ILL TREATMENT OF INDIANS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES
14:58 IST
Lok SabhaThe Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs, Shri E. Ahamed informed the Lok Sabha today that incidents of ill treatment of Indian workers are reported from time to time from countries where there are large numbers of Indian workers like Saudi Arabia as well as Singapore and Malaysia.
The Minister further informed that initially 24 workers of a Bahraini Company, M/s Owaineti Construction were not paid salary and overtime. After the intervention of Embassy of India and the pressure from Bahraini authorities, the Company agreed to pay outstanding dues to the workers and provide them tickets to return to India. Out of the 24 workers, one worker resumed his work, one ran away and one has returned to India. Employer agreed to repatriate the remaining 21 workers in batches and the first batch of six workers have returned to India on 9.7.2004. India’s Missions/Posts take appropriate action to protect the interest of Indian workers and provide all possible assistance in such cases, Shri Ahmed added.This information was given to Lok Sabha today by the Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri E. Ahamed in reply to a question by Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
INDIAN FISHERMEN IN PAKISTANI JAILS
15:0 IST
Lok SabhaAs per available information, presently 407 Indian fishermen, including from the State of Gujarat and the Union Territory of Daman and Diu, are under detention in Pakistan.
From time to time, Government have been receiving a number of representations from the Hon’ble Members of Parliament and the fishermen associations, seeking early release of the Indian fishermen under Pakistan'’ custody.
Government have been consistently taking up the matter of early release and repatriation of Indian fishermen with Pakistan through diplomatic channels. As a result, Pakistan released 623 Indian fishermen during the year 2003. Consular access to 268 Indian fishermen was obtained in March 2004. Their nationality has been verified, and consular access sought for the remaining fishermen.
The matter was once again taken up during the Foreign Secretary level talks in New Delhi on 27-28 June, 2004 and immediate release of all apprehended fishermen was agreed.
This information was given to Lok Sabha today by the Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri E. Ahamed in reply to a question by Shri Dahyabhai Vallabhabhai Patel.
DELAY IN ISSUANCE OF PASSPORTS
15:1 IST
Lok SabhaThere are several reasons for delay in issue of passports such as increase in number of passport applications, submission of incomplete information by the passport applicants, delay in receipt of police verification and shortage of staff.
Several measures are taken by Government from time to time to eliminate pendencies in issue of passports. These include special drives to eliminate pendencies in delay cases by deploying additional staff from other passport offices, computerisation, decentralisation of submission of passport applications to district level, machine writing of passports and expediting police verification.
This information was given to Lok Sabha today by the Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri E. Ahamed in reply to a question by Shri Kashiram Rana.
AGRICULTURE MINISTER’S STATEMENT IN THE RAJYA SABHA ON SUICIDE BY FARMERS
15:12 IST
Following is the text of statement of the Union Agriculture Minister made in the Rajya Sabha today in response to the Calling Attention Notice on the incidents of suicide by farmers in various parts of the country and remedial measures taken by the Government:-“Cases of suicide by farmers have been reported from the States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Orissa, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan and Tripura. The number of cases of suicide has been significant in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Orissa and Maharashtra in the period reported. However, the Government of Orissa has clarified that the cases of suicide by farmers in the State were not due to causes related to agriculture.
The main causes as reported by the State Governments for committing suicide by farmers are crop failure, indebtedness, high rate of interest on loans, drought, social & economic insecurity, incurable ailments, addiction to alcohol and family disputes.
In order to tackle the problems of the farmers the Common Minimum Programme of the Government of UPA has identified areas requiring focussed and priority attention. Some of the important action points are doubling rural credit in three years, easing the burden of debt, high interest rate and nursing cooperative back to health, dry land farming, development of horticulture, improvement of water management and protection to farmers from imports and falling international prices.
In order to achieve these objectives FM in his budget speech has announced a number of initiatives to provide relief to the farmers. Notable among them are accelerating the completion of irrigation projects, investing in rural infrastructure, providing farm insurance and livestock insurance, improving agriculture product markets & promoting agri-businesses and appointment of a Task Force on reforms in the cooperative banking system.
It is proposed to undertake restructuring of debt of the farmers by the commercial banks, Regional Rural Banks and cooperatives. Debts of farmers in distress will be rescheduled/restructured in districts declared as calamity affected by the State Government with longer repayment period at current interest rates including an initial moratorium of two years. Farmers in arrears will receive the benefit of rescheduling of loans in default to enable them to become eligible for fresh credit. The system of one time settlement for defaulting small and marginal farmers will be put into operation.
The Central Government has taken up various schemes and programmes for enhancing production of agriculture and horticulture crops like Macro-Management scheme, Technology Mission on Horticulture in the North-East including Sikkim, Uttranchal, Jammu and Kashmir, Integrated Scheme of Oil seeds Pulses Oilpalm and Maize, Technology Mission on Cotton, Technology Mission on Coconut and On Farm Water Management in Eastern India. The farmers are receiving financial assistance under different schemes. Government has also provided safety nets in the form of National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (NAIS), Farmers Income Insurance Scheme (FIIS) against production loss and Minimum Support Price (MSP) & Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) against decline in prices.
The drought relief assistance is given to the States both in the form of financial assistance and foodgrains as and when necessary. Since August, 2003, Andhra Pradesh has received Rs. 140.86 crores and 7.2 lakh MTs of foodgrains, Karnataka Rs. 332.15 crores and 7.29 lakh MTs of food grains and Kerala Rs. 30.65 crores and 0.61 lakh MTs.of food grains.
State Governments also provide relief to the affected families. Government of Andhra Pradesh have decided to provide financial assistance i.e. an ex-gratia of Rs. 1-00 lakh to the family/next of kin of the deceased farmers as economic support besides loan settlement upto a ceiling of Rs. 50,000 as one time settlement to creditors, each family is given a house under Indira Awas Yojana, admission to wards in Social Welfare Residential Schools Hostels. In Karnataka, compensation of Rs. 110.22 lakhs to affected families of the farmers has been given. The interest on short terms loan has been waived and a rebate of 5.5% is allowed on medium term loan. Further fertilizers and seeds are supplied at subsidized rates. In Maharashtra the heirs of the deceased were given assistance @ Rs.1 lakh from the CM Relief Fund.The Government is fully conscious of the hardships of the farmers and will spare no efforts to solve their problems.”
SAFETY AND WELFARE OF INDIAN WORKERS IN IRAQ
Lok SabhaNEW DELHI - The Government has suspended emigration clearance to Indians going to Iraq from April 15, 2004. This was stated by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Shri Sis Ram Ola in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today. He said that in view of sensitivity of the issue, recruitment of Indian ex-servicemen and emigration clearance for Jordan, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates has been suspended temporarily from May 17, 2004. He said that Indian mission in Baghdad has been in close contact with the Coalition Provisional Authority, the Governing Council and the Iraqi Foreign Ministry to ensure the safety and well being of Indians and to facilitate the return of those wishing to come back to India. Shri Ola said that Indian Missions in Jordan and Kuwait have contacted the local companies, who have deployed Indians at their work sites in Iraq to ensure the safety and well being of Indian workers. He said that officials of Indian embassy in Baghdad have visited some camps having Indian workers.
Lok Sabha
Five crore-employment opportunities are proposed to be generated during the 10th Plan. Out of this, about 3 crore employment opportunities will be from usual growth process and the remaining 2 crore through special employment generation schemes with special emphasis on Agriculture, Irrigation, Agro-Forestry, Small and Medium Enterprises, Information and Communication Technology, Tourism and other services. Achievements so far made during the Tenth Plan in this regard would be available after the 2004-05 quinquennial survey by NSSO is completed. As per the surveys conducted by NSSO during 1993-94 and 1999-2000, estimated employment in the country on usual status basis has gone up from approximately 37.4 crore in 1993-94 to 39.7 crore in 1999-2000.This was stated by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Shri Sis Ram Ola in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
INDIA, ITALY SIGN CULTURAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT
A new Indo-Italian Agreement on Cultural Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Italy has been signed by Ms. Neena Ranjan, Secretary, Culture and Mr. Antonio Armellini, Italian Ambassador in the presence of Shri S. Jaipal Reddy, Minister of Information & Broadcasting and Culture and Ms. Margherita Boniver, Italian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, here today.Speaking on the occasion, Shri Reddy said that first Indo-Italian agreement was signed in 1976 and signing of new cultural agreement in this century will further strengthen our bilateral relations in the field of culture. The Italian Foreign Minister said that Italy and India will work hand in hand for closer cooperation in the field of culture.
The Agreement provides broad framework to develop activities of mutual co-operation and cultural relation between the two countries. For this purpose both the countries shall support and promote bilateral projects. They shall exchange knowledge of their education system and the knowledge of other country’s arts, literature and culture. They agree to collaborate in the areas of visual arts, performing arts, literature, architecture and decorative arts. They shall facilitate exchange of artistes and encourage translation and publication of other country’s literature. They shall encourage cooperation in protection, conservation and restoration of cultural heritage. Cooperation among the museums of both the countries is envisaged under the Agreement. Exchange of information and expertise in the field of archaeology and grant of scholarships for students etc., shall be taken up under this Agreement.
Both the countries commit themselves to pursue close co-operation for preventing and repressing the illegal trafficking of works of art, cultural items, protected goods etc. There shall be exchange of information and experiences in the sectors of sports and youth affairs. Both the countries shall collaborate with their respective radio and television bodies.There shall be a Joint Commission for implementation and monitoring the implementation.
Lok Sabha
Forty nine companies have been incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 during the preceding financial year for establishing their places of business in India. The kind of business these companies are planning is in diverse fields by way of establishing liaison offices, branch offices, project offices etc.This information was given to Lok Sabha on Friday by the Minister of Company Affairs, Shri Prem Chand Gupta in reply to a question by Shri Parsuram Majhi.
FRAUD AND VANISHING COMPANIES
Lok SabhaAt present 122 companies stand identified as vanishing companies. These companies had come out with public issues involving Rs.838 crores.A Coordination and Monitoring Committee, co-chaired by Chairman, Securities and Exchange Board of India and Secretary, Ministry of Company Affairs has been set up for taking legal action against unscrupulous Promoters/Directors. Accordingly, action has been initiated against Promoters/Directors of the vanishing companies for violations under the Companies Act. Cases against several vanishing companies and their Promoters/Directors have also been registered with Police for offences punishable under Sections 420, 406, 403, 415, 418 and 424 of the Indian Penal Code. This information was given to Lok Sabha on Friday by the Minister of Company Affairs, Shri Prem Chand Gupta in reply to a question by Smt. Minati Sen.
PRIME MINISTER REVIEWS FLOOD SITUATION IN ASSAM AND BIHAR
RELIEF PACKAGE OF RS.212 CRORE ANNOUNCED
The Prime Minister has discussed the flood situation in the States of Assam and Bihar with the respective Chief Ministers. The Principal Secretary to PM took meetings of senior officials of Government of India in New Delhi and an assistance and relief package has been put together for both States.Assam
The Ministry of Water Resources will conduct an aerial survey of the flood situation. The Ministry of Home Affairs, Agriculture, Rural Development, Rural Drinking Water Supply, Finance and Environment and Forest will be in contact with State Government to provide all assistance.
Seven Helicopters have been made available to the Assam Government for relief and rescue operations. The Railways are ready to move 58 goods rakes to Assam to carry various commodities including food grains.
The Army has made available 27 boats to Assam Government. Each boat can carry 15 persons. The Central Government has released Rs.46 crore as Central share from the Calamity Relief Fund. In addition, Rs.55 crore will be released from National Calamity Contingency Fund. The Planning Commission will sanction Rs.81 crore as Central share of the River Embankment Scheme.
The CMD, BSNL has been instructed to contact Chief Secretary, Assam to help restore telephone lines to all district headquarters and bloc headquarters wherever effected.
Bihar
The Central Government has released Rs.30 crore as Central share of Calamity Relief Fund. The Army Authorities have been advised to provide three additional large helicopters and three small helicopters for rescue operations to the State Government. There is adequate food grains stock with FCI in the State and the State Government has been asked to draw the required rice and wheat from FCI.
The Governments of Maharashtra and Gujarat have been requested to help Bihar Government in purchasing polythene materials to provide shelter for the flood-affected. Tents are being procured from Central Paramilitary Forces. Five good rakes of fodder and five lakh units of vaccine for cattle are being made available to the State Government. Three sets of Satellite Phones are being provided to connect Sitamarhi, Sheohar and State Headquarters. Ministry of Health is providing halogen tablets as requested by the State Government. The Ministry of Petroleum will be in touch with the State Government regarding release of kerosene oil.The Prime Minister has assured all assistance to provide relief and rehabilitations to the flood victims in the two States.