RAJYA SABHA ______∗SUPPLEMENT TO SYNOPSIS OF DEBATE ______(Proceedings other than Questions and Answers) ______Wednesday, July 8, 2009/ Asadha 17, 1931 (Saka) ______

SPECIAL MENTIONS

I. Demand to take effective steps to check the trafficking of humans in the country DR. GYAN PRAKASH PILANIA: Indian laws say any person who is transported from one place to another by deceit or force is considered a "trafficked person". Statistics cite that over 1.5 lakh women are traded in India every year and most of them land up in red light area or work as semi labour in industrial cities. In India, human cargo is sourced from the southern States of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Women from Northeast, West Bengal, Orissa and Bihar are sold to brothels in metropolitan cities like Kolkata and Mumbai. Unfortunately many rescued women go back to the brothels as they face harassment back home. Hence, I would strongly urge the Ministry of Women and child Development to take urgent steps, on war footing, to check this sordid 'Trade in flesh'.

______∗This Synopsis is not an authoritative record of the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha.

92 II. Demand to expedite the creation of six AIIMS like Institutions in the country DR. C.P. THAKUR: India is a country having a large population. Most of the people here are poor and for their medical treatment hospitals of good quality are required. Private hospitals are very expensive and thus, are beyond the reach of common man and keeping in view the same fact, the previous Government had decided to set up six hospitals on the lines of AIIMS. One such hospital was decided to be set up in Patna also but no further progress had been made so far in this regard. I would like to appeal the Government that in Patna and at other those places where such hospitals were to be set up, these hospitals should be opened without any further delay. For this, the financial provision as required, should not be delayed and till then, the space can be acquired on rental basis also. III. Demand to commemorate the Martyrdom Centenary in memory of Madan Lal Dhingra, a great Freedom Fighter SHRI MOINUL HASSAN: Madan Lal Dhingra, a brave youngman and freedom fighter, was executed in London on August 17, 1909, after he assassinated a British official, Curzon Wyllie, who was notorious for using Indians to serve as informers for the British in England. He was born in 1883 in a prosperous Hindu family in the Province of Punjab. Later, he went to England for higher studies and became involved in the Indian Freedom Struggle. I urge upon the Government to take interest to commemorate at the highest level, particularly in the educational institutions, to make our students more acquainted with the heroes of freedom struggle and to arouse patriotic feelings among them.

IV. Demand to take speedy action on the pending matters of families of Kargil Martyrs

SHRI MOTILAL VORA: Central Government has done quite a lot of work in allocating petrol pumps and land and given jobs to the families of those soldiers who lost their lives while safeguarding our motherland during Operation Vijay against Pakistan army in 1999. As a result of this, the families of these martyrs are able to lead their lives, but still there are certain cases regarding which no action has been taken in the last 3-4 years.

93 One such case is of Lance Havaldar Lakshman Singh, Serial No. 3171385. He was posthumously honoured with a medal given to his wife Smt. Shakuntala Devi in New Delhi on 16th December, 1999 by Army Chief General Ved Malik. Smt. Shakuntala Devi had given an application in the Ministry of Railways in 2006 to give job to her son Pavan Kumar as per the declaration made at that time, which is still pending. She is going through hardships due to this reason. I urge the Government to pay attention to such cases, so that these matters can be settled expeditiously.

V. Demand to give priority to the issues pertaining to SCs and STs.

SHRI PRAVEEN RASHTRAPAL: In the recent past there is in focus or priority for the issues concerning S.C. and S.T. There are two constitutional Commissions for them but their reports are not discussed in the Parliament. The first UPA Government had assured about affirmative actions, reservations for them in private sector and amendment of Reservation Act too. No progress, whatsoever has been made in these matters. The Hon'ble Prime Minister in his speech to National Development Council during June 2005, wanted to remove the gap between S.Cs. and other sections within 10 years. For this, the Planning Commission had issued many guidelines. However, there is no progress and no reports on the matter.

Hon'ble Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment should enlighten the House on all these issues.

VI. Demand to solve the problems being faced in the payment of wages under NREGA

MISS ANUSUIYA UIKEY: A provision of providing 100 days employment to the labourers in a year has been made in the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and the payment of wages has to be made directly in their bank accounts by the concerned Agency. But excuses are made by the nationalized banks in opening the accounts of the labourers due to which there is a delay of 6 months to one year in the payment of wages to the labourers. On the one side there is a work of 100 days and on the other side the wages of 200 to 350 days are not being paid. If the power to control the banks is given to the Collectors, there will be convenience in payment of wages to the laboures under this scheme

94 VII. Demand to simplify the process of granting Scholarship to the children of ‘Safai Karamcharis’

SHRI KRISHAN LAL BALMIKI: Today in our country, unique development has taken place in the field of education. New Universities, I.I.T’s, IIM’s and Technical Institutions have been opened but the benefit of this costly education is confined to only prosperous and resourceful sections of the society. Whatever benefits people of Scheduled Castes got by reservation in admission and job, the Government wants to snatch the same in the name of skill and efficiency by making law. This year, there is a mention in Para No.19 of President’s Address that every year 6.5 lakh Pre- Matric Scholarships will be given to children of Scheduled Caste, particularly the children of Safai Karamcharis. I want to submit in this regard that on the one hand, due to discrimination, there is dearth of education among the children of these castes, on the other hand, due to income-limit fixed by State Governments, their children are deprived of Scholarship. Besides, the school and college administration hesitate to sanction Scholarship to them.

Hence, I request the Government to give necessary instructions to the State Governments for making the procedure of granting Pre-Matric, Post-Matric, Sport Scholarship and Higher Education aid more simple and transparent.

VIII. Need to evolve a legal framework to protect the interests of internally Displaced Persons

SHRI B.K.HARIPRASAD: Our nation has time and again welcomed the refugees from across the border, either from Pakistan, from Tibet or from Sri Lanka since partition days. Despite our commitment to make India a truly secular state, there have been internal conflicts in pockets of communally sensitive areas. Displaced people of such conflicts in Gujarat, Orissa and now Lalgarh manage to survive in inhuman conditions without basic amenities like water and sanitation facilities. I urge the Government to come up with the legal frame work for these people on the lines of the National Policy of Resettlement and Rehabilitation evolved for protection of persons displaced due to developmental Projects.

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IX. Demand to give subsidy for installation of wind mills in Tamil Nadu

SHRI N. R. GOVINDARAJAN: I request the Government to take necessary action to boost installation of wind mills with subsidy and bank loan facility in the State of Tamil Nadu as there is continuous power shortage there. Severe power shortage has hit industrial production in this State recently. Many industries have cut down the production as much as 30 per cent. Specially sectors like textile and leather are among the worst hit and the loss in production is around 4000 crore in the last year. The sustained peak demand has phenomenally increased by 500 to 600 MW for the past two years. It is estimated that on an average, power shortage may vary from 1500 MW to 3,300 MW during the current year. While this State, which was generating only 10,000 MW power through all sources against its actual requirement of 12,300 MW till today, the shortage is expected to increase in the current and next year also. Even though Tamil Nadu has the potential to generate 20,000 MW wind power, the existing wind turbine generators produce only 4500 MW. The cost of erecting a wind mill is about Rs.2 crore. So I request the Government to take immediate action in this regard to avert the impending power shortage at least in future to save the industries and textile units in Tamil Nadu.

X. Concern over the delay in appointment of judges of Supreme Court due to lack of accommodation

SHRI O. T. LEPCHA: The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Bill 2008 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in April, 2008. The Bill was passed by the Houses of Parliament on the 22nd of December, 2008. Hon’ble President gave her assent to the Bill on 5th February, 2009. With the enactment of this Act, the number of judges in the Supreme Court has been raised from 25 to 30. But the Act has not been implemented in view of the lack of accommodation for the five judges who are yet to be appointed. The arrear of cases in Supreme Court has already crossed the mark of 50 thousand, which will further increase. The Supreme Court had written to the Ministry of Urban Development for providing five class VIII bungalows. The Ministry had expressed its inability in this regard. Since then, nothing has been done. The Chief Justice of India is not recommending for

96 appointment of judges in view of the lack of accommodation. The Bill was introduced in April, 2008. Since then, there was enough time with the Government to arrange for the accommodation within that period.

I therefore, urge upon the Government to take immediate steps so that the process for appointment of judges can be expedited.

XI. Demand to take suitable legislative measures for economic and social empowerment of women in the country

DR. PRABHA THAKUR: As women-folks, both in rural as well as in urban areas, are not economically strong so they have to face various mental as well as physical problems in their own families. In Goa, women are legally at equal footing with their male counterparts so there they are better placed and as such they have to face less problems domestically. I request that similar legislation should be implemented in the whole country to bring wives at par with their husbands as far as movable and immovable property rights are concerned. In this way, women-folks will get social security and respect and they will be freed from various types of domestic exploitations. Such a law is very much essential for economic and social empowerment of women. So, Government should take suitable steps in this direction.

XII Demand for comprehensive change in Air India's management.

PROF. SAIF-UD-DIN SOZ: The concept of the management of the Air India must undergo a drastic change if the Air line has to be put on the path of progress in future. One important reform would be to institute a highly competent body to determine a criteria for selection of a person at the helm. The whole exercise has to be based on merit and suitability. While many factors could be responsible for today's pathetic condition of Air India but the chief reason is the mismanagement over a long period of time, in the Air India. Earlier, it was making good profits. Hence, certain crucial measures need to be taken to reform the inner dynamics of the Airline.

97 XIII. Plight of Indian fishermen fishing off the coast of Kachhatheevu in Palk Strait

SHRI S. ANBALAGAN: I would like to bring to the attention of the Minister of External Affairs to the plight of Indian fishermen fishing in the Palk Strait between India and Sri Lanka. This week, twenty Indian fishermen were arrested by Sri Lankan Navy when they were fishing off the coast of island of 'Kachhatheevu'. Kachhatheevu was gifted by India to Sri Lanka. Today, our innocent fishermen are harassed by Sri Lanka for fishing off the coast of Kachhatheevu. The agreement on Kachhatheevu should be renegotiated and the fishing rights of Indian fishermen should be restored. Sri Lanka should be strongly told to desist from harassing Indian fishermen. As a permanent solution to this problem, our fishermen may be issued special identity cards, they may be simply asked to go back to our territorial waters in case of mistakenly entering the territorial waters of Sri Lanka. I hope that the Minister will take immediate steps in this regard for the safety and security of Indian fishermen.

XIV. Demand to extend the date of debt waiver scheme for farmers in the country. SHRI KALRAJ MISHRA: I want to draw the attention of the.... towards an important issue pertaining to the farmers. The Ministry of Finance had issued a letter to RBI on 12th June to initiate action on one scheme of debt waiver. Under the remaining 25 percent amount of debt will be waived of for the farmer paying off 75 percent amount of debt till 30 the June. But the farmers couldn't derive the benefit of this debt waiver scheme because very short period was allowed by the Government to pay off debt under this scheme, secondly the last date expired much before the farmers could know about the scheme and thirdly adequate publicity was not made about this scheme.

It is my request that the date of this scheme may be extended and proper publicity may given to it and all these aspects should be taken into account for such schemes in future.

V. K. AGNIHOTRI, Secretary-General. [email protected]

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