opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1550 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-04
Subject: LPG Subsidies
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: KIRTI (JHA) AZAD

(a) whether auto-credit of subsidy amount of LPG is not being credited in banks accounts after the Government had announced abolition of LPG subsidy for households with annual income above rupees ten lakhs; (b) whether the Government plans to abolish provision of LPG subsidy altogether; (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; (d) whether the Government proposes to check black-marketing of subsidised gas-cylinders which is due to dual-price policy for cooking gas; and (e)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  other  steps  taken  by  the  Government  in  this

- regard?

## ANSWER Minister of State for Finance (SHRI JAYANT SINHA)

(a)    Government   vide  letter  dated  18.12.2015  communicated  to  all  Public  Sector  Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) that  if a consumer or his/her spouse  has taxable income of Rs. 10 lakh or above during the previous financial year computed as per the Income Tax Act, 1961, he/she is not eligible  for  LPG  subsidy.   Consequent  to  the  decision,  the  Ministry  of petroleum & Natural Gas issued detailed operational guidelines to enable such LPG consumers falling within the income group as mentioned above.   The consumers are provided with various options to file self-declaration.  Auto-credit of subsidized amount of LPG is discontinued   upon receipt of self-declaration from the consumer concerned. (b)&(c):  There is  no proposal currently  under consideration  to  abolish  LPG  subsidy  all together. (d)&(e): There is a possibility of black marketing in domestic LPG cylinders by unscrupulous elements due to the lower retail price of LPG for domestic price vis-a- vis the market price for commercial LPG. OMCs are on vigil to prevent and take action against black marketing of cylinders.  OMCs carry regular  surprise inspections  at  distributors'  premises,  conduct  refill audits, surprise checks at customers' premises, en-route checking of delivery vehicles etc. Further,  various  initiatives  have  been  taken  by  the  Government  viz.  capping  on supply  of  subsidized  cylinders,  de-duplication,  a  24x7  LPG  service  portal  www.mylpg.in which  enables  the  LPG  customer  to  see  the  delivery  status  of  LPG  distributor,  launched `PAHAL' for direct transfer of subsidy to the consumer, KYC exercise etc. which reduce the misuse and black marketing of subsidized LPG cylinders.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1549 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-04
Subject: Availability of Quality Raw Material for AYUSH
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: E. T. MOHAMMED BASHEER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH)

LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1549 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH MARCH, 2016

## AVAILABILITY OF QUAL ITY RAW MATERIAL FOR AYUSH

## 1549. SHRI E.T. MOHAMMED BASHEER:

Will  the  Minister  of AYURVEDA,  YOGA,  NATUROPATHY,  UNANI,  SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken steps for sustained availability of quality raw materia AYUSH system of medicine and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to increase the number of pharmacies drug laboratori

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)

- (a): National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) is established in the Ministry of AYUSH sinc to coordinate and support inter alia conservation, cultivation and sustainable development of m plants for promoting the availability of quality raw materials used in the manufacturin medicines.   National Medicinal Plants Board is implementing following two schem es for supporting development activities of medicinal plants sector in the country:
- i) Central  Sector  Scheme  for  Conservation,  Development  and  Sustainable  Management Medicinal Plants
- ii) Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM) for medicinal plants.

Through the Central Sector Scheme, financial support is extended to the project p developing  agro - techniques  and  standards  of  quality,  safety  and  efficacy  of  medicinal  pl development of Good Agriculture and Collection Practic es  and  certification  of    quality  raw  dru seeds and planting materials etc.

- (b): Through  a  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  implemented  since  9 th Plan,  Ministry  of  AYUSH provided grant - in - aid to 46 State Pharmacies and 27 Drug Testing Laboratories of Ayur vedic, Siddha, Unani  &  Homoeopathy  systems  to  strengthen  their  infrastructural  and  functional  capa 12 th Five Year Plan, the scheme has been merged in to National AYUSH Mission, through whi States supported during the year 2015 - 16 for 9 pharmacies and 10 Drugs Testing Laboratories.

………..
Lok Sabha Question No. 1547 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-04
Subject: Financial Assistance for Rubber Growers
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: RAMACHANDRAN MULLAPPALLY

## Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Financial Services

## LOK SABHA Unstarred Question No. 1547

## To be answered on March 4, 2016/Phalguna 14, 1937 (Saka) Financial Assistance for Rubber Growers

1547. SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has considered the proposal for financial assistance of Rs. 500 crores to Kerala to ensure support price for rubber growers; and
- (b) if so, the details and the status thereof?

## Answer

## The Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance (Shri Jayant Sinha)

(a) & (b): Representations have been received from the State Government of Kerala and public representatives for financial assistance to ensure support price for natural rubber growers. However, as per the present scheme of the Price Stabilization Fund of the Central Government, there is no provision to provide assistance of this nature to natural rubber growers.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1545 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-04
Subject: Setting up of Coastal Economic Zones
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: R. PARTHIPAN, KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL

## Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Economic Affairs

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1545

TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY THE 4TH MARCH, 2016

PHALGUNA 14, 1937-38 (SAKA)

## SETTING UP OF COASTAL ECONOMIC ZONE

SHRI R. PARTHIPAN

## SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL

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

- a) Whether the Government is planning to set up new Coastal economic zones in the country, if so, the details thereof along with the list of selected sites for CEZs; and
- b) The manner in which these CEZs are likely to garner a bigger share of global trade?

## ANSWER

## Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance

## (SHRI JAYANT SINHA)

- (a) Yes, Madam: As of the Sagarmala Programme; potential geographic regions to be called Coastal Economic Zones (CEZs) are being identified along with their high level perspective plan. A CEZ is conceptualized as a spatial-economic region that will be around and integrally linked to a group of major and minor ports. It would be a region over which the 'influence' of port exists in so far as supporting industrial and other economic activities is concerned. part

Development of port-based industrial parks, promoting captive ancillary  facilities would be some of the activities under CEZ. Systematic development of the existing land industries and covered resources around the ports is expected to trigger economic growth in the region:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1544 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-04
Subject: Rolling out Diagnostic Machines
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: KALIKESH NARAYAN SINGH DEO, VIRENDRA  KUMAR, PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1544 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH MARCH, 2016

## ROLLING OUT DIAGNOST IC MACHINES

## 1544. SHRI KALIKESH N. SINGH DEO: DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR: SHRI PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA:

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

(a)  whether  the  Government  proposes to  roll  out diagnostic machines  that  are capable  of conducting a highly sensitive molecular diagnostic test f or Tuberculosis, if so, the details thereof and timeline for rolling out these machines;

(b) the measures taken by the Government to ensure availability of adequate finances, storage and stocks of cartridges to keep the machines functioning;

- (c) whether the foreign companies selling medical devices in India which are banned in their parent countries, if so, details thereof;
- (d) whether the companies imparting medical devices sell these devices without MRP; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to curb this practice?

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

(a) & (b): Diagnosis  of  Drug  Resistant  TB  is  undertaken  through  quality  assured  dru susceptibility  testing  at  64  culture  &  drug  susceptibility  t esting    laboratories,  of  which  51 laboratories are equipped with rapid molecular test namely Line Probe Assay (LPA). Cartr Based Nucleic Acid Amplification (CBNAAT) Test Machines are installed at 121 sites for ea detection of Rifampicin resistance a mong TB cases. In addition, Govt. of India has procured 300 CB NAAT machines for conducting a highly sensitive molecular diagnostic test for Tubercul in 300 districts across country. These 300 machines are ordered along with cartridges.

- (c): Presentl y, 15 categories of notified Medical Devices are regulated under the provisio the  Drugs  and  Cosmetics  Act,  1940  and  the  Rules  framed  thereunder.  The  CDSCO  has  not received  any  information/report  that  foreign  companies  are  selling  Medical  Devices  in dia which are banned in their parent countries.

(d) & (e): Manufacturer/importer/marketing  companies  of  Medical  Devices,  notified  as 'Drugs'  are  required  to  submit  the  information  of  prices  in  Form - V  for  monitoring  of  price movement  under  the  Drug  Price Control  Order,  2013.  As  provided  in  the  said  order,  no manufacturer/ importer/ marketing companies are allowed to increase the Maximum Retail Pr of such non - scheduled drugs more than ten percent of MRP during the preceding twelve months.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1543 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-04
Subject: National Centre for Disease Control
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: MURALI MOHAN MAGANTI, DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1543 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH MARCH, 2016

## NATIONAL CENTRE FOR DISEASE CONTROL

## 1543. SHRI M. MURALI MOHAN: SHRIMATI DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH:

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

(a) the total number of National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) branches located across the country including Gujarat;

(b) whether the Government proposes to set up a Branch of NCDC in Gujarat, if so, the details and the action taken by the Government in this regard;

(c)  whether  there  is  shortage  of  staff and  lack  of  facilities  such  as  laboratories, building   at NCDC and if so, the details thereof;

(d)  whether the  Government  has  any proposal  to  strengthen  NCDC  by  increasing the  staff, upgradation of laboratories/ buildings etc.; and

- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

- (a): National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is based in Delhi and has, at present, branches as under:
1. Alwar (Rajasthan)
2. Bengaluru(Karnataka)
3. Coonoor (TamilN adu)
4. Jagdalpur (Chattisgarh)
5. Kozhikode(Kerala)
6. Patna(Bihar)
7. Rajahmundry (Andhra Pradesh)
8. Varanasi (Uttar Prade sh)

(b): The Standing Finance Committee ( SFC ) on  24.04.2015 has  approved the  proposal for 'Establishment of 30 branches (including 8 existing branches) of NCDC in all States and one UT of  India' for  a  total  outlay  of  Rs.367.60  crore to  be  implemented  in  phased  manner  as  per availability  of  land  and  funds.  While  establishing  the  branches,  priority  will  be  giv States where lab/rapid response facilities to respond to outbreak/public health emergen inadequate.

All  State Governm ents  through  Director  of  Health Services  of  each  State  have  been requested to provide approx imate2- 3 acres of land free of cost for setting up of NCDC branch.

(c): No.

(d) & (e): The  project  'Upgradation  of  NCDC'  has  been  approved  by  the Cabinet Committee  on  Economic  Affairs ( CCEA ) in  2010.This  includes increase  the  manpower, infrastructure,  lab  and equipment  etc.  114  new  posts  have  been  created.  Funds  have  been approved for m achinery & equipment.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1541 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-04
Subject: Asia Specific Development Programme
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Pratyusha Rajeshwari Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1541

Friday, March 4, 2016/Phalguna 14, 1937 (Saka)

'Asia Specific Development Programme'

## 1541. SMT. PRATYUSHA RAJESHWARI SINGH:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any steps have been taken to continue Central Assistance for the Asia Specific Development Programme like Backward Region Grant Fund and Integrated Action Plan; and
- (b) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): Consequent to recommendation  of 14 th Finance Commission  for increase  in  the  States'  share  in  divisible  pool  of  Union  taxes  from  32%  to  42%, Central Assistance to State Plans (CASP), including Backward Region Grant Fund and ACA for LWE affected districts (earlier known as Integrated Action Plan) has been subsumed in overall enhanced devolution to the States from Financial Year 2015-16. However,  considering developmental  needs  of Backward  regions, a provision of one time grant of Rs. 3583.79 crore has been made during 2015-16 for projects earlier sanctioned under BRGF including Special Plan for KBK districts of Odisha,  Special  Plan  for  Bihar,  Special  Plan  for  West  Bengal  and  Bundelkhand Drought  Mitigation  package  for  Madhya  Pradesh  and  Uttar  Pradesh.  Further, considering  existence  of  LWE  problem,  a  provision  of  Rs.  1000  crore  under  One Time  Assistance  to  support  for  LWE  districts    has  been  made  out  of  budgetary provision  of  Rs.  20,000  crore  for  financial  year  2015-16  under  special  assistance head of Demand No. 37 of Ministry of Finance.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1540 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-04
Subject: Helpline by NCPCR
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: GANESH SINGH, KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1540

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.03.2016

## HELPLINE BY NCPCR

## 1540. SHRI GANESH SINGH: SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) whether the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has called the State Governments for the rehabilitation of child labourers;

(b) if so, the reaction of the State Governments in this regard;

(c) whether the Commission has started any `helpline' across the country to enable people to file complaints regarding the harassment of children; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI)

(a) to (b)  As per information received from National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), the Chairperson, Members and Officials of NCPCR make visits to various States/UTs for discussion on issues concerning child labour from time to time and make their observations/recommendations for rehabilitation of child labourers.  NCPCR has been writing to the State Governments from time to time regarding rehabilitation of Child Labour in the instances of grievances received by the Commission.  The State Governments share action taken reports with the Commission in the concerned matters.

Further, Ministry of Labour and Employment has reported that the Ministry has been implementing the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme since 1988 in the areas of high concentration of child labour. The NCLP Scheme is sanctioned in 270 districts in the country.  Under  this  scheme,    working  children  in  the  age  group  of  9-14  years  are rescued/withdrawn from certain identified occupations and processes and enrolled in NCLP Special Training Centres where they are provided with bridge education, vocational training, mid day meal, stipend, health care, etc. before being mainstreamed into formal education system. Children in the age group of 5-8 years are directly linked to the formal educational system through a close coordination with the SarvaShikshaAbhiyan (SSA).

(c)  to (d)  NCPCR has not started any 'helpline' across the country to enable people to file complaints regarding the harassment of children.  However, Commission has started online complaint management system 'Ebaalnidan' for receiving complaints on violation of child rights.

Further Childline India Foundation (CIF) , an Mother NGO appointed by Ministry of Women & Child Development runs a toll free number CHILDLINE (1098), a 24/7 emergency phone utreach service for children in crisis which links them to emergency and long-term care and rehabilitation services.  The service can be accessed by any child in crisis or an adult on their behalf.  CHILDLINE also intervenes in cases of child labour.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1538 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-04
Subject: Fiscal Deficit
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: HUKUM SINGH, B.N. CHANDRAPPA, NALIN KUMAR KATEEL

- (a) whether the Indian economy, despite many negative indicators is poised to be much stronger in future and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government contained the fiscal deficit at 3.9 per cent and correctly measured the GDP growth, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) whether it is also a fact that Corporations are not investing because capacity utilisation is too low, and because they have too many bad loans, stressed assets, etc. and cutting interests is the only solution, if so, the details thereof and steps being taken to overcome these difficulties?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  As  per  the  Advanced  Estimates  released  by  Central  Statistics  Office  (CSO),  the  growth  of  Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at constant (2011-12) market prices is estimated at 7.6 per cent in 2015-16. The  Economic  Survey  2015-16  indicates  that  despite  uncertainties  in  the  global  economy,  Indian economy  stands  out  as  a  haven  of  macroeconomic  stability,  resilience  and  optimism  and  can  be expected to register GDP growth that could be in the range of 7 to 7.75 per cent in the coming year. International Monetary Fund, in their World Economic Outlook Update (January 2016), has indicated that India is projected to continue growing at a robust pace.

(b) As per the Budget 2016-17, the fiscal deficit as a ratio of GDP at current market prices is estimated at 3.9 per cent for the year 2015-16 (revised estimates). As per the Advanced Estimates released by Central  Statistics  Office  (CSO),  the  growth  of  Gross  Domestic  Product  (GDP)  at  constant  (2011-12) market prices is estimated at 7.6 per cent in 2015-16. This estimation has been done in accordance with the international best practices.

(c) The fixed investment (measured by Gross Fixed Capital Formation) by the private corporate sector increased from 11.7 per cent of the GDP at current market prices in 2013-14 to 12.3 per cent in 2014-15 (the  latest  year  for  which  data  is  available),  despite  indications  of  constraints  like  stressed  assets. Investment  depends  on  various  factors  that, inter-alia ,  include:  expectations  of  demand  vis-à-vis  the available  capacity,  expected  profit,  business  climate  and  interest  rate.  The  Government  has  taken  a number of steps to improve the business climate and boost investment in the economy which, among others, include: the 'Make in India' initiative along with the attendant facilitatory measures for a more conducive environment for investment; Start-up India initiative to boost entrepreneurship and creation of jobs;  opening  up  of  specified  sectors  for  foreign  direct  investment;  and  investment-augmenting  tax measures. The Reserve Bank of India reduced the policy repo rates by 125 basis points during 2015.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1537 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-04
Subject: Investment Infrastructure
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: JAYADEV GALLA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1537 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016/PHALGUNA 14, 1937 (SAKA)

## INVESTMENT INFRASTRUCTURE

## QUESTION

## 1537. SHRI JAYADEV GALLA:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- a) whether  it  is  true  that  as  per  CRISIL's  estimate,  the  country  needed  31  lakh  crores investment in infrastructure during 2015-16 to 2019-20;
- b) if so, the details thereof;
- c) the sector-wise break-up of funds required; and
- d) the manner by which Government is planning to measure the finance?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE

## ( SHRI JAYANT SINHA )

(a) to (d): As  per  the  White  Paper  on  Infrastructure  Financing  brought  out  by  CRSIL Ratings and ASSOCHAM INDIA in December, 2015, it is estimated that the country would need Rs 31 lakh crores investment in infrastructure during 2015-20. The Paper estimates that about 70 percent of this will be required in the power, roads and urban infrastructure sectors.  The  Paper  further  estimates  that  over  two-thirds  of  the  investment  (seventy  per cent) would need to be funded through debt, and thirty per cent would be through equity.

Apart from public investment, Government has taken steps to mobilize other sources of investment funds from various sources for development of basic infrastructure, including through  the  establishment  of  Infrastructure  Debt  Funds,  Real  Estate/Infrastructure Business Trusts (REITs/InvITs),  relaxation  in  External  Commercial  Borrowing  (ECB)  and Foreign  Direct  Investment  (FDI)  norms,  mainstreaming  of  Public  Private  Partnerships (PPPs),  liberalization  of  lending  norms  by  banks  to  infrastructure  sector,  relaxation  of norms for Employees' Provident Funds Organization (EPFO)/pension funds investment in infrastructure sector, establishment of National Infrastructure Investment Fund (NIIF) etc.

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