______∗SYNOPSIS OF DEBATE ______(Proceedings other than Questions and Answers) ______Tuesday, March 20, 2012/Phalguna 30, 1933 (Saka) ______MOTION OF THANKS ON THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS - contd. THE PRIME MINISTER (DR. MANMOHAN SINGH) replying to discussion, said : The debate on the President's Address has been very wide ranging. I thank all the hon. Members. The President's Address highlights the working of the existing programmes as well as some new initiatives that our Government proposes to take to bring about faster, sustainable and more inclusive growth. I would like to mention that hon. Members will recognize that all the economies of the world are, today, in the midst of very uncertain turfs. We are not immune to that. There has been too much of liquidity in the world economy and It has put pressure on commodity prices of foodgrains, petroleum products and fertilizers, in particular, have gone up and, therefore, there has been pressure on our balance of payments. These are the circumstances in which our economy has to chart out a path. And, I would be the last one to say that we do not face difficulties. Therefore, I appeal to all the Members of this august House to recognize the pitfalls, the dangers that lie ahead if we do not rise to the occasion and help the Government to undertake remedial measures in time.

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

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In this uncertain environment, our economic performance of about seven per cent growth must be regarded as commendable. We must strive to improve upon this in the next year while also ensuring that we make progress towards our objective of achieving the inclusive growth with reasonable price stability. We need a broad- based national consensus, covering all sections of political opinion, represented in our Parliament. We will ensure that continues its rise as an economic power with the economic capability of reducing the age-old poverty. We need to focus in particular on the developmental gaps affecting the weaker sections of our population, such as the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, the OBCs, the Minorities and other disadvantaged groups. The Twelfth Five Year Plan will lay out a credible plan of action for faster, sustainable and more inclusive growth. We have been accused that our Government is destroying the fiscal structure of our country. I assure the hon. House that our Government is committed to upholding the Constitutional imperatives in letter and spirit. Issues of Terrorism and Left-Wing Extremism have united the nation to work out a comprehensive and coordinated strategy to tackle the both. Our Government is committed to providing fully secured living conditions to its citizens, and it will take every possible step to deal with the menace of terrorism. In fact, setting up the NCTC is an important step in that direction. Concerns have been raised that the Central Government is trying to encroach upon the jurisdiction of State Governments. The question of setting up of National Council of Terrorism Centre has been discussed at various fora. A number of CMs have expressed their concern after the Order was issued and I have replied to them that there will be consultations before the next steps are taken. The consultation was held with the Chief Secretaries and the DGPs from different State Governments. The meeting of the Chief Ministers on Internal Security has been called. Therefore, adequate and full consultations will take place before the next steps are taken to operationalise the National Counter Terrorism Centre. I think that the idea of an NCTC and the manner in which the NCTC will function are

85 two separate issues. There may be differences of opinion, but I am confident that through discussions and dialogues, these differences can be narrowed down and a broad-based consensus can be arrived. Therefore, this House has the assurance that nothing will be done which will, in any way, infringe with the federal imperatives of our constitutional set-up. The Central Government fully shares the concerns and sentiments raised by hon. Members regarding the welfare of Sri Lankan Tamils. Resettlement and rehabilitation of Sri Lankan Tamils has been one of the highest and most important priorities of our Government. As a result of our constructive engagement with the Government of Sri Lanka and our considerable assistance programme, a modicum of normalcy is beginning to return to the Tamil areas in Sri Lanka. The Government of India has emphasized to the Government of Sri Lanka the importance of a genuine process of reconciliation to address the grievances of the Tamil community. These include various constructive measures for healing the wounds of the conflict and fostering the process of lasting peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. We hope that the Government of Sri Lanka, recognizing the critical importance of this issue, acts decisively and with vision in this regard. However, I may assure the House that we are inclined to vote in favour of the UN Resolution. Concerns have been expressed about the state of our agriculture and suicides of farmers. it has been the effort of our Government to revitalize and to put more vigour into the development processes for agriculture. We will discharge our responsibilities in that direction. Government’s approach regarding menace of black money has been mentioned in the Budget Speech. The Government will come forward with a White Paper. With these words, I sincerely hope that we will pass the Motion of Thanks with acclamation.

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All the amendments moved were either withdrawn or negatived. The Motion of Thanks was adopted. ______THE BUDGET (RAILWAYS) 2012-13 General Discussion SHRI : The then Minister of Railways Shri Dinesh Trivedi presented the Railways Budget. There are so many forecasts and promises in the Railways Budget. I do not know as to how many of these forecasts and promises stay on the test of the time. But his claim that his budget is unique, has been proved completely true so far. I appeal to the Government that Shri Dinesh Trivedi should come to the House and tell the reasons of his resignation. This is also a parliamentary tradition. I criticise the Rail Budget presented by Shri Trivedi. But I appreciate Shri Dinesh Trivedi that as Rail Minister he has spoken truth. By making increase in rail fare the condition of Railways can not be improved. When the railway freight is increased the prices of goods carried by railway automatically increased. The items on which 12 percent service tax has been imposed in the budget presented by Pranabji include rail tickets also. So with Shri Dinesh Trivedi, Shri Pranab Mukherjee is also responsible for making rail travel costly. Railway's health is interconnected with the economy of the country. Railway is the backbone of country's economy. If the goods transportation by Railway is at lower side it means, the industry of the country is weak and if passenger traffic of railway is high that means our economy is improving. Shri Dinesh Trivedi told the truth but that was not complete. He said that the Indian Railway is in ICU, but complete truth is this that not the Indian Railway but entire Government is in ICU. Shri Dinesh Trivedi is perhaps first Rail Minister who started his first day as a minister not in his office but by visiting the accident site. Mukulji has taken over his charge today and

87 today itself 15 people died in rail accident. 15 thousand persons were killed in rail accidents last year. All Rail Ministers had spoken about the safety in railways but no concrete step was taken in this regard. Many committees and commissions were constituted for improvement in railway but no satisfactory solution was made to improve the condition of Railway. I congratulate Mr. Dinesh Trivedi that he has exposed Railway. The Railway is the spine of the economy. We can not play with this. A number of projects have come, some of them have come and declared recently but no tender has been sought yet. Routes of trains were to be extended, multipurpose campuses were to be built, stations were to be modernized, but nothing has been done so far. Main projects are lagging behind for more than five years. Dedicated freight corridors have been declared, land is acquired for the purpose but the work has not yet started. UPA-2 Government behaves step motherly with Non-Congress governments. is a backward State. There is no industry, neither any development. This is a tribal area. We have sought project of eighteenth hundred crores, but a project of only seven hundred crores has been given. Railway has a major contribution in border security. The Minister of Railways has taken cognizance of it. The project of connecting Kashmir to entire India by Railway lines has been neglected. We are far behind from China in laying Railway lines. There is no Railway line in States like Sikkim and Meghalaya. The development of Railway in China was not due to passenger-fares rather this was the result of Government subsidy. The basic problem of the Minister of Railways and the Government is that both consider Railway passengers as a voter rather than a passenger. I would like to ask the Prime Minister that whether the era of former Railway Minsters, Lalu Prasad Yadav and Mamata Benerji, was a golden era or they were just misguiding the country. The Railway should not be made as a pawn of politics. SHRI RAMA CHANDRA KHUNTIA: I support this Railway Budget. Passenger-safety must be taken into consideration in Railway Budget. The Government has made efforts to reduce accidents. A safety-fund is created for the purpose.

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My suggestion is if any death is caused in railway accident or a person is injured, the compensation should be uniform for every one. The question is the internal resource in the railway budget is also decreasing day by day. Whatever money has been provided, it is required. The vision document is okay. If you look at the railway finance condition, what has been told to us is it will be worse than the present situation. Now the question is after the recruitment of 1.5 lakh persons, the impact will be much more on the railway. When we propose to spend much more on safety, then, wherefrom we will get the money. All over the country, many projects, including my state of Odisha, which were started 20 years ago have not yet been completed. This is a serious question that how we can complete all these projects. Non-plan expenditure and the establishment expenditure should be reduced. Another point is about employment. My two pertinent questions must be answered that nobody can be recruited in the public sector in our country without proper qualification and interview and you cannot change the project which has been approved by the Parliament. Three per cent physically disabled persons have to be recruited as per the Act passed by the Parliament. I hope Hon. Minister will definitely look into these matters. I must thank the UPA Government that from 2004 till date, there has been no increase in passenger fares, and only now, fares have been increased. UPA Government has given more railway lines as compared to NDA. Freight earnings have not been very encouraging. Other areas as well, such as, passenger amenities, need to be looked into. There is need for improving security at railway stations. The railway medical college in Odisha that had been assured by the hon. Railway Minister has not been opened till today. I do feel strongly, that Odisha requires special attention. I demand that the hon. Minister should kindly reconsider it at the supplementary Budget stage so that more money could be given for infrastructure development. I agree with the Odisha Government, with the hon. Members from Odisha, that Odisha deserves to get Rs. 2,300 crores for their plans. I once again say that Odisha is thankful to the Minister for proposing some projects.

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The electrification work of Vizianagaram-Rayagada- Damanjodi, Rayagada-Titlagarh-Sambalpur BG rail link, Titlagarh- Raipur BG rail link and the Haridaspupr-Paradeep BG rail link should be completed. The Eastern Railway Zones should be restructured with two headquarters at Rayagada and Jaipur-Keonjhar Road. In the year 2010-11, 11 world class stations were declared. But no action has been taken in this respect till date. I request the hon. Minister to take into consideration the doubling projects of Sambalpur-Talcher, Delang-Puri, Cuttack-Baranga, Bansapani-Tomka-Daitari and Jharsuguda-Rengali. I demand introduction of Duranto Express Trains from Puri to Bombay; Puri-Jaipur/Jodhpur; -Pune; Bhubaneswar-Bangalore and Bhubaneswar-Surat. I also demand introduction of Superfast train from Patna to Allahabad, Express train from Keonjhar to Howrah, Superfast Express between Rourkela and New Delhi, Janshatabdi Express between Bhubaneswar-Rourkela via Sambalpur, inter-city express between Puri-Tata via Keonjhar and Bhubaneswar/Puri-Manmad (Sirdi) Express Train. I also request for increasing the frequency of Bhubaneswar-Howrah Janasatabdi Express from six-days-a-week to daily; and Bhubaneswar-Kurla Express from two days to four-days-a-week. The Government must complete the on-going projects in various States. I suggest that there should be a pilot project of having a doctor in the train.

The construction of railway over bridges at Raj Gangpur, Kelunga, Kukudagate and Bisra should be started. I demand that a Division Railway Office should be opened at Jaipur-Keonjhar Road. Unfortunately, in spite of my repeated demand till today Rajdhani Express is not having a halt at Jaipur Road. If it is halting at Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Bhadrak and Baleshwar, why is it leaving Jaipur Road? Falaknuma Express and Coromendal Express should also have halts at Jaipur Road.

SHRI GANGA CHARAN: It is unfortunate that whenever there is formed a Government, the Ministry of Railways goes to the allies. The Government should think over it seriously because the economy of the country rests on this Ministry. I suggest that the

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Ministry of Railways should be in the hands of the main party of the ruling Government. Modernization of transportation facilities is necessary. The Railway has made important contribution to the growth of economy. But we are not taking this Ministry seriously. It is not proper to change the Minister who has just submitted his Railway Budget. The common people travel either in the sleeper class or in the general bogie. The condition of the general bogie is extremely pitiable for the poor people. The poor women, girls, children and labourers risk to their life while travelling in the general bogies. The number of reserved bogies should not be more than 50 percent. I think that the seat reservation should be discontinued. I request the Railway Minister to provide 50 percent unreserved bogies because he is a leader of the poor people. When we travel by trains, we see the pathetic plight of the poor people in general bogies. I request him to introduce a train by which the agricultural scientist can travel and infuse consciousness among people about organic farming so that the farmers can be made acquainted with the old system of farming. The Government should issue passes at subsidized rates to the farmers so that they can go to the other States to see improved farming there. Special trains should be introduced for the boys and girls who appear at the railway recruitment examinations. They should also be provided with staying and fooding facilities. I request you to construct a new railway line for Bundelkhand. Though survey has been conducted yet the railway line from Mohoba to Bhind via Rath has not been included. The Members of the Railway Board had said that it was necessary for the development of backward areas. There is the shortage of trains at the new railway line from Mahoba to Khajuraho. There is also no Superfast train from Delhi to Khajuraho, which is an international tourist place. I demand to introduce a new Shatabdi train therefor. In this Budget, the interests of Uttar Pradesh have been neglected. I demand to introduced a new Intercity train from Lucknow to Jhansi. The Chhapra-Barauni Express should be extended from Gwalior to Delhi. A new Intercity train should be introduced from

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Mahuwa to Lucknow. We have yet not introduced Bullet Trains in India. How can we challenge the world when our trains run too slowly? We should challenge China in this respect. We will have to increase the speed of our trains. Today the railway passengers are unsafe. Crimes are being committed in the trains. The integrity of security staff is also doubtful. Intoxication is a general occurrence there. Therefore, the GRP and CRPF should be strengthened so that the passengers can travel safely. There should not be any compromise on the safety and security of the passengers. I welcome that you have appointed safety member and research member in the Railway Board. But no time limit has been given for the implementation of the recommendations of the Kakodkar and Sam Pitroda Committees. The Public-Private Partnership Mode brought by you is good as Railways cannot make progress without the partnership of private sector. The railway stations are very unhygenic. The toilets in the trains are very dirty. The schemes announced in this regard by the former Minister of Railways were not implemented. Steps must be taken for the upkeep and maintenance of the railway station. The railway tracks are ram shackled. New railway tracks should be laid over there. The Congress Party cannot escape from its responsibility for this very sorry state of affairs of the Railways. The persons should be held accountable for the safety and security of passengers. My party opposes the hike in railway passenger fare and freight fare. It is not an ordinary increase. You can increase the fare, but steps must be taken for improving the adverse condition of the Railways. The hike in fare leaves deep impact on the inflation of the country. It is necessary to curtail the corrupt practices in the Railways. The railway lands are being encroached and huts are being constructed along the railway path. It puts a nasty picture. The railway lands should be allotted to the farmers and Horticulture Department. They should beautify it. They can also put up some shopping mall and restaurant on it. It would provide a big market to you. The frequency of the trains and speed of the trains should be increased. The trains should arrive at their scheduled time.

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SHRI PRASANTA CHATTERJEE: The Minister of Railways had resigned in unusual circumstances. In the current year, the Government has hiked the freight charges; it proposed to hike passenger fare of all classes; and, to impose Service Tax on fare of all AC classes. The hike in freight charges will further aggravate the problems of all sections of people who are already reeling under the pressure of sky-rocketed price rise. The Government is imposing these burdens on the people in order to cover up its own inefficiencies, which has led to the bankruptcy of the Indian Railways. It has missed its freight loading target by 23 million tonnes this year. The false promises are being utilized to go for large-scale privatization of the Railways through projects like Indian Railway Station Development Corporation, Logistics Corporation, etc. in the PPP mode. The Railway Budget documents show a gradual reduction in the staff strength of the Railways. The present Budget proposal is directionless towards filling up the vacancies in safety-related posts on war footing. I on behalf of my Party, found this Budget anti-people. I could suggest that even without taxing the passengers, the Government can easily take back the proposed amount of concessions granted to the corporate sector. A project for broad gauge conversion from metre gauge from Lumding to Badarpur junction and further to Silchar and to Agartala under NF Railways which will serve one crore people is continuously being raised by many hon. Members. For a journey from Silchar to Gowahati, it will take ten hourse in place of 22 hours. Agartala to Subroom new line has not yet started. It will establish a link with Chittagong Port. This has not been taken care of. Doubling of main railway line connecting North-Eastern state from New Jalpaiguri to New Bongaigaon via New Coochbehar is very important. This should be taken care of. In the N.F. Railway Zone, new railway line project New Mainaguri to Jogighopa should be given priority. All proposals of privatization in the pretext of PPP mode should be scrapped. I strongly oppose the proposed hike in passenger fare.

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SHRI PYARIMOHAN MOHAPATRA: In this Budget, Odisha's allocation has been slashed from over Rs. 1,300 crore last year to Rs. 765 crore. When a pay commission is constituted by the Central Government, they care two hoots about what happens to the State Governments or public sector undertakings or other organizations. There is a process of erosion of revenue in almost all the sectors including public sector undertakings in all the states. It has brought the Railways to total ruin. After you become munificent and you give thousands of crores in terms of salaries to employees then, you certainly can't say that you will recover it from the poor passengers. There are loads of on-going projects in the railways. It was said that it will take Rs. 2 lakh crores to complete the on-going projects if he wants to do it in 3-5 years. I would suggest we should agree to a five year moratorium on not starting any other project. Then only, in five years, we can complete the whole lot and carry on thereafter on the basis of surveys. We need integration in railway zones in the states. Larger states or states having large commercial transactions may need more than one zone. Angul- Sukinda- Kalinaga is a priority line. On the one side of Angul there is a steel plant and on the other side coalmines are located. Why are Railways not connecting it? Indian Railways should not be subjected to the cruelty that we have subjected to Air India. One lakh more jobs in the name of safety. It will not be in the interest of the country, or, for its own employees. Odisha is bringing up a number of ports. One is already operational. The Railways have in this Budget tried to connect the operational port. But the railway line is not operational. So, take note of it in a coordinated manner and see that important activities in the economy are not affected. SHRI ELAVARASAN: The freight charges were raised before presenting the Railway Budget. It is very unfortunate that the freight charges are raised again. As a result the prices of essential commodities will go up again. It will affect the poor agriculturists. Unmanned level crossings are posing huge problems to the general public. The Government should provide financial assistance for the construction of ROBs at unmanned level crossings. It is important to

94 set up emergency medical centre with first-aid kits in all major railway stations. More importance should be given to passenger safety so as to achieve the safety standards recommended by the Kakodkar Committee. The Southern Railway contributes substantially to the Indian Railways. So more financial assistance should be provided for the railway projects concerning Tamil Nadu. There is a long pending demand from the public regarding the doubling of the railway line between Villupuram and Tiruchirapalli. The Railway Minister should take necessary steps for favourable consideration of this project. Railways should allocate more funds for the early completion of projects in Tamil Nadu

* * * * * * * * V. K. AGNIHOTRI, Secretary-General. [email protected] ______****Supplement covering rest of the proceedings is being issued separately.

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