SYNOPSIS of DEBATES (Proceedings Other Than Questions & Answers) ______

SYNOPSIS OF DEBATES (Proceedings other than Questions & Answers) ______

Monday, December 22, 2008 / Pausa 1, 1930 (Saka)

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OBITUARY REFERENCE

MR. SPEAKER: I have to inform the House of the sad demise of our former colleague, Shri Jagdish Awasthi.

Shri Jagdish Awasthi was a Member of the Second Lok Sabha from 1957 to

1962 and of the Eighth Lok Sabha from 1984 to 1989 representing the Bilhaur parliamentary constituency of Uttar Pradesh. Earlier, Shri Awasthi was a Member of the Uttar Pradesh Pradesh Vidhan Sabha from 1974 to 1977. Shri Awasthi was a Member of the Committee on Petitions during the Second Lok Sabha. He was a

Member of the Committee on Papers Laid on the Table during the Eighth Lok

Sabha. An educationist by profession, Shri Awasthi worked untiringly for the spread of adult education. He was the Chairman of the Madhyamik Shikshak

Sangh, Kanpur from 1958 to 1960; Advisory Committee, ITI, Kanpur from 1967 to

1969 and from 1980 to 1981 and the Managing Committee, Makanpur Higher

Secondary School, Kanpur Dehat. Shri Awasthi also served as the Secretary, Hind Kisan Panchayat, Kanpur from 1950 to 1957. Shri Awasthi took special interest in the cooperative movement and served as the Chairman of the District Co-operative

Bank, Kanpur. He was a member of the Co-operative Milk Board, Kanpur and

Khadi and Gramodyog Board, Uttar Pradesh from 1973 to 1975. Shri Awasthi was the Editor of Mankind, an English magazine from 1959 to 1962.

Shri Jagdish Awasthi passed away on 21 September, 2008 at Kanpur, Uttar

Pradesh at the age of 85.

We deeply mourn the loss of our friend and I am sure, the House would join me in conveying our condolences to the bereaved family.

The Members then stood in silence for a short while.

RESIGNATIONS BY MEMBERS

MR. SPEAKER: I have to inform the House that I have received individual letters dated 19th December, 2008 from Dr. Ramkrishna Kusmaria and Shrimati

Neeta Pateriya elected Members from Khajuraho and Seoni Parliamentary

Constituencies, respectively, of Madhya Pradesh resigning from the membership of

Lok Sabha with immediate effect.

I have accepted their resignations with effect from 19th December, 2008.

LIFE INSURANCE CORPORATION (AMENDMENT) BILL - 2008

SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA opposing the motion for introduction of the

Bill, said: The Government of India has received thousands of crores as dividend from the Life Insurance Corporation of India. Moreover, the LIC has invested more than Rs. Two Lakh crore for the development of infrastructure, industrial development and other activities in the country. Today, after 51 years of its existence, the Government of India has decided to increase the Government equity from Rs.5 crore to Rs.100 crore. What is the rationale behind increasing the equity?

In the other House, they are introducing a Bill to increase the Foreign Direct

Investment in LIC from 26 per cent to 49 per cent, together with a decision to increase the Foreign Direct Investment in the insurance sector from 26 per cent to

49 per cent. Both these Bills are inter-related. This is nothing but a step towards privatization of the Life Insurance Corporation of India. This is unconstitutional and that is why I am opposing the introduction of this Bill.

*MATTERS UNDER RULE 377

(i) SHRI S.K. KHARVENTHAN laid a statement regarding need to confer

‘Bharat Ratna’ Award on Dr. M. Karunanidhi, Chief Minister of Tamil

Nadu.

* Laid on the Table as directed by the Chair (ii) SHRIMATI TEJASVINI GOWDA laid a statement regarding need for

proper fencing of forest areas in Karnataka with a view to keep the wild

elephants off the human habitations.

(iii) SHRI ANWAR HUSSAIN laid a statement regarding need to declare

Dhubri-Haldia via Bangladesh Water Way as International Water Way

and release the fund for construction of Dhubri Port.

(iv) SHRI N.S.V. CHITTHAN laid a statement regarding need to man the

unmanned railway crossings in the Southern Railways.

(v) SHRI ADHIR CHOWDHURY laid a statement regarding need to

expedite the four-laning of N.H.34 in West Bengal.

(vi) SHRI NIKHIL KUMAR laid a statement regarding need to expedite the

setting up of Doordarshan Kendra at Aurangabad in Bihar.

(vii) SHRI JASWANT SINGH BISHNOI laid a statement regarding need to

provide special package for the development of desert regions in

Rajasthan.

(viii) SHRI AVINASH RAI KHANNA laid a statement regarding need to

reduce the number of Government Holidays.

(ix) DR. VALLABHBHAI KATHIRIA laid a statement regarding need to

enact a law making military service compulsory for the youth in the

country. (x) SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR laid a statement regarding need to

set up a Commando and Police Training School in Himachal Pradesh.

(xi) SHRI BIKRAM KESHARI DEO laid a statement regarding need to

release funds for reconstruction work in flood-affected areas of

Kalahandi and Naupada districts in Orissa.

(xii) SHRI SANTASRI CHATTERJEE laid a statement regarding need to

fulfill the demands of All India Regional Rural Banks Employees

Association.

(xiii) SHRIMATI C.S. SUJATHA laid a statement regarding need to

implement the recommendations of National Agriculture Commission

and bring down the interest rate on all agricultural loans to four per cent.

(xiv) SHRI SHAILENDRA KUMAR laid a statement regarding need to

construct a bridge on railway crossing at Bharwari in Chail Parliamentary

Constituency, Uttar Pradesh.

(xv) SHRI RAJNARAYAN BUDHOLIA laid a statement regarding need to

increase the frequency of Uttar Pradesh Smpark Kranti Express (train

no.2447-2448) between Delhi and Bundelkhand and start a train service

between Mahoba and Khajuraho.

(xvi) SHRI ALOK KUMAR MEHTA laid a statement regarding need to

expedite the completion of Noon river Project in Bihar. (xvii) SHRI E.G. SUGAVANAM laid a statement regarding need to safeguard

the interests of Tamilians in Sri Lanka.

(xviii) PROF. M. RAMADASS laid a statement regarding need to bring

Puducherry in the fold of Central Finance Commission or Finance

Commission constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

(xix) SHRI HEMLAL MURMU laid a statement regarding need to expedite

the construction of a bridge over river Ganga connecting Sahibganj in

Jharkhand with Manihari in Bihar.

(xx) SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE laid a statement regarding need to

provide reservation to Women in Parliament.

DEMANDS FOR SUPPLEMENTARY GRANTS (RAILWAYS)-2008-09

AND

RESOLUTION RE: APPROVAL OF RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED

IN NINTH REPORT OF RAILWAY CONVENTION COMMITTEE (2004)

All the Supplementary Demands for Grants (Railways) were voted in full. APPROPRIATION (RAILWAYS) No.5 BILL, 2008

The Bill was passed

GRAM NYAYALAYAS BILL, 2008

(As passed by Rajya Sabha)

THE MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE (SHRI H.R. BHARDWAJ) moved the motions for consideration and passing of the Bill.

The Bill was passed without discussion

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2006

THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION

TECHNOLOGY (SHRI A. RAJA) moved the motion for consideration and passing of the Bill.

The Bill, as amended, was passed without discussion.

SUPREME COURT (NUMBER OF JUDGES) AMENDMENT BILL, 2008

THE MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE (SHRI H.R. BHARDWAJ) moved the motion for consideration and passing of the Bill.

The Bill was passed without discussion.

P.D.T. ACHARY, Secretary-General.