95 Calling Attention [RAJYA SABHA] to a matter of 96 urgent public importance CALLING ATTENTION TO A MAT- Wage negotiations with the largest TER OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPOR- group of workmen recently concluded TANCE account for an additional expenditure to the tune of one and a half crores in the DECISION OF INDIAN AIRLINES TO current year, the figure going up in INCREASE DOMESTIC AIR FARES successive years. It is noteworthy that the wage increase takes effect from 1st April SHRI K. C. PANDA (Orissa): Sir, 1 1969 and the airears payable amount to call the attention of the Minister of more than Rs. 2 crores. Agreements with Tourism and Civil Aviation to the deci- other unions are likely to result in an sion of the Indian Airlines to increase the annual outgo of about Rs. 2.5 crores and domestic air fares hy fifteen per cent from these will also be effective from April, July 1, 1971. 1969. The total impact of the wage revision covering all categories of [MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN in the Chair] employees which will be felt in the current vear is likely to be of the order of THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE Rs. 10 crores with a. recurring liability of MINISTRY OF TOURISM AND CIVIL Rs. 4 crores in each subsequent year. AVIATION (DR. SHRIMATI SAROJINI - MAHISHI): Sir, I am thankful to you, Sir, It is anticipated that the additional for this opportunity to make a statement financial burden on the Corporation on before this hon'ble House on the recent account of the above factors, riot count- announcement by Indian Airlines ing arrears of wages, will be in the regarding increase in fares with effect neighbourhood of Rs. 8 crores per year from 1st July, 1971. which is expected to be broadly covered by the proposed increase in fares. As hon'ble Members are aware, the fares were last raised in November, 1969 The House will appreciate that the fare when an increase of 7 to 8 per cent was increase in the eastern region has been effected except in the eastern region kept down to 7% considering the special where it was limited to 5 per cent. Since circumstances obtaining in that area. then a number of factors have arisen necessitating the present increase so soon. SHRI K. C. PANDA : Mr. Deputy Chairman, Sir, before asking questions on The hijacking of one of our planes has my Calling Attention Notice I would like thrown a series of burdens on the to take serious objection to the Corporation; firstly the loss of revenue on announcement of 15 per cent increase in account of loss of the aircraft; secondly, the Indian Airlines fares on all domestic re-routing of flights to avoid Pakistani routes. Parliament was in session and territory; thirdly, the suspension of flights Parliament has not been taken into to Kabul and lastly, the massive impact of confidence by the Ministry. It is a policy additional insurance charges to cover the statement. It should have been made on fleet against such risks. the floor of the House and the increase not effected behind the back of Parliament. The Indian Airlines should The Corporation's operating costs have have come to Parliament, given been steadily rising on account of increase justification for the proposed increase and in the price of spares and engineering then taken clearance from Parliament. We equipment: the impact of the increase in are now presented with a fait accompli; it price of petroleum products and the is like doing a post mortem after the man excise duty on aviation gas announced has died. I am sure, Mr. Deputy Chair- recently, alone is expected to be about 1 man, that you will join me and the other crore annually. Members taking exception to the way the increase has been effected. A word about the fleet of Indian Air- lines : apart from the Fokker aircraft Now coming to my Calling Attention hijacked and destroyed in Lahore, they Notice, I would like to know from the have unfortunately lost two more Fok- hon. Minister as to on how many kers in accidents resulting in loss of occasions, since the inception of the revenue. This means continued use of old, Corporation, fares have been increased, at uneconomic aircraft. all stages and by what percentage- 97 Calling Attention [ 18 JUNE 1971] to a matter of 98 urgent public importance and from the date of the inception of the —as to why Parliament was not taken Corporation the total percentage I into consideration whera Parliament was by which fares have been increased as sitting. today including the latest 15 per cent ! increase. Corresponding to the in- DR. (SHRIMATI) SAROJINI MA- crease in fare, what is the increase in i HISHI: That is what I told in the be- the Indian Airlines expenses by way of I ginning of my reply; it is an autonomous additional dearness allowance, etc., what corporation; it has brought the matter was the total strength of the Indian before the Government and Government I Airlines staff on the date of its incep- ! has approved of it. tion and what is the strength today and j how has the efficiency of the Indian Airlines gone down The other day DR. BHAI MAHAVIR (Delhi): What there was a discussion in the House he asked is "Why Parliament was not that the efficiency of the railways coming taken into consideration?" and the down and tiie efficiency of the Airlines Minister says "Government has ap- going up but now we find that they proved". are charging people more. Because the Members of Parliament started SHRI M. K. MOHTA (Rajasthan): praising the Airlines, they started Government should have come to Par- charging people like anything, and liament. without taking the Members into con- fidence. May 1 know the clarification SHRI K. C. PANDA: I said that of the Minister? Parliament is being ignored; that is my objection. DR. (SHRIMATI) SAROJINI MA- HISHI: Mr. Deputy Chairman, Sir, the DR. (SHRIMATI) SAROJINI MA- hon. Member has asked a series of HISHI: The Indian Airlines was rather questions. The Indian Airlines is an over-confident that Parliament would autonomous corporation, and taking into approve of it. consideration the credit and debit sides, of course, they have decided to increase the fares and the Government has approved of MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: It is the 15 per cent rise in the air fares. The a policy statement. When the Parliament hon. Member has asked as to how many is in session as far as possible such policy times the air fares have been revised or statements should be made I in the House. revised upwards during the period from 1953 onwards after nationalisation. The DR. BHAI MAHAVIR: Will the Air Transport Council was established in Minister say what circumstances caused % the year 1955 and it submitted its Re- this type of a decision being announced port in the year 1957. For the first time outside the Parliament when the House after nationalisation, in 1958 the air fares was in session? underwent an upward revision. Once in '958 where there was not a spectacular rise; again in 1960 there was a 10 per cent SHRI PITAMBER DAS (Uttar Pradesh): increase; in the year 1963 it was \1\ per This is not taken formally as a breach of cent: in 1965 it was 8 per cent: in 1967 it privilege but it is surely a disrespect to the was 30 per cent: in 1969 it was 8 per cent; House that a statement is made outside and in 1971 it is 15 per cent. In the when the Parlia-j ment is in session. personnel of the Indian Airlines also there SHRI CHITTA BASU (West Ben-! has been considerable increase. On gal): On many occasions the Chair has i account of the increasing cost to be met on made remarks but the Government i does account of wages, pay, emoluments and not take any notice of them. all ot' er things, the Indisn Airl ines thought fit to increase and revise the existing air fares. There is greater scope SHRI PITAMBER DAS : Shall we for further improvement *in the efficiency understand that they will not commit of the services which is to be attended to, such mistakes in the future 7 as the hon. Member has said. MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: She SHRI K. C. PANDA: You have not has already given an assurance that it answered the first part of my question will not be done in the future. 4—9R. S./71 99 Calling Attention [RAJYA SABHA] to a matter of 100 urgent public importance SHRI N. R. MUNISWAMY (Tamil Nadu): IAC will improve ? I went to the Mal-hotra When the Finance Minister presented the Building and asked for a ticket as an ordinary Budget and he has levied a surcharge of 20 per citizen. It was something like getting a cent over the j journeys taken abroad when it Government job, sitting there for hours is on a cash basis in rupees, he had taken us into together to get a ticket. Will the Minister see confidence and done it. So far as | this is that the services improve in regard to concerned the Finance Minister could have passenger facilities? The third point is about made a statement that they ! are likely to massive insurance charges. What are the increase the fares which J he has not done and insurance charges now borne by the IAC for there is no answer . from the Minister. We insurance on all its aircraft? The final question all know that in 1952 the charge from is, the students had certain concessions in the Madras to ' Delhi was only Rs.