MONDAY, THE 27TH JULY, 1998

(The Rajya Sabha met in the Parliament House at 11.00 a.m.)

1. PAPERS LAID ON THE TABLE

Shri Surjit Singh Barnala (Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers and Food) laid on the Table a copy each (in English and ) of the following papers:-

(a) Sixth Annual Report and Accounts of the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, S.A.S. Nagar (Punjab) for the year 1996-97, together with the Auditors' Report on the Accounts.

(b) Review by Government on the working of the above Institute.

(c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above.

Dr. Satyanarayan Jatiya (Minister of Labour) laid on the Table, a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:-

(a) Forty-fourth Annual Report of the Employees Provident Fund Organisation, New Delhi, for the year 1996-97.

(b) Annual Accounts of the Employees Provident Fund Organisation, New Delhi, for the year 1996-97, and the Audit Report thereon.

(c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) and (b) above.

Shrimati Maneka Gandhi (Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Welfare) laid on the Table-

I. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under article 338 of the Constitution:-

(i) (a) First Annual Report of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for the period from 12th March, 1992 to 31st March, 1993.

(b) Action Taken Memorandum on the Recommendations made in the First Report of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

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(ii) (a) Second Annual Report of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, for the year 1993-94. (b) Action Taken Memorandum on the Recommendations made in the Second Report of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

II. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under clause (2) of article 338 of the Constitution:-

(a) Thirtieth Annual Report of the National Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, New Delhi, for the year 1989-91.

(b) Action Taken Memorandum on the Recommendations made in the Thirtieth Report of the National Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

III. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:-

(a) Special Report (January, 1998) of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

(b) Action Taken Report on the Recommendations made in the Special Report of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Shri Sukhbir Singh Badal (Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry) laid on the Table-

I. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (1) of section 619A of the Companies Act, 1956:-

(i) Annual Report and Accounts of the Hindustan Photo Films Manufacturing Company Limited, Ootacamund (Tamil Nadu), for the year 1996-97, together with the Auditors' Report on the Accounts and the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General of thereon.

(ii) Statement by Government accepting the above Report.

II. Statement (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (1) above.

Dr. A. K. Patel (Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers) laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:-

(a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Petrofils Co-operative Limited, Vadodara (Gujarat), for the year 1996-97, together with the Auditors' Report on the Accounts.

(b) Review by Government on the working of the above Co-operative Society.

(c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above.

2. REPORTS AND MINUTES OF THE DEPARTMENT-RELATED PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE ON FINANCE Shri Suresh A. Keswani laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Reports and Mines of the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance:-

(1) Fifth Action Taken Report on the recommendations contained in the First Report (Eleventh ) on Demands for Grants (1996-97) of the Ministry of Planning and Programme Implementation.

(2) Sixth Action Taken Report on the recommendations contained in the Second Report (Eleventh Lok Sabha) on Demands for Grants (1996-97) of the Ministry of Finance.

(3) Seventh Action Taken Report on the recommendations contained in the Third Report (Eleventh Lok Sabha) on Demands for Grants (1997-98) of the Ministry of Finance.

(4) Eighth Action Taken Report on the recommendations contained in the Fourth Report (Eleventh Lok Sabha) on Demands for Grants (1997-98) of the Ministry of Planning and Programme Implementation.

(5) Ninth Action Taken Report on recommendations contained in the Tenth Report (Tenth Lok Sabha) on working of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).

3. CALLING ATTENTION TO MATTER OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

Shri Gurudas Das Gupta called the attention of the Minister of Finance to failure of a large number of non-banking financial institutions all over the country to return public deposits amounting to over Rs. 50,000 crores and the action taken by Government in regard thereto.

Shri Yashwant Singh (Minister of Finance) made a statement.

Thereafter, Members sought clarifications on the statement.

Shri Yashwant Sinha replied to the clarifications.

(The House adjourned for lunch at 2.02 p.m. and re-assembled at 2.36 p.m.)

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4. STATEMENT BY MINISTER

Shri Ramakrishna Hedge (Minister of Commerce) laid on the Table of the House a statement (in English and Hindi) on W.T.O. along with the copies of:-

1. Statement circulated by Minister at the Ministerial Conference at Geneva;

2. Ministerial Declaration adopted on the 20th May, 1998 at Geneva; and 3. Declaration on Global Electronic Commerce.

5. SHORT DURATION DISCUSSION

Shri raised a discussion on the function of W.T.O. and participation of India in the International Trade negotiations.

Members took part in the discussion.

Shri Ramakrishna Hedge (Minister of Commerce) replied to the debate.

The discussion was concluded.

6. GOVERNMENT BILL-UNDER CONSIDERATION

The Electricity Laws (Amendment) Bill, 1998.

Shri P. R. Kumarmangalam (Minister of Power) moved:

"That the Bill further to amend the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 and the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948, as passed by the Lok Sabha, be taken into consideration."

Members took part in the discussion.

The discussion was not concluded.

7. HALF-AN-HOUR DISCUSSION

Shri Ramdas Agarwal raised a discussion on the points arising out of the answer given in the Rajya Sabha on the 6th July, 1998 to Starred Question 281 regarding piling up of steel at SAIL.

Shri Naveen Patnaik ( and Mines) replied to the discussion.

Members put questions.

Shri Naveen Patnaik replied.

The discussion was concluded.

(The House adjourned at 7.19 p.m. till 11.00 a.m. on Tuesday, the 28th July, 1998.)