GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE) RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 54 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH NOVEMBER, 2014 SEZs NOTIFIED IN BIHAR *54(H). SHRI RAM NATH THAKUR: Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: a) the number of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) notified in Bihar; b) the area allocated for each SEZ and the activities proposed in them; and c) the status of each SEZ and the stand of the Central Government regarding SEZs? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY(INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN) a) to c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. ********** STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 54 FOR ANSWER ON 26 TH NOVEMBER, 2014 REGARDING “SEZs NOTIFIED IN BIHAR ” (a): Sir, there are no Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Bihar. (b): Does not arise. (c): As per the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005, a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) may be established either jointly or severally by the Central Government, State Governments or any person for manufacture of goods or rendering services or for both or as a Free Trade and Warehousing Zone. Proposals for setting up of SEZs are considered by the Board of Approval only after written consent of the concerned State Government. ***** GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE) RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 56 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH NOVEMBER, 2014 ACCESS FOR THE LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES TO INDIAN MARKET UNDER WTO *56. SHRI K.C. TYAGI: Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: a) whether India has informed the World Trade Organisation (WTO) that it should ensure that the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) get access to its market without duties or quotas, if so, the details thereof; b) the response received so far; and c) how it would be beneficial to our people? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY(INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN) a) to c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. ********************** STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 56 FOR ANSWER ON 26 TH NOVEMBER, 2014 REGARDING “ACCESS FOR THE LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES TO INDIAN MARKET UNDER WTO ” a) Pursuant to the Hong-Kong Ministerial Declaration of December 2005 for Duty Free Quota Free access to the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), India announced its Duty Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) Scheme for LDCs in the year 2008. The Scheme came into full operation in 2012 and provided duty free access on about 85% of India’s total tariff lines and preferential access (Positive List) on about 9% of tariff lines. Only 6% tariff lines were under the Exclusion List. This scheme was accordingly notified to the WTO in 2011. Further, to fully meet the obligations under the Hong Kong Ministerial Mandate, the Scheme has been expanded and with effect from 1.4.2014, the Scheme now provides duty free market access on about 96 % of India’s tariff lines and 2.2% of the lines are enjoying preferential duties. Only 1.8% of the tariff lines have been retained in the Exclusion List, with no duty concessions. b) At present, 31 out of the 48 LDCs have become beneficiaries to the scheme. Out of this, 21 LDC beneficiaries are from Africa. c) The WTO provides a rule based system for global trade which ensures stability and predictability in trade relations. Through this initiative, India has been able to strengthen its position in the WTO on issues relating to LDCs and same is also expected to send a strong signal to major developed countries which are yet to comply with the Hong Kong Ministerial Mandate to adopt similar measures. In the process, India has also been able to have more fruitful engagement with the LDC trading partners. ************* GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE) RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 60 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH NOVEMBER, 2014 SICK TEA GARDENS *60. SHRI P. BHATTACHARYA: Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: a) the details of sick tea gardens in the country and whether Government has carried out its statutory duty under the provisions of the Tea Act, 1953 with regard to those sick tea gardens; b) the State-wise details of the number of workers working in the gardens and the outstanding dues to those workers; and c) whether Government would take over those sick tea gardens and workers will be given their wages along with arrears, if so, the expected date of release of wages and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY(INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN) a) to c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. ********************** STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 60 FOR ANSWER ON 26 TH NOVEMBER, 2014 REGARDING “SICK TEA GARDENS” (a): Details of closed tea gardens, as per available information, are as under: Sl. State Name of the Tea Date of Tea Area No. of no. Estate closure (ha.) workers 1 West Bundapani 13.07.2013 529.56 1283 2 Bengal Dharanipur 19.10.2013 264.52 824 3 Dheklapara 11.03.2006 197.37 802 4 Red Bank 19.10.2013 361.63 1588 5 Surendra Nagar 19.10.2013 172.16 451 6 Madhu 29 -09 -2014 323.08 881 7 Kerala Kottamala 21.12.2013 391.72 220 8 Assam Rani 23.03. 2010 123.99 105 TOTAL 2364.03 6154 According to the Tea Act, 1953, management of the closed gardens can be entrusted to new entrepreneurs after following a legal and judicial process. Considering the time taken in this process, consultations with the state government, producers associations and the tea garden owners have been initiated to identify prospective agencies for taking over liabilities of the closed gardens and reviving them. (b) & (c): Information, as available, in respect of the liabilities of these gardens is as under: (Rs. In Lakhs) Name of the Workers’ Ration Bonus Provident Gratuity Loan Total Tea Garden Wages Fund Liabilities Rs. lakhs Bundapani 35.00 40.00 36.00 300 100.00 234.33 745.33 Dharanipur 70.87 8.40 6.20 93.52 42.56 112.70 334.25 Dekhlapara 10.00 55.00 25.00 72.92 42.00 20.37 225.29 Red Bank 260.59 23.00 43.00 64.00 57.08 889.74 1337.41 Surendranagar 94.46 8.63 12.00 26.59 38.99 256.57 437.24 Madhu -- -- 17.05 683.35 100.00 -- 800.40 Kottamallai 120.00 -- 12.00 16.50 150.00 -- 298.50 Rani No dues are reported pending Total 590.92 135.03 151.25 1256.88 530.63 1513.71 4178.42 Liability of payment of wages to workers in closed tea gardens rests with the management and is enforced by the appropriate government under the provisions of the Payment of Wages Act 1936 and the Industrial Disputes Act 1947. Prospective entrepreneurs have to pay the arrears of wages as part of the agreed financial package. Besides, the Tea Board regularly provides assistance to workers in tea gardens including the closed gardens for human resource development. Relief is being provided to workers by the state government in form of health protection measures, Antyodaya Anna Yojna and employment guarantee under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Guarantee Act 2005. ********* GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE) RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 311 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH NOVEMBER, 2014 SIGNING OF FTAs 311. SHRIMATI JAYA BACHCHAN: Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: a) whether India has signed Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with many countries and multi-country organizations; b) if so, the details of the number of agreements signed; c) whether India is in process of signing more such agreements, if so, the details thereof; and d) the details of significance of such agreements in view of the World Trade Organization's principles and agreements? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY(INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN) (a) & (b): Yes, Sir. The details of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) entered into India with countries and multi-country organisations are given below: S. Name of the Agreement and Date of Signing Date of No. the participating countries Implementation 1. India - Bhutan Agreement on 17.01.1972 29.07.2006 Trade, Commerce and Transit (revised on 28.07.2006) (Agreement is renewed, from time to time, by mutual consent to such changes and modifications as may be agreed upon between the two countries) 2. Revised Indo-Nepal Treaty of 06.12.1991 27.10.2009 Trade (Revised on 27.10.2009) (The Treaty is amended/ modified by mutual consent of the contracting parties and S. Name of the Agreement and Date of Signing Date of No. the participating countries Implementation the present Treaty is valid till 26.10.2016) 3. India - Sri Lanka FTA 28.12.1998 01.03.2000 4. Agreement on South Asian Free 04.01. 2004 01.01.2006 Trade Area (SAFTA) (India, (Afghanistan became Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Eighth Member of Bangladesh, Bhutan and SAARC from April, Maldives and Afghanistan) 2007 and the provisions of Trade Liberalization Programme are applicable to Afghanistan w.e.f. 07.08.2011).