opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1117 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-02
Subject: Simplified Forms
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: V. PANNEER SELVAM, VINOD KUMAR BOIANAPALLI, PREM SINGH CHANDUMAJRA, PR. SENTHILNATHAN, V. SATHYABAMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS

## (DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS & PUBLIC GRIEVANCES)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1117

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.03.2016)

## SIMPLIFIED FORMS

## 1117. SHRI V. PANNEERSELVAM:

SHRI B. VINOD KUMAR:

SHRI PREM SINGH CHANDUMAJRA:

SHRI PR SENTHIL NATHAN:

SHRIMATI V. SATHYA BAMA:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  plans  a  single  page  condensed  form  for  applications  for different services like birth, death, pension, etc. and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government also plans to simplify and convert all multi-page forms of different schemes to a single page;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  integrate  Aadhaar  number  with  Government services so as to avoid filling up of unnecessary details, and 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):   The subjects like registration of birth and death certificate falls within the State List of the Constitution of India.  It is for the States and Union Territory Administrations to take action  for simplification of their forms as per the  need and requirement.  As a part of 'Minimum Government & Maximum governance' various initiatives are being undertaken in the Central Government for reforms, which includes simplification of procedures and forms. Accordingly, Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances has on 15.02.2016 requested  all  Ministries/Departments  to  undertake  an  exercise  to  review  forms  concerning citizens' services and explore the possibility making them one page.  Further, administrative reforms,  inter-alia,  concerning  simplification  of  procedures  and  forms  are  a  continuous exercise and depend on the requirements of the day.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1115 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-02
Subject: Safety Fund
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, DHARMENDRA YADAV, Shrirang Appa Barne, RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1115

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.03.2016

## SAFETY FUND

1115. DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

SHRI NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN:

SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

SHRIMATI RAKSHATAI KHADSE:

## Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways is reportedly planning to impose a 'safety cess' to mop up funds for  its  proposed  non-lapsable  National  Railway  Safety  Fund (NRSF) so as to upgrade its infrastructure to improve safety standards and avoid accidents;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Railways is contemplating on seeking about 60 per cent of the funds for the safety programme from the Finance Ministry, and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Railways is planning to raise the remaining funds from other measures including a cess, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Railways plans to use nearly 20-30 percent of the funds to upgrade rolling stock and setting up train collision avoidance systems and if so, the facts thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) to (e) A committee was constituted for putting up consolidated proposal

for creation of 'Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh(RRSK)', a non-lapsable fund. The committee has submitted its report in December 2015. The committee in  its  report  has  envisaged  the  works  of  Track  Renewal  and  Upgradation, Bridge Rehabilitation, Elimination of Level Crossings, Construction of Road Over Bridges/Road Under Bridges, Replacement and Improvement of Signalling System, Improvement and Upgradation of Rolling Stock, Replacement of Electrical  Assets  and  Human  Resource  Development  at  a total cost of ` 1,19,183 at current price level.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 1114 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-02
Subject: Modern Coaches
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD, SUDHEER GUPTA, DUSHYANT CHAUTALA, RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, VIJAY KUMAR S.R.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK   SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1114 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.03.2016

## MODERN COACHES

## 1114.  DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI DUSHYANT CHAUTALA:

SHRI RAHUL SHEWALE:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

SHRI S.R. VIJAYA KUMAR:

## Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Railways  plan  to  unveil  modern  coaches  equipped with automatic sliding doors and electro-pneumatically assisted brake system to operate trains at higher speed;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the estimated cost involved in each of the coach;
- (c) whether  these  coaches  have  been  manufactured  domestically and if so, the place at which these are being manufactured;
- (d) the  time  by  which  the  first  consignment  of  four  high  speed coaches will be ready and put into operation; and
- (e) the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Railways  for  time  bound operationalization of high speed trains in the country?

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

(a)  to  (c):  A  work  of  upgrade  to  one  semi-high  speed  LHB  (Linke Hofmann  Busch)  rake  with  200  kmph  speed  potential  has  been sanctioned.  Design  of  these  coaches  also  includes  provision  of electro-pneumatically automatic sliding entrance doors and assisted brake system.

Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala has been entrusted to manufacture these coaches. Estimated cost for upgrade is around ₹ 1 crore per coach as per sanction.

(d):  Neither  any  high  speed  coaches  with  speed  potential  greater than  200  kmph  are  under  manufacture  nor  has  any  order  been placed as yet. Accordingly no timelines can be provided.

(e): Government has sanctioned implementation of MumbaiAhmedabad  High  Speed  corridor  in  December  2015  with  financial and  technical  assistance  of  Government  of  Japan.  A  new  entity, National High Speed Rail Corporation has been formed in February 2016 to implement the project.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1112 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-02
Subject: Development of Model Disabled Friendly Coach
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, P.R. SUNDARAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK   SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1112 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.03.2016

## DEVELOPMENT OF MODEL DISABLED FRIENDLY COACH

## 1112.  SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

SHRI P.R. SUNDARAM:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether 95 percent of railway coaches are of a particular design and  their  doors  are  not  wide  enough  for  wheelchair  access putting the disabled persons in difficulty;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons for keeping the problem unattended for decades;
- (c) whether  the  Railways  have  now  developed  model  disabled friendly coach in which no mobility-impaired person could board without help and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  coach  so  developed  have  no  Braille  and  other signage for visually and hearing impaired travellers and if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the corrective steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  &  (b):  As  on  31.03.15,  disabled  friendly  coaches  with  wider entrance  doors  for  wheelchair  access  are  more  than  5%  of  total holding of Indian Railway coaches. It is endeavoured to provide at least one such disabled friendly coach in Mail & Express trains.

(c): No new design has been developed in the recent past. Second Class cum  luggage and brake van with PWD  (Persons with Disabilities)  Compartment coaches and Power Cars for Garib Rath trains having provisions for PWD Compartment with air-conditioning are  already  in  service.  In  these  coaches,  mobility-impaired  person may require help for boarding. However, accessibility to trains from low-level platforms has been identified as one of the challenge areas under 'NavrachnaInnovation' initiative. (d) & (e): No, Madam. For assistance to visually impaired travellers as well as those with normal vision, integrated Braille signages, i.e., signages  superimposed  with  Braille  scripts  are  being  provided  on newly manufactured coaches. Retrofitment on existing coaches has also been taken up in a phased manner. Hearing impaired travelers with normal vision can also make use of these integrated Braille signages. *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1111 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-02
Subject: Trained and Certified Workforce
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1111

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.03.2016

## TRAINED AND CERTIFIED WORKFORCE

## QUESTION

1111. SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

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

- (a) whether a majority of people going abroad are neither skilled for the job they are taking up nor familiar with the laws and language of the country they are emigrating to and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Ministry  of  Skill  Development  and  the  Ministry  of  External  Affairs propose to collaborate on training and certifying job seekers intending to emigrate; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the time by which this will be put into practice?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) The  importance  of  providing  skill  training  and  pre-departure  orientation programmes, for Indians who seek to work overseas has been recognised by Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). To understand the scale of the above challenge, MSDE through National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) commissioned a  study  on  overseas  employment  opportunities  for  Indians,  which  identifies  the  key sectors  offering  opportunities  for  overseas  employment  and  the  challenges  faced  by overseas Indians. The draft report highlighted some of the important skill gaps of Indians seeking jobs overseas and recommended providing customised pre-departure orientation programmes, to equip Indians with the technical and soft skills needed when employed abroad.

To  overcome  the  above  challenge,  MSDE  in  collaboration  with  Ministry  of Overseas Indian Affairs  (now  under  Ministry  of  External  Affairs)  has  developed  a  draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), wherein the two Ministries would collaborate to provide  pre-departure  orientation  for  Indians  seeking  overseas  employment  through  a scheme  known  as  'Pravasi  Kaushal  Vikas  Yojana'.  In  addition,  MSDE  is  promoting through  NSDC,  open  customised  skill  training  centres  with  a  focus  on  overseas employment.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1110 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-02
Subject: Chinese Presence in Arabian Sea
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: ANANT KUMAR DATTATREYA HEGDE, ELUMALAI VELLAIGOUNDER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1110 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.03.2016

## CHINESE PRESENCE IN ARABIAN SEA

† 1110. SHRI ANANTKUMAR HEGDE: SHRI V. ELUMALAI:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  China  has  started  to  strengthen  its  position  in  the Arabian Sea;
- (b) if so, the facts in this regard;
- (c) the  steps  taken  to  protect  the  security  interests  of  our country;
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  also  considering  to  initiate  joint patrolling in the South China Sea region; and
- (e) if so, the discussion held with various countries in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) Government is aware of development of China's relations with the littoral countries in Arabian Sea region including through  trade,  investment,  defence  exchanges  and  arms  supply, nuclear  cooperation  and  infrastructure  development.  Government has seen reports that recently, management of operations of Gwadar Port  in  Pakistan,  which  was  built  by  Chinese  companies  with Chinese  official  financial  assistance,  has  been  taken  over  by  a Chinese  company.  Government  keeps  a  constant  watch  on  all developments  having  a  bearing  on  India's  security  and  takes  all necessary measures to safeguard it.

- (d) No.

- (e) Does not arise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1109 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-02
Subject: R&D in Telecom Sector
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: DINESH TRIVEDI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1109 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2 nd  MARCH,  2016

## R&D IN TELECOM SECTOR

1109. SHRI DINESH TRIVEDI:

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

- (a) whether the Government  has taken any steps to promote Research and Development in Telecom Sector;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has given any grants to universities for this purpose; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) Madam, Apart from C-DoT which is the Telecom Technology Development  Centre  of  DoT  under  Government  of  India,  eight    Telecom  Centres  of Excellence  (TCOEs)  at  premier  technical  institutes  in  a  public-Private  Partnership bringing  together  Academic  Institutions,  Telecom  Industry  and  Government  with  the objective  of  creating  an  eco-system  for  sustainable  growth  of  telecom  sector  in  the country,  have  been  set-up.  They  are  functional  at  Indian  Institute  of  Technology  at Delhi,  Chennai,  Kanpur,  Kharagpur,  Mumbai  and  Roorkee  and  one  each  at  Indian Institute  of  Sciences,  Bangalore  and  Indian  Institute  of  Management,  Ahmedabad  for promoting  development  of  new  technologies  to  Generate  IPRs,  incubate  innovations and promote entrepreneurship. Further, the Telecom Standards Development Society of India(TSDSI) has been formed to contribute to development of next generation telecom standards and drive  IPR creation.

- (c) & (d)   No grant has been given to any of the universities.

**********
Lok Sabha Question No. 1108 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-02
Subject: Transportation of Coal in Open Wagons
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: PINAKI MISRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1108 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.03.2016

## TRANSPORTATION OF COAL IN OPEN WAGONS

1108. SHRI PINAKI MISRA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) whether Coal is invariably transported in open goods wagons to all parts of the country and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether  any  loss  of  coal  has  been  reported  on  transit  or transportation due to utilizing open goods wagons;

(c) if  so,  the  quantum  of  loss  of  coal  so  reported  during  the  last three years;  and

(d) the steps taken by the Railways to check such losses?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) :  Coal is predominantly transported in BOXN and BOBR type of open wagons.

(b) to (d) : Details regarding loss of coal due to transit/transportation  in  open  wagons  are  not  maintained  by  the Zonal Railways. Coal is booked under 'Owner's risk rate', and, as per  section  97  of  the  Railways  Act  1989,  Zonal  Railways  have  no liability  for  any  transit  loss  in  open  wagons  unless  it  is  due  to negligence  or  misconduct  on  its  part  or  on  the  part  of  any  of  its servants.

No compensation has been paid on Indian Railways in the last 3 years on account of transit losses due to transportation of coal in open wagons.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1107 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-02
Subject: Rail Accidents
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: KAVITHA KALVAKUNTLA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1107 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.03.2016

## RAIL ACCIDENTS

## 1107.        SHRIMATI KAVITHA KALVAKUNTLA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  under  the  Railways  Corporate  Safety  Plan  had envisaged  to  bring  down  the  number  of  accidents  by  80%  between  2001 and 2013;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it has come to the notice of the Government that the number of accidents increased by 160% during the above period; and
- (d) if so, the measures being undertaken by the Ministry to reduce the number of accidents?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a)  &  (b):  Corporate  Safety  Plan  (2003-2013)  envisaged  reduction  in  the accidents per million train kilometers from 0.44 in 2002-03 to 0.17 in 2012-13. The  target  for  reduction  in  derailments  was  set  at  60%  and  that  for  fire accidents 80%.

(c): No, Madam. By the end of Corporate Safety Plan, the accidents per million train kilometers reduced to 0.11 in 2012-13 as against the target of 0.17.

(d): Safety is accorded the highest priority by Indian Railways and all possible steps are undertaken on a continual basis to prevent accidents and to enhance safety.    These  include  timely  replacement  of  over-aged  assets,  adoption  of suitable technologies for upgradation and maintenance of track, rolling stock, signaling and interlocking systems, safety drives, greater emphasis on training of officials and inspections at regular intervals to monitor and educate staff for observance  of  safe  practices.  Safety  devices/systems  being  used  to  prevent accidents  include  complete  track  circuiting,  provision  of  Block  Proving  Axle Counters  (BPAC),  Auxiliary  Warning  System  (AWS),  Colour  Light  LED  Signals, Vigilance Control Device (VCD), usage of 60 kg rails and Pre-stressed Concrete Sleepers, long rail panels, better welding technology, progressive use of Linke Hofmann  Busch  (LHB)  Coaches,  Centre  Buffer  Couplers  with  Integral  Coach Factory (ICF) Coaches, etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1106 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-02
Subject: Change of Floor
Ministry: URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1106

## TO BE ANSWERED ON MARCH 02, 2016 CHANGE OF FLOOR

No. 1106

SHRI SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY:

Will  the  Minister  OF  URBAN  DEVELOPMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  policy/instructions  under  which  the freehold DDA flats are not changed to ground floor;
- (b) the  steps  taken  to  modify  the  policy/instructions  to
- allow change of floor in the case of freehold flats;
- (c) whether existing flats are reconverted to freehold after
- charging conversion charges; and
- (d) if not, the reasons thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

- (a) & (b)  :  Delhi  Development  Authority  (DDA)  has  informed that  changes  to  ground  floor  under  relevant  regulation  is possible only before handing over possession by DDA. Freehold  conversion  happens  only  after  the  possession  is handed over.
- (c):  DDA  has  informed  that  existing  leasehold  flats  are converted to freehold after charging outstanding dues and the prescribed conversion charges.
- (d): Does not arise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1105 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-02
Subject: Fraud Persons Travelling in Old Age Category
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: KANWAR SINGH TANWAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1105 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.03.2016

## FRAUD PERSONS TRAVELLING IN OLD AGE CATEGORY

†1105. SHRI KANWAR SINGH TANWAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of travellers who were not entitled to travel under the  senior  citizen  category  but  were  apprehended  by  the railways  for  travelling  under  the  said  category  along  with  the details of the action taken against them;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  concrete  steps  to check such incidents; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a)    Upto  31.01.2016  there  was  a  provision  that  if  a  passenger  is found travelling in train availing senior citizen concession by giving false declaration of age, difference of fare was to be realized from such passengers. Separate data of these cases is not maintained.
- (b)  &  (c)  With  a  view  to  reduce  misuse  of  both  senior  citizen concession as well as senior citizen quota by false declaration of age, a provision has been made with effect from 01.02.2016 that if any  such  passenger  without  being  a  senior  citizen is found

travelling in  the train, he/she will be treated as travelling without ticket  and  charged  accordingly.  Similarly,  the  passenger  found misusing  senior  citizen  concession  alone  will  be  required  to  pay difference of fare and penalty.

*****