 |                                11 |

Contd/…2

-2-

(c)   The Ministry runs Media Campaign in print and electronic media from time to time to educate potential emigrants about benefits or hazards of legal and illegal migration respectively.

A 24x7 toll-free helpline viz. Overseas Workers Resource Centre (OWRC) No.1800 11 3090 has been set up in Gurgaon to enable emigrants/ prospective emigrants to seek information and file complaints against Recruiting Agents/ Foreign Employers.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 428 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-22
Subject: Express Passport Service
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: BHAGWANTH KHUBA

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.428

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2015

EXPRESS PASSPORT SERVICE

428.		SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

1. whether the Government is planning to introduce express passport service;
2. if so, the details thereof; and
3. the time by which the Government is likely to introduce the service?

#### ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) to (c)   The Government has already put in place an express passport service called ‘Tatkal Scheme’ which was introduced on 01 st January, 2000. Under this scheme, passport applications are processed on post-police verification basis to enable the Passport Issuing Authorities to issue fresh passports within 1-7 days from the date of submission of applications subject to no adverse information being found in the database during the processing of the applications. Re-issue of passports under the Tatkal Scheme is being done in three working days.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 427 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-22
Subject: Nuclear Fuel
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: KRISHNAN NARAYANASAMY RAMACHANDRAN, RAVNEET SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.427

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2015

## NUCLEAR FUEL

427.   SHRI K.N. RAMACHANDRAN:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  plans  to  increase  production  of  nuclear energy substantially and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has got enough fuel at its disposal to ensure this;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the details of the shortage and the details of  import of  such nuclear fuel and the countries from which it is likely to be imported;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  got  an  assurance  from  those  countries  for continued supply of nuclear fuel for our energy requirements; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  FOR  PERSONNEL,  PUBLIC  GRIEVANCES  & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (Dr. JITENDRA SINGH) :

- (a) Yes, Sir.  The Government in July 2014 had announced tripling of the then existing capacity of 4780 MW in the next ten years (viz. by the year 2024). Setting  up  of  more  nuclear  power  plants  based  on  both  indigenous technologies and  with foreign technical  cooperation are part of this programme.
- (b) & (c)  Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration & Research (AMD), a constituent Unit under Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has carried out survey and exploration of Uranium resulting in establishing 2,25,936t in-situ U3O8 (1,91,594t U) reserves as of June, 2015.

-2-

21  nuclear  power  reactors  are  under  operation  in  the  country  with  an installed generating capacity of 5780 MWe.   Thirteen (13) reactors with a total  installed  capacity  of  3380  MW  (excepting  one  reactor  of  100  MW capacity  located  at  Rawatbhata,  Rajasthan  which  is  under  extended shutdown for techno-economic assessment) are under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards and are eligible for imported fuel.    To meet requirement of fuel for reactors under IAEA safeguards, agreements for  import  of  uranium  are  signed  with  M/s  Navoi  Mining  &  Metallurgical Combinat State Company (NMMC), Uzbekistan; M/s JSC TVEL Corporation, Russia; M/s NAC  Kazatomprom,  Kazakhstan, and M/s CAMECO, Canada.

Eight (8) reactors with a total installed capacity of 2400 MW are fuelled by indigenous fuel. The Government have made efforts to augment indigenous  uranium  supply  by  opening  of  new  mines  and  processing facilities  thus  narrowing  down  the  demand-supply  gap  for  reactors  using indigenous fuel.  As a result, there has been a progressive improvement in capacity utilisation of nuclear power plants.

- (d) & (e)   Contracts  have  recently  been  entered  into  for  import  of  Uranium  with M/s.  CAMECO,  Canada  for  supply  of  2750-3000  MT  of  Uranium  Ore Concentrate  during  2015-2020;  and  M/s.  Kazatomprom,  Kazakhstan  for supply of 5000 MT of Uranium Ore Concentrate during 2015-2019.

*****