Supplement to Synopsis of Debate
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RAJYA SABHA _________ ∗SUPPLEMENT TO SYNOPSIS OF DEBATE _________ (Proceedings other than Questions and Answers) _________ Tuesday, August 17, 2010/ Sravana 26, 1932 (Saka) _________ The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2008 - Contd. ♣DR. K. P. RAMALINGAM: On behalf of my party DMK, I support this amendment Bill. It would strengthen Indian economy in future. It has been decided to provide some special relief to power generating companies. This is a welcome measure. For providing acquisition of mining rights and coal to power generating Indian companies, the Government of India have to fix a nominal licensing fee during the first five years of power generation. Special concessions should not be given to foreign companies. Our industrial sector have to be protected. India has very rich deposits of mineral resources. But, the Government of India is not showing much interest in exploring those mineral resources in various states of India. Three thousand seven hundred fifty three acres of land had been acquired when Salem Steel Plant was established. More than one thousand eight hundred farmers had been displaced. But they have not yet been ___________________________________________________ ∗This Synopsis is not an authoritative record of the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha. ♣ Synopsis of speech delivered by Hon'ble Member in Tamil. 280 given any employment. Though this project was established forty years ago, the main objective behind its establishment is not yet fulfilled. Many layers of Platinum are found in Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu. Similarly, at Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu, mineral resources of carbide are found. Not only in Tamil Nadu, but also in other states, mineral resources are abundant. It is appropriate that mining activity should be allocated to Government organizations only. I would like to emphasize that the Government's participation in mining should be expanded. Two lakh crores of rupees may be allocated for the Department of Mines and Minerals to explore all mineral resources present in various states of India. _________ THE PERSONAL LAWS (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2010-Contd. SHRI PYARIMOHAN MOHAPATRA: I support the Bill. I thank the Minister for bringing in mother as a guardian along with the father. But, in case of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, new clause 8 provides that any female Hindu who is of sound mind and is not a minor has the capacity to take a son or daughter in adoption. But, she would not be able to adopt unless she gets the consent of the husband. Who will determine whether she has the capacity or not? Today women are not safe. They alone can’t go out of their houses. Among the Hindus and Muslims, women are not treated properly. They are not considered equal to men. Unless a change of mindset takes place and unless we invest in right education to give respect to womanhood, the problem will not be solved. SHRI D. RAJA: I support this Bill. I consider this is a step forward in our collective struggle for emancipating, empowering our women and gender equality. In the struggle for emancipating our women, Dr Ambedkar played a very outstanding role. Through the Hindu Code Bill, Dr. Ambedkar wanted to reform certain things, namely, right to property, order of succession to property, 281 maintenance, marriage, divorce, adoption, minority and guardianship. It is a collective battle. I think, there is a need to take the help of the Law Commission and the National Commission for Women in this work. The Bill relating to 33 per cent reservation for women, which was passed by this House, is pending. I urge upon the Government not to delay the Bill any further and take it to the other House and get it passed. SHRI BHARATKUMAR RAUT: I support the Bill and congratulate the hon. Law Minister therefor. As the Bill will have a long-lasting impact on the Indian society, it should be passed unanimously and implemented immediately. The Bill must encompass all religions and all spheres of Indian life. As the aspirations, resolutions and dreams of the society have changed, it has been necessary to amend the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 and the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1856. Both the Acts have become very old. I think that a new law should be brought in lieu of the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1856. It will be very beneficial for both the issueless couple and the infant who has no guardian. It is easier for a foreign couple to adopt a child from India whereas it is difficult for an Indian to adopt a child in India. This is because the adoption laws are more rigid in India. I, therefore, request the hon. Minister to make adoption easier through this Bill. SHRIMATI MAYA SINGH: I support The Personal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2010. Women are still being discriminated and deprived of their due rights. They are being exploited and tortured. The present Bill aims at redeeming them from that situation. Though the amendment in the Bill is very small, it will have long-lasting effect on the society. I want that the laws pertaining to the women, should be implemented properly. But, I am sorry that the Women Reservation Bill is still pending. I do not find any reason why we are not serious in respect of providing legislative powers to the women. I hail from Madhya Pradesh, the Government of which has ensured fifty percent participation of women in the Panchayats and autonomous bodies through reservation. Now, they are carrying out 282 dual responsibilities of indoor and outdoor life. The "Kanya Dan Yojna" and the "Ladli Lakshmi Yojan" has lessened the occurrences of female foeticide. I request the hon. Minister to ensure rights to women, equal to men, in all the laws related to the women. SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV: I appreciate the hon. Minister who has taken an excellent step to empower the women. I think that the women have not been provided their due rights before and after the Independence. The women, even contributing to the half of the total population, are denied their rights. For them, the freedom is meaningless. Our ancestors fought for the freedom with a view to provide equal rights to both the men and the women, and set up an equalitarian society. For the emancipation of the women, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Dr, Ambedkar and Jyotirao Fule made many important efforts. In Rajasthan, the Sati Pratha was abolished before 25-30 years. The aim of the Bill is to bring about an equality between the women and the men and stop exploitation of the women so that they can lead a respectable life. That is how the country and the society can progress. Today, wherever the women have opportunities, they exhibit their caliber and talent. The Hon’ble Minister, replying to the debate, said: I do agree with all the hon. Members that law alone is not enough between the law and the justice, there is a wide gap. Basically, it all depends upon the psyche of the society. I do agree that the Constitution is a guarantee that there is a equality before the law, but when you see the whole scenario, you find that equality before law, except women. This has to be undone, at any cost. Apart from constitution amendments, we have the solutions in the country. Many, many social reformers names like Dr. Ambedkar, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Mahatma Phule have been born in this country. They injected the social reforms. I am thinking of referring to all those ideals to create an equal society, particularly with the focus on women, and, to prepare a module or a comprehensive social reform with particular focus on women. 283 It is a consistent policy of the Government not to interfere in the personal laws of the minority communities. Government will not be lacking in any will power to push forward the Women Reservation Bill. We propose to have a compulsory registration of marriages in the country as directed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court. The State Governments are making rules in this regard. Women employees have been given child care leave. We are bringing another Report of the Law Commission. Regarding removal of discrimination against women relating to guardianship of minor children, we are consulting the State Governments. We will examine whether both mother and father could be considered as natural guardian at a time to act jointly. It is a welcome suggestion. Government used to think hundred times before bringing any progressive legislation which touches upon the social reform. But this government not think even one time to bring a social reform Bill. There is a great chance in the psyche of the political parties and Parliament. I am proud of my Parliament and democracy. Male chauvinism and dominance should disappear. Then only emancipation of women will be complete. We should take a pledge, particularly men, that we should never allow our women to be degraded or to be looked down. I can re-assure the House that the unfinished agenda particularly with reference to women’s emancipation, empowerment and entitlement will be complete and concrete agenda will be worked out on this by our Government. Unless we make men and women equal, the women cannot participate in the great march of democracy. This will go into the history of the country and the people of the world and the country will realize that here is an Indian Parliament which is addresses the issue of woman’s emancipation. The motion for consideration of the Bill was adopted. Clauses etc. were adopted. The Bill was passed.