RAJYA SABHA _______ SUPPLEMENT TO SYNOPSIS OF DEBATE _______ (Proceedings other than Questions and Answers) _______ Monday, February 10, 2020 / Magha 21, 1941 (Saka) _______ STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER Reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Promotions THE MINISTER OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI THAAWAR CHAND GEHLOT): Hon'ble Supreme Court has passed a judgment in Civil Appeal No. 1226 of 2020 Mukesh Kumar & Ors. regarding reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in promotions. Since this is an important subject, the Government is considering it at the highest level. This is to clarify here that neither the Government of India was made a party ever in this matter nor any affidavit was sought from the Government of India. The said matter/SLP has arisen out of a decision taken by the Government of Uttarakhand dated 5.9.2012, in which the Government of Uttarakhand had decided not to provide reservations in the promotions for SCs and STs. It is appropriate to mention here that there was Congress Party Government in Uttarakhand in 2012. Our Government is dedicated and committed for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. After due ___________________________________________________ This Synopsis is not an authoritative record of the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha. 184 discussion and consideration, the Government of India will take appropriate steps in this subject. The hon’ble Minister, replying to the queries made by the members, said: I have only one reply to queries made by the Hon'ble Members, as I have already said that our Government is dedicated and committed for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. After due discussion and consideration at the highest level, our Government will take appropriate decision in this matter. _______ THE UNION BUDGET, 2020-21 General Discussion - Contd. SHRI VAIKO: I am extremely happy about the announcement of setting up of an archaeology museum at Adhichanallur on the banks of the river Thamiraparani in Tamil Nadu. I request such a museum should be established by the Central Government in Keezhadi. Tamil civilization is the most ancient civilization in the world. To face the present financial scenario is a hard and an onerous task. There are deficiencies and challenges in the Budget which are to be solved. There is no reference of economic slowdown, plight of farmers, rural distress, unemployment among youth in the budget. Government's expenditure are under-estimated whereas revenues and receipts are over estimated. This year government's borrowing is 4.6% and it will be 4.3% in next year. There is only 2% increase in Defence Budget. Subsidies in food and fertilizers have been frozen. Tamil Nadu is totally ignored in allotment of funds for railway projects. Income of farmers has declined so there is lack of demand. Government is solely responsible for the plight of the economy. When liberalisation was started in 1991, import subsidy was given up. This policy was followed up to 2015. This policy has now been changed. Positive outcome of the 'Make in India' be tabled in the House. The fund under MGREGS has been reduced. Money taken from the farmers has been given to corporates. It is assured to double the income of farmers by 2022 which means agricultural sector has to grow at the pace of 15% per annum. Similarly, to achieve the target of 5 trillion dollar economy by 2024, India has to grow at the pace of 185 double digit every year. It seems to be impossible. Disinvestment of Air India, Bharat Petroleum, LIC has been announced. LIC is a profit making undertaking hence it should not be disinvested. Kasthurirangan report is nothing but the agenda of Hindutva so it should not be implemented. The Government should first declare its PSU policy and tell which are the entities to be sold. In the 13 pre-budget discussions, the Finance minister was present only in one discussion. It conveys wrong signal. No proof of Saraswati river was found yet. According to some historians the culture in Mohenjodaro and Harappa civilisation is of Dravidian civilisation but the Government is trying to distort the history. SHRI PRAFUL PATEL: The impact of the Budget could have been much more meaningful and helpful to State of economy. There is global change in the global economy and its impact is seen on Indian economy. But Indian economy has grown because of its size and inherent strength of the economy. Because of its size, we consume most of what we produce. We have to look within and find the reasons as to why we failed. There is huge mismatch between the statistics presented in Parliament and the actual number achieved. Government has not been able to address the need of expenditure on infrastructure and social sector programmes. Some major boosters to the economy were required, but nothing has been done. The industrial sector across the country is under tremendous pressure but industry is not being given the helping hand which it requires. The investment in the auto sector has stopped. No major company is trying to put in new investment so that they can prepare for the future. The entire auto sector is reeling under the impact of lesser money in the hands of individuals, who have to buy the vehicles. The automobile sector accounts for a large part of manufacturing economy, which is facing slowdown. The industry today is facing a severe liquidity crunch on account of financing and that also needs to be addressed. No industry in the country has a fresh capital investment of Rs.5,000 crore. Not a single new industry is coming up in the country. There is no private sector participation in road construction. Not even a single company is coming into major infrastructure projects. Agricultural sector is only about 15 per cent of the GDP but 65 per cent of people still depend on agriculture. Except a few major States like Punjab, Haryana and Uttar 186 Pradesh, most of India today is not seeing agricultural growth commensurate with the claim of investment. Under Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, giving Rs.6,000 to farmers is too insufficient. The real change which is required in agriculture is another green revolution which is sadly missing. The social security schemes are not being supported sufficiently by the Central Government. Disinvestment target of Rs.2,00,000 crore is very ambitious. But, actually it is not going to be achieved. How much has merger of banks or capitalization or recapitalization helped? What is being done about those private banks and NBFCs, where money of millions of common people is invested and they are at huge risk. If immediate corrective action is not taken, it can again create many PMC Banks in future. 'Make in India' is a very noble initiative. In defence, how much of money has come in the 'Make in India' Programme. I think, we need to hear from the Finance Minister about how much investment has come on that. One of the largest investment and the largest employment providers in the country is the construction industry. Even those few steps, which have been announced in the Budget, are they really going to give a higher economic activity? Exports have declined year on year in the last five years. How much is being done to reinvigorate the export economy of our country? States are not getting their money which is due on account of GST. There are months of backlog and the amounts of backlog. How are the States, for which it is the only source of revenue, going to sustain. PROF. MANOJ KUMAR JHA: Article 39 should be read while preparing the Budget. If you look at issues like food security, health, education and employment, the Budget addresses them very, very poorly. Practically, there is no coherent vision. Probably, a new philosophy has emerged in our nation or across the nations that the only savior is the crony capitalism. If you take the rate of inflation into account, there is barely an increase for anganwadi, mid-day meal scheme or maternity benefits. I also believe that unemployment is at a forty-five year high. This is a huge problem and no symbolic intervention has been made in the budget in relation to unemployment. This unemployment will take such a form that I am afraid that in the coming days we will have to see horrific images in our country, in our society. MGNREGA has less allocation. Inequality is 187 also going to increase due to unemployment. Many people have talked about wealth concenrration. Wealth concentration will have ill effects in society. As per CAG audit of 2017-18, education cess of Rs 94,036 crore has remained unutilized. Teacher employment is not being done here, schools do not have infrastructure, quality is not being talked about. There is no special package and special status for Bihar. This is a matter of trouble. LIC's situation has caused a lot of pain to us. The National Life Insurance Corporation used to protect our lives, but we were not able to keep its life safe. This should be a matter of concern for all of us. The Government brings a lot of flexibility in things like taxes. Congestion in thoughts will not take you anywhere. SHRI ASHOK SIDDHARTH: When the people of India give full mandate to a party, it provides a mandate not only for political stability but also for improving the social and economic condition of large population of the country. It is unfortunate that 85 to 90 per cent of the population of this country is not yet taken care of by the governments.