Page 6 - Monsoon Session Of Parliament

Over 17,000 people died in floods, heavy rains between 2012-2021: Govt

Over 17,000 people died in floods and heavy rains between 2012 and 2021 in the country, the government said on Monday. Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Jal Shakti Bishweswar Tudu said the increased incidence of high intensity rainfall of short duration is mainly responsible for urban floods, which is further compounded by unplanned growth, encroachment of natural water bodies and poor drainage system. According to data shared by Tudu in the House, 17,422 deaths due to floods and heavy rains from 2012 to 2021 took place in India. The state-wise data on damages due to heavy rains and floods in the entire state (rural and urban areas) has been compiled by the Central Water Commission (CWC), and as per which the total damages, including crops, houses and public utilities stood at Rs 2,76,004.05 crore, he said. Tudu, in a written response, said several initiatives have been taken by the government to encourage groundwater recharge and other nature-based

Rs 53.60 cr allocated for restoration, conservation of UP monuments: Govt

The total fund allocation in the current financial year for the restoration and conservation of centrally-protected monuments, including religious ones, in Uttar Pradesh is Rs 53.60 crore, the government informed Parliament on Monday. Union Minister for Culture G Kishan Reddy said this in a written response to a query in Lok Sabha. There are 743 centrally-protected monuments under the jurisdiction of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in Uttar Pradesh, the minister said in his response to a query on the steps taken by the government for the protection and restoration of historical and religious monuments during the last three years in the state. The ASI takes up the conservation and maintenance works of monuments as per their requirements and within available resources, he said. Further, private security guards and CISF staff have been deployed at monuments for security and protection, he said, adding, "If any encroachment is noticed, legal action is initiated against the violat

Improved detection, reporting bring down bank fraud cases: MoS Finance

Improved detection and reporting, along with steps taken to check bank frauds, have resulted in a sharp decline in the occurrence of such incidence, Parliament was informed on Monday. Sharing data, Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat Karad said bank frauds have declined from Rs 77,544 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 1,650 crore in 2022-23. Comprehensive steps, including measures to address security flaws/loopholes and to strengthen the fraud risk management mechanism in banks, have been taken by the government, RBI and public sector banks (PSBs), Karad said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. Some of the measures include an online searchable database of frauds reported by banks, in the form of the Central Fraud Registry has been set up to enable timely identification, control and mitigation of fraud risk and also to carry out due diligence during the credit sanction process and heads of PSBs have been empowered to issue requests for issuance of Look-Out circulars. Besides, he said a ...

PM must make statement on Manipur, INDIA parties want debate in RS: Cong

Parties belonging to the opposition bloc INDIA want a discussion on Manipur under Rule 267 in the Rajya Sabha, which means that all other business of the House gets suspended till the debate is over, the Congress said on Monday and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "running away" from giving a statement on the violence in the state. Both Houses of Parliament have been experiencing repeated disruptions since the start of the Monsoon session on July 20.The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day on Monday as the opposition insisted on discussing the Manipur issue under Rule 267 of the House. In a tweet, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "The INDIA parties stuck to their position in the Rajya Sabha this afternoon. PM must make a statement in the House on what has happened in Manipur over the past 90 days on which he has maintained an eloquent silence. Thereafter, there should be a debate and discussion." The INDIA parties want this under Rule 267, which means given the

44% of rural households in ST areas yet to get tap water connection: Govt

About 44 per cent of the rural households in the Scheduled Tribe areas in the country are yet to get tap water connection, according to government data. Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Jal Shakti Prahlad Singh Patel said 1.2 crore out of 2.17 crore (55.3 per cent) rural tribal households have tap water connection According to data, the states where more than half the rural tribal households are yet to get tap water connection are Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and West Bengal, the minister said. To enable every rural household in the country to have potable tap water supply by 2024, including those in tribal areas and areas, the government is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) Har Ghar Jal in partnership with the states. Responding to another question, Minister of State for Jal Shakti Bishweswar Tudu said the Central Water Commission (CWC) monitors live storage status of 146 important reservoirs in the country on a weekly basis and ...

Monsoon Session: LS adjourned for day amid opposition protest over Manipur

The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day on Monday following protests by the opposition which has been demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament on the Manipur issue. When the House met at 2 pm, it passed the Cinematograph Amendment Bill, 2023, to curb film piracy. The bill was already passed in the Rajya Sabha. Earlier, when the House met at 11 am, Speaker Om Birla announced that a parliamentary delegation from Malawi is visiting India and they are watching the proceedings of the House. He welcomed the foreign delegation and wished them a pleasant stay in the country. As he completed his speech, the opposition members were on their feet demanding a statement from the prime minister on Manipur violence. Soon they came to the well of the House showing placards and raising slogans against the government. The speaker initially ignored their protests and continued the Question Hour, which was the scheduled business. Two questions related to the education and

Monsoon Session: RS adjourned till 3.30 pm over uproar on Manipur issue

The Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the fourth time till 3.30 pm on Monday as the opposition kept insisting on a discussion on the Manipur issue under Rule 267 of the House. As the House reassembled at 2 pm after the second adjournment, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said the government has agreed to a short duration discussion on the Manipur issue under Rule 176 and called for the initiation of the discussion. "The government is extremely keen (for a discussion on the Manipur issue)," Dhankhar said amid uproar by the opposition. When members from the opposition parties insisted on a discussion under Rule 267, he responded, "Notices under Rule 267 have not been admitted by me. They have been declined by me". As the uproar continued, the Chairman first adjourned the House till 2.30 pm and then again till 3.30 pm.

Stage set for stormy week as parliament set to take up Delhi services bill

The Monsoon session of Parliament which saw many disruptions since it began on July 20 over the Manipur violence issue, is set to become more turbulent with the government likely to introduce a bill in the Lok Sabha to replace the Delhi services ordinance. The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill has become a rallying point for a united opposition against the BJP-led NDA. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's AAP, which is a part of the opposition coalition INDIA, has reacted strongly against the ordinance. The Congress and other opposition parties have also come out against the ordinance. The government has also listed 13 draft legislations for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha even as a notice for moving a no-confidence motion is pending before the House. Amid the impasse in Parliament over the violence in Manipur and the opposition's demand that Prime Minister Narendra Modi make a statement in the House, Home Minister Amit Shah has asserte

Monsoon session: Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries, monkeypox cases, and more

Twenty-seven confirmed cases of monkeypox disease were reported in the country, including 12 from Kerala and 15 from Delhi, the Centre said

YSRCP to support Modi govt in Parliament, vote against no-trust motion

The YSR Congress Party has decided to support the Narendra Modi government in Parliament and vote against the no-confidence motion moved by the opposition bloc INDIA. The 26-party Opposition alliance has moved a notice of no-confidence in Lok Sabha demanding the prime minister speak on the Manipur situation inside the House. While the notice has been admitted, no decision on a date has yet been taken. "How does bringing a no-confidence motion help the country? Trying to weaken the Central government at this time of disturbance in Manipur and two hostile neighbours is not in the national interest," YSRCP Parliamentary Party leader Vijayasai Reddy said. "It is the time to work together not against each other. The YSRC Party shall support the government and vote against the motion," he said. YSR Congress Party has 22 members in the Lok Sabha and nine in the Rajya Sabha. YSR Congress functionaries said that the party will vote in favour of the government in the Rajya Sabha when it tak

Govt sets up working group to decriminalise legislations for ease of biz

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday informed the Lok Sabha that the government has set up a working group to decriminalise laws to further promote ease of doing business. Replying to a debate on the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023, he said the group will look at areas, where more decriminalisation of provisions is required. He said that the group comprised representatives from industry associations, business chambers, legal professionals, legal experts and officials of seven ministries. Besides, it would also have representatives of the National Housing Bank (NHB), National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development and Central Pollution Control Board. The Bill was later passed in the Lok Sabha through a voice vote as Opposition members protested and raised slogans on the Manipur issue. The Bill seeks to amend 183 provisions across 42 Acts administered by 19 ministries to reduce the compliance burden on individuals and businesses. Goyal said th

8,330 Indian nationals lodged in prisons in 90 countries: Govt tells

As many as 8,330 Indian nationals are lodged in jails in foreign countries with 1,611 imprisoned in the United Arab Emirates alone, the government informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. In a written reply in the Upper House, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said 1,461 Indian nationals were in prisons in Saudi Arabia followed by 1,222 in Nepal, 696 in Qatar, 446 in Kuwait, 341 in Malaysia, 308 in Pakistan, 294 in the US, 277 in Bahrain and 249 in the UK. He said 178 Indian nationals are languishing in jails in China, 157 in Italy and 139 in Oman. Indian nationals are lodged in prisons in 90 countries, according to the information shared by Muraleedharan with the Rajya Sabha. "The issue of release and repatriation of Indian nationals in foreign prisons is regularly pursued by Indian missions and posts abroad with the local authorities concerned," the minister said. He said due to strong privacy laws prevailing in many countries, the local authorities do not shar

Parl panel seeks ex-ante evaluation to prevent monopoly in digital markets

A Parliamentary panel on Thursday said ex-ante evaluation is of the essence to ensure that digital markets do not end up being monopolised. The government has already set up a committee on digital competition law to examine the need for a separate law on competition in digital markets. In a report, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance said that in the context of digital markets, it "feels that ex-ante evaluation is of the essence to ensure markets don't end up monopolised". Competition Commission of India (CCI) has established the Digital Market and Data Unit (DMDU) to facilitate cross divisional exchange and act as a nodal point for stakeholder engagement on digital market matters. The panel said DMDU holds significant importance going forth in the future as digital markets display characteristics distinct from traditional markets. "It is of utmost importance that they (digital markets) are properly governed so as to curb the sharp 'tipping' of markets leading to emerg

Bill on NFIR to be finalised after discussions with stakeholders: Par Panel

A parliamentary panel on Thursday suggested that Bill on National Financial Information Registry (NFIR) should be finalised after discussions with all stakeholders and introduced in Parliament at the earliest. The passage of the Bill will enable in setting up of a registry and thus help in consolidating all financial information and facilitate financial inclusion, and take the Indian economy onto a faster growth trajectory, the panel headed by BJP leader Jayant Sinha said. The Budget 2023-24 proposed setting up of NFIR as a central repository of financial information to facilitate the efficient flow of credit, promote financial inclusion and foster financial stability in the country. The committee also took note of the steps being undertaken as part of the global outreach to showcase the opportunities extended by GIFT IFSC and the continuous deliberations with globally prominent financial authorities and standard-setting bodies to aid the mutual exchange of information for the ...

Tax dept should conduct evasion searches with caution: Parl panel

"The committee are of the view that while stepping up enforcement action against wilful or chronic evaders, honest taxpayers should not be alienated," the report said

Parl Panel urges govt to review use of NMMS app for attendance, issues

A parliamentary committee on Thursday urged the government to review the use of the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) app for recording attendance in MGNREGA in light of the "difficulties" being faced by workers. It asked the government to come out with an acceptable provision at the earliest after ascertaining the issues. In a report tabled in Lok Sabha on Thursday, the Parliamentary Committee on Rural Development noted the introduction of the NMMS app is aimed at capturing two time-stamped and geotagged photographs of the MGNREGA workers in a day. The Committee said it was understood that through the introduction of a new attendance system, the Department of Rural Development wanted to usher in increased transparency. However, they found that the actual success of this app depended upon various extraneous variables like the availability of smartphones, proper internet connectivity and the mandatory presence of MGNREGA workers at both the specified times to name a few. "Ta

'Consideration', consensus required for women's reservation bill: Govt

The women's reservation bill requires "careful consideration" on the basis of consensus among all political parties before it is brought to Parliament, the government said in Rajya Sabha on Thursday. In a written reply to a question, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said gender justice is an important commitment of the government. "The issue involved needs careful consideration on the basis of the consensus among all political parties before a Bill for amendment in the Constitution is brought before Parliament," he said. The women's reservation bill provides for 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies for 15 years. The 15th Lok Sabha could not pass the bill and the Constitution (108th Amendment) Bill, which was pending in the lower House since 2010 and lapsed following its dissolution. According to the law, any bill pending in Lok Sabha lapses with the dissolution of the House. Bills pending in Rajya Sabha are put in the "live register" and remain ...

India land of storytellers, must become a global content hub: Anurag Thakur

India is the land of storytellers and should emerge as the content hub of the world, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said on Thursday as Rajya Sabha passed the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill aimed at curbing piracy and simplifying licensing procedures. The government is soon going to open institutes for the animation, visual effects, gaming and comics (AVGC) sector to provide skilled manpower to the fast-growing field, Thakur said while replying to a debate on the bill, which seeks to amend the Cinematograph Act of 1952. The bill was passed by a voice vote after a brief discussion. The opposition staged a walkout during the introduction of the bill over its demand for a discussion on the situation in ethnic strife-torn Manipur. The bill will now go to Lok Sabha for its nod. The Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill-2023 aims to curb piracy to help the film industry and simplify licensing procedures. The government has proposed a maximum three-year jail term and

Costing Rs 2.5 lakh per minute, logjams in Parliament are a costly affair

The Lok Sabha overall recorded a productivity of 34 per cent, while the Rajya Sabha's productivity was 24.4% during this Budget Session

Monsoon session: Edible oil prices fell up to 29%, Sale of wheat stopped

The retail prices of refined sunflower oil, refined soyabean oil and refined palmolien have fallen by 29 per cent