The government yesterday said it would announce a plan giving total autonomy to navaratnas (nine PSUs identified to become global giants) and managerial and financial autonomy to profit-making PSUs within a fortnight.
Replying to a private members resolution on sickness in public sector undertakings (PSUs) in the Rajya Sabha, industry minister Murasoli Maran said we are preparing a paper to give total autonomy to navaratnas and will announce it within a fortnight.
Potato growers: The government assured the Rajya Sabha that it would take speedy action to mitigate the lot of potato growers due to their problem of plenty. Agriculture minister Chaturanan Mishra told Rajya Sabha members during zero hour that the government would provide railway transport facilities for movement of potatoes from West Bengal and other parts of the country at a concessional rate due to its high production.
Indian Airlines: The International Air Transporters Association (IATA) has rated Indian Airlines (IA) as the sixth most feared airline in the world, the Rajya Sabha was told. Raising the matter during the special mention, AGP member Parag Chaliha said, the government must take safety measures to remove such doubts about the airline.
Womens bill: The government informed the Rajya Sabha that Prime Minister I K Gujral was having consultations with various parties on the womens reservation bill as the House stood as one in demanding that the legislation be taken up in the current session itself.
Lok Sabha
MMTC: Seven jewellery exporters have not been able to account for 91 kgs of gold issued to them by the Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation (MMTC) under the exim policy schemes, Lok Sabha was told. The CBI, DRI, Enforcement Directorate and the director general of foreign trade were investigating the cases filed by MMTC and action had been initiated against lapses by the public sector officials and these jewellers, minister of state for commerce B B Ramaiah said in a written reply.
Indian Bank: Finance minister P Chidambaram asserted in Lok Sabha that there was no ministerial interference in the CBI investigation in the case relating to Indian Bank scam and said law will take its course.
SC bench: The government outrightly rejected the demand for setting up of a bench of the Supreme Court in the south or in any part of the country saying this would dilute the prestige and dignity of the apex court. Replying to a supplementary in the Lok Sabha during the question hour, minister of state for law and justice Ramakant Khalap said the Supreme Court is the apex judicial agency which has its own dignity, prestigue and respect.
Pilot crop insurance scheme announced
Press Trust of India NEW DELHI
The government yesterday announced introduction of a pilot crop insurance scheme for small and marginal non-loanee farmers.
In a statement in the Lok Sabha, agriculture minister Chaturanan Mishra said the pilot crop insurance scheme would cover 25 selected districts of nine states and the insurance charges, at the initial stage, would be fully met by the central and state governments in view of the poor resource base of small and marginal farmers. The scheme would cover all small and marginal non-loanee farmers at par with farmers obtaining loans for raising cereals, oilseeds and pulses.
Wheat import unavoidable: Mishra
Press Trust of India NEW DELHI
Agriculture minister Chaturanan Mishra yesterday asserted in the Rajya Sabha that he was against wheat imports but said it was unavoidable to meet the demand for this vital commodity in the country.
Mishra said during question hour that a quantity of 16.75 lakh tonnes of wheat was contracted for import during January-April this year, out of which 9.96 lakh tonnes reached Indian ports upto march 31. The balance quantity is expected to arrive by May 15.
The minister said the government is hopeful of higher wheat procurement as the production in 1996-97 rabi crop was likely to be higher by about two million tonnes over that of the previous year to touch 64.66 million tonnes.
He allayed fears expressed by farmers that the government was giving lesser price for their wheat produce. The procurement price is almost at international levels, he said while seeking the cooperation of the farming community in governments endeavour to increase wheat procurement.
Mishra expressed the governments confidence in meeting this years target of procuring 10 million tonnes. A total of four million tonnes had already been procured in the current rabi marketting season.
He turned down a suggestion by a member for imposing levy on big wehat producers and wondered why they should be penalised for helping in augmenting wheat production.
