FRIDAY, THE 9TH MARCH, 2007 (The met in the Parliament House at 11-00 a.m.) 11-00 a.m. 1. Starred Questions The following Starred Questions were orally answered:- Starred Question No.161 regarding Relief to farmers upon failure or destruction of crops. Starred Question No.162 regarding Introduction of new trains. Starred Question No.163 regarding Vigilance Committees for monitoring of FPSs. Starred Question No.165 regarding Private hospitals. Answers to remaining Starred Question Nos.164 and 166 to 180 were laid on the Table. 2. Unstarred Questions Answers to Unstarred Question Nos. 1177 to 1331 were laid on the Table. 12-00 Noon. 3. Papers Laid on the Table Shri Mahavir Prasad (Minister of Small Scale Industries and Minister of Agro & Rural Industries) laid on the Table:— I. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (4) of section 17 of the Coir Industry Act, 1953:— (a) Annual Accounts of the Coir Board, Kochi, for the year 2005-2006, and the Audit Report thereon. (b) Statement by Government accepting the Audit Report and certified Accounts of the above Board. II. Statement (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (1) above.

RAJYA SABHA Shrimati Panabaka Lakshmi (Minister of State in the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare) laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:— (i (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine, New , for the year 2005-2006, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Council. (c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above. (ii (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Central Council of Homoeopathy, New Delhi, for the year 2005-2006, together with the Auditor’s Report on the Accounts. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Council. (c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above. Shri Naranbhai Rathwa (Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways) laid on the Table:- I. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Railways Notification G.S.R. 759 (E) dated the 19th December 2006, publishing the Railways (Punitive Charges for Overloading of Wagon) Rules, 2006, under sub-section (2) of section 196 of the Railways Act, 1989. II. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notifications of the Ministry of Railways under sub-section (2) of section 4 of the Railways Amendment Act, 2005:— (1) S.O. 4 (E), dated the 4th January, 2007, publishing the Rail land Development Authority (Constitution) Rules, 2007. (2) S.O. 5 (E), dated the 4th January, 2007, publishing the Vice Chairman Selection and Appointment Rules, 2007. (3) S.O. 6 (E), dated the 4th January, 2007, publishing the Members (Selection and Appointment) Rules, 2007. (4) S.O. 7 (E), dated the 4th January, 2007, publishing the Independent Member (Selection and Appointment) Rules, 2007.

9TH MARCH, 2007 (5) S.O. 8 (E), dated the 4th January, 2007, publishing the Rail land Development Authority (Pay, Allowances, Terms and Conditions of Service of members, officers and other employees) Rules, 2007. III. (1) A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (1) of section 619A of the Companies Act, 1956:— (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation Limited (MRVC), Mumbai, for the year 2005-2006, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts and the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General of thereon. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Corporation. (2) Statement (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (1) above. Shri Kantilal Bhuria (Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution) laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers: — (i (a) Thirtieth Annual Report of the National Federation of Urban Co- operative Banks and Credit Societies Limited (NAFCUB), New Delhi, for the year 2005-2006. (b) Annual Accounts of the National Federation of Urban Cooperative Banks and Credit Societies Limited (NAFCUB), New Delhi, for the year 2005-2006, and the Audit Report thereon. (c) Review by Government on the working of the above Federation. (d) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) and (b) above. (ii (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the National Labour Cooperatives Federation of India Limited (NLCF), New Delhi, for the year 2005- 2006, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Federation. (c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above.

RAJYA SABHA Shri Namo Narain Meena (Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment & Forests) laid on the Table:- I. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests Notification S.O. 2031 (E) dated the 27th November, 2006, amending Notification S.O. 728 (E) dated 21st July, 1987 recognizing Environmental Laboratories mentioned at serial numbers 134 to 143 of the table valid for a period of five years, under section 26 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. II. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:— (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Coimbatore, for the year 2005-2006, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Centre. (c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above. Dr. Akhilesh Prasad Singh (Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution) laid on the Table:- I. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notifications of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Department of Food and Public Distribution) under sub-section (6) of section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955:— (1) G.S.R. 766 (E), dated the 22nd December, 2006, regarding notifying the Statutory Minimum Price (SMP) of sugarcane for 2006-2007. (2) G.S.R. 770 (E), dated the 22nd December, 2006, publishing the Sugar (Price Determination for 2006-2007 Production) Order, 2006. II. (1) A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (2) of section 35 of the Food Corporations Act, 1964:— (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Food Corporation of India (FCI), New Delhi, for the year 2004-2005, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Corporation.

9TH MARCH, 2007 (2) Statement (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (1) above. 12-02 p.m. 4. Reports of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry Shri G. Sanjeeva Reddy presented the following Reports (in English and Hindi) of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry:— (i) One Hundred Ninety-fourth Report on Action Taken on the One Hundred Eighty-ninth Report of the Committee on the Demands for Grants (2006-07) pertaining to Ministry of Small Scale Industry ; (ii) One Hundred Ninety-fifth Report on Action Taken on the One Hundred Ninetieth Report of the Committee on the Demands for Grants (2006-07) pertaining to Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises (Department of Heavy Industries) ; (iii) One Hundred Ninety-sixth Report on Action Taken on the One Hundred Ninety-one Report of the Committee on the Demands for Grants (2006-07) pertaining to Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises (Department of Public Enterprises); and (iv) One Hundred Ninety-seventh Report on Action Taken on the One Hundred Eighty-eight Report of the Committee on the Demands for Grants (2006- 07) pertaining to the Ministry of Agro and Rural Industries. 5. Reports of the Public Accounts Committee Shri R.K. Dhawan laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Reports of the Public Accounts Committee (2006-2007):— (i) Thirty-ninth Report on Action Taken on the Sixteenth Report of the Public Accounts Committee (Fourteenth ) on “Procurement and Utilisation of Plant and Equipment in DRDO”; and (ii) Fortieth Report on “Management of Projects relating to Utilisation and Conservation of Soil and Water undertaken by Institutes of ICAR”.

RAJYA SABHA 12-03 p.m. 6. Recommendations of the Business Advisory Committee The Deputy Chairman informed Members that the Business Advisory Committee, in its meeting held on Thursday the 8th March, 2007, has allotted time for the Government Legislative and other Government Business as follows:- BUSINESS TIME ALLOTTED 1. Consideration and passing of the Communal Violence 4 Hours (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill, 2005. 2. Consideration and adoption of the recommendations of 2 Hours Railways Convention Committee (2004) made in their Fifth Report. II. The Committee also recommended that the House may sit up to 6-00 p.m. and beyond, as and when necessary, for the transaction of Government Legislative and other Business. 12-04 p.m. 7. Statement regarding Government Business Shri , Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, made a statement regarding Government Business in the Rajya Sabha during the week commencing Monday, the 12th March, 2007. #12-06 p.m. 8. Special Mentions After taking the sense of the House, the Deputy Chairman directed that the following Special Mentions may be treated as laid on the Table of the House:— 1. Shri Shantaram Laxman Demand to amend the Anti Defection Law. Naik ______# From 12-05 p.m. to 12-06 p.m. some points were raised. 9TH MARCH, 2007 2. Shri Karnendu Bhattacharjee Demand for legislation for social security and employment guarantee for the workers of unorganized sector. 3. Shri Jayantilal Barot Need to restore the allocated quota of power to . 4. Shri Ravula Chandra Sekar Concern over plight of Beedi workers in the Reddy country. 5. Shri Jai Parkash Aggarwal Concern over the Chinese capability to destroy satellite by a ground based ballistic missile. 6. Shri Nandi Yellaiah Demand for immediate implementation of special rehabilitation package for farmers in the country.

12-09 p.m. 9. Government Bill — Passed The Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Bill, 2007, as passed by Lok Sabha. Shri Priyaranjan Dasmunsi (Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of Information and Broadcasting) moved:- "That the Bill to provide access to the largest number of listeners and viewers, on a free to air basis, of sporting events of national importance through mandatory sharing of sports broadcasting signals with Prasar Bharati and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto, as passed by Lok Sabha, be taken into consideration." The following Members took part in the discussion:— 12-26 p.m. 1. Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad 12-41 p.m. 2. Shri Jai Parkash Aggarwal** 12-51 p.m. 3. Shri Brij Bhushan Tiwari** 1-00 p.m. 4. Shri Saman Pathak** 1-08 p.m. 5. Shri N. Jothi 1-17 p.m. 6. Prof. Ram Deo Bhandary** ______** Spoke in Hindi. RAJYA SABHA 1-25 p.m. 7. Shrimati N.P. Durga 1-28 p.m. 8. Shri Digvijay Singh** 1-34 p.m. 9. Shri Dinesh Trivedi 1-41 p.m. 10. Shri Sharad Anantrao Joshi 1-48 p.m. 11. Shri K.P.K. Kumaran 1-50 p.m. Shri Priyaranjan Dasmunsi replied to the debate. 2-16 p.m. The motion for consideration of the Bill was adopted. Clause 2 to 10 were adopted. Clause 1, the Enacting Formula and the Title were adopted. 2-17 p.m. The motion moved by Shri Priyaranjan Dasmunsi that the Bill be passed was adopted and the Bill was passed. (The House adjourned at 2-18 p.m. and re-assembled at 2-33 p.m.) 2-33 p.m. 10. Private Members’ Resolutions — Withdrawn/Under Consideration 2-33 p.m. I. Shri Syed Azeez Pasha moved the following Resolution:— "That this House expresses its serious concern over failure of the Government to check the run away inflation and steep rise in the prices of essential commodities of mass consumption, and urges upon the Government that — (i) the procurement and public distribution system be enhanced and strengthened; (ii) measures be taken to stop forward trading and (iii) a detailed plan of action to check the growing inflation and price rise be placed before this House.” ______** Spoke in Hindi. 9TH MARCH, 2007 The following Members took part in the discussion:— 2-51 p.m. 1. Shri Shantaram Laxman Naik 3-06 p.m. 2. Shri Ramdas Agarwal** 3-18 p.m. 3. Shri Tapan Kumar Sen 3-32 p.m. 4. Shri Rajniti Prasad** 3-52 p.m. 5. Dr. Gyan Prakash Pilania 4-08 p.m. 6. Shri Sharad Anantrao Joshi 4-36 p.m. 7. Shri Kantilal Bhuria,** Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Minister of State in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution 4-46 p.m. Shri Syed Azeez Pasha replied to the debate. 4-52 p.m. The Resolution was withdrawn by leave of the House. 4-53 p.m. II. Shri Ramdas Agarwal moved the following Resolution— "Having regard to the fact that – (i) Rajasthan is a socio-economic backward State, sixty per cent area of which is desert and is having large tribal population; (ii) being large in geographical area, cost of delivery of services in Rajasthan is more, specially with low density of population; (iii) index of infrastructure development is less as compared to national average; (iv) per capita income and per capita outlay of Plan is less as compared to national average; (v) credit-deposit ratio is less as compared to national average; and (vi) investment of the Central Government in the State enterprises is poor, this House urges upon the Government to give special package to the State by amending the Gadgil-Mukherjee formula which is the basis for transfer of grants from Centre to States for all round and speedy development of the State of Rajasthan.” ______** Spoke in Hindi. RAJYA SABHA Shri Ramdas Agarwal had not concluded his speech while moving the Resolution. 4-49 p.m. 11. Statement by Minister Shri Kantilal Bhuria, Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Minister of State in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, laid on the Table a statement (in English and Hindi) regarding status of implementation of recommendations contained in the Fourteenth and Nineteenth Reports of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture.

(The House adjourned at 5-00 p.m. till 11-00 a.m. on Monday, the 12th March, 2007)