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Title : Shri Gurudas Dasgupta called the attention of the Minister of Labour and Employment to the situation arising out of Large-scale loss of jobs due to retrenchment and closure of industries, including IT sector and steps taken by the Government in this regard.
MADAM SPEAKER: Now, the House will take up Calling Attention—Shri Gurudas Dasgupta.
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA (GHATAL): Madam, I call the attention of the Minister of Labour and Employment to the following matter of urgent public importance and request that he may make a statement thereon:
“The situation arising out of large-scale loss of jobs due to
retrenchment and closure of industries, including IT sector,
and steps taken by the Government in this regard.”
THE MINISTER OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE): Madam Speaker, I would like to give some of the details of the steps taken by the Government on the above subject.
The impact of global slowdown on the Indian economy has been felt since the middle of 2008. Keeping in view the importance and multi-faceted nature of the challenge, the Ministry of Labour & Employment convened the 42nd Session of Indian Labour Conference, which epitomizes the process of tripartite consultation, in February, 2009. An Agenda Item on “Global Financial Crisis—its effect viz., large scale downsizing, lay-offs, wage cut and job losses, etc.” was discussed by the Conference in this sitting. Measures suggested by the Conference to fight global slowdown include urgent steps to stimulate domestic demand, greater investment in infrastructure and housing, and strict implementation of labour laws.
To counter the negative fallout of the global slowdown on the Indian economy, the Government of India provided three focussed fiscal stimulus packages in the form of tax relief and increased expenditure on public projects while the RBI took a number of monetary easing and liquidity enhancing steps in order to boost domestic demand.
These measures have helped in keeping the Indian economy on growth trajectory, though at a moderate level when compared with the performance of recent past. As is evident from the Budget for the year 2009-10 presented by the hon. Finance Minister, the Government has continued with the policies aimed at boosting demand, generating employment and creating infrastructure in rural and urban areas through measures such as enhancing the exemption limit in personal income tax, eliminating the surcharge on personal income tax, raising the deduction limit under section 80-DD in respect of maintenance of a dependent who is a person with severe disability, and increased public expenditure, especially on social sector programmes.
These measures are also likely to act as a safety net for the vulnerable sections of society including the workers who may have lost their jobs as a result of economic slowdown.
To boost the construction activity which generates substantial employment in the economy, interest rate subsidy has been offered for housing loan borrowers from the lower and middle-income groups.
In addition, individual Ministries and Departments have also taken steps to counter adverse effects of global slowdown on Indian economy. These include interest subvention of two per cent to intensive sectors for exports, that is textiles (including handlooms), handicrafts, leather, gems and jewellery, marine products and SMEs, additional funds of Rs. 1,400 crore for Ministry of Textiles to clear the backlog claims of textile units under Technology Upgradation Fund (TUF) and putting in place a high-level monitoring mechanism so that immediate further corrective measures can be taken as may be required.
The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 puts restriction on lay-offs and retrenchment and provides protection to the workmen in case of lay-off, retrenchment and closure of establishments. Moreover, the Ministry of Labour and Employment is implementing the Rajiv Gandhi Shramik Kalyan Yojana through the ESI Corporation which provides unemployment allowance for up to one year to those insured employees who have put in five years of service and have been rendered jobless due to retrenchment, closure of factories or permanent disability due to non-employment injury.
Our Ministry is closely monitoring the situation. The State Governments have also been advised to make their industrial conciliation machinery more effective and sensitive to ensure industrial peace and implement labour laws in an appropriate manner so that the interest of the workmen is protected.
I share the concerns of the hon. Members on the matter and assure the House that our Government is taking all possible steps to successfully address this challenge. However, I welcome the suggestions of the hon. Members to successfully handle the situation which has arisen due to the current global economic slowdown.
[Placed in Library, see No. LT-594/15/09]
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA : Madam, I am constrained to say that the statement that the hon. Minister has now presented is drafted by the Ministry of Finance, not by the Ministry of Labour because he lists out what the Government has done particularly the Finance Ministry has done to protect the corporates and boost up their economic activities. But that is not the job of the Labour Ministry. The job of the Labour Ministry is to see what it has done to protect the interests of the workers.
With regard to that, the hon. Minister, who has taken the charge very recently, might have forgotten to say what the Ministry is doing. Only there is a pious desire of closely monitoring the situation. … (Interruptions)
श्री जगदम्बिका पाल (डुमरियागंज): महोदया, मेरा प्वाइंट आफ आर्डर है। …( व्यवधान)
अध्यक्ष महोदया : यह किस नियम के तहत है?
…( व्यवधान)
अध्यक्ष महोदया : आप नियम बताइए।
…( व्यवधान)
श्री जगदम्बिका पाल: प्वाइंट आफ आर्डर यह है कि अगर श्रम मंत्री के द्वारा कोई वक्तव्य दिया गया है, तो यह कहना कि यह श्रम मंत्री के द्वारा नहीं तैयार किया गया, बल्कि वित्त मंत्री के द्वारा तैयार किया गया है, यह आरोप है। इसलिए मैं व्यवस्था का प्रश्न चाहता हूं। यदि श्रम मंत्री के द्वारा कोई स्टेटमेंट दिया जाता है, तो निश्चित तौर पर यह उनके मंत्रालय का वक्तव्य है और उनके बिहाफ पर है। …( व्यवधान)
अध्यक्ष महोदया : आप कृपया स्थान ग्रहण कीजिए।
…( व्यवधान)
अध्यक्ष महोदया : आप कृपया शांत रहें। उन्हें बोलने दीजिए।
…( व्यवधान)
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA : Madam, it is a Government and Government is represented by the different Ministries. Therefore, if the statement is drafted by the Ministry of Finance, that only speaks of the collective responsibility. Maybe the Labour Ministry has not done its job properly, but that speaks of the collective responsibility of the Government.
What he has to say with regard to the problem is ‘closely monitoring’. After so many years, the Government is closely monitoring. Secondly, he says that the State Governments had been advised. Then, he talks of sensitive measures of industrial peace. How is it connected with industrial peace? Job-lossness essentially is a basic human problem. It has nothing to do with industrial peace. Therefore, I refrain from making the comment on the speech that he has delivered, which he deserves. I am not commenting on that. It may hurt him. I am only saying that massive job loss is a basic human problem. Maybe a form of human disaster causes no concern in the country. As yet the Government has not outlined any relief measures with regard to the workers who have been thrown out of jobs.
Even the Government does not know how many people have lost their jobs. I am constrained to say that there is no reference to this basic human problem in the Presidential Address also. Even the rhetoric of the Finance Minister, while delivering his speech on the Budget, ignores this problem.
In the world, everybody is discussing it. All over the world, not in India alone, the problem is being discussed. Even the ILO is discussing it, but we do not discuss it. We ignore it. We do not mention it.
Madam, can I say that insensitivity has no bound and limit? What does the Economic Survey say? It says ‘while comprehensive employment data for current financial year is not available, some sample survey has indicated that employment loss is taking place.’ What a cursory and casual statement it is. The Government does not know what has been the extent of the damage caused to the people who were employed. What will he call it? Is it an expression of social obligation?
The Labour Minister has forgotten to say that his predecessor had conducted a survey and that survey said ‘five lakh workers have lost their jobs in three months’. तीन महीने में पांच लाख मजदूरों की नौकरी चली गयी।आपके पहले जो श्रम मंत्री थी, उन्होंने पार्लियामेंट को बताया था, लेकिन आप यह बात नहीं बताना चाहते हैं। There is another sample survey that suggests that in one month only, one lakh people lost their jobs.
The Ministry of Commerce have confirmed that more than lakh workers have lost their jobs only in the export industry.
What about the private sector? Larsen and Toubro (L&T), the largest engineering concern of the country, has off-loaded five per cent of its workforce, that is, 10,000 workers have lost their job in L&T.
The textile industry is one of our national industries. It was built up in the course of our national movement. What does the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry say regarding this issue? It says that seven lakh workers have lost their jobs. मालिक बोल रहे हैं, ट्रेड यूनियन नहीं बोल रही है, सात लाख मजदूरों की नौकरी चली गई साहब। वे दुबारा बोल रहे हैं, पांच लाख मजदूरों की नौकरी जाने वाली है। Where is the reflection of this grim reality in the statement of the hon. Minister?
Madam, lay-off is a form of temporary retrenchment or job loss. A majority of the lay-offs have affected the wage earners. जो मजदूर बिहार से काम करने के लिए जाते हैं, जो मजदूर उत्तर प्रदेश से काम करने के लिए जाते हैं, हमारे हिन्दुस्तान की अनफार्चुनेट सिचुएशन है। They are saying that lay-off has affected the daily wage earners who constitute between 25 per cent and 30 per cent of the workforce in a company. This is the situation of the unorganised labour in the country for which you say that you have some tears to shed.
Madam, what about the world? The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development has said this. You believe this figure, and do not believe me.
MADAM SPEAKER: Please conclude.
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA: Madam, you had told me that I will get 20 minutes. Let me finish as it is a very serious situation.
MADAM SPEAKER: Please be brief and try to conclude.
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA: Madam, I have little more to say. Please allow me. I have taken only five minutes. I have looked at the watch. My watch never betrays me.
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development had said that 12 lakh workers have lost their jobs in India, and 13 lakh more jobs are going to be lost in the coming months. The ILO’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific are saying that the Indian workers who are exposed to the international trade and global economy, as in civil aviation, textile, leather, gems, jewellery, construction, are employing millions of women. We are speaking of women, and they are really facing serious job cuts. What is the future for us? This is the reality of today. What about tomorrow?
There is a survey by an authoritative agency, which says that 40 lakh workers are going to lose their jobs in the next year. Believe it or not, but this is the grim reality. The whole world is thinking about it, but India is not and the Labour Ministry is not. The agency of UNO is saying that two crore people will lose their job in the next year in the world, and India is going to have a lion’s share in it.
Madam, what was the Government’s policy before the meltdown had affected India? The hon. Minister must say about this. The Central Government’s own Public Sectors Units have thrown 44,000 workers out of job in one year according to the 48th Report of the Public Enterprise Survey. The Government of India is retrenching and contributing to the serious accentuation of the crisis. What has the Government to say about it? In the background of decline of GDP, in the background of fall in agricultural production, due to decline in index of industrial production, deceleration affecting construction, manufacturing and electricity, there is a gloomy picture about the Indian economy. What is going to be the reality? Lakhs of workers are going to lose their jobs.
श्री अब्दुल मन्नान हुसैन (मुर्शिदाबाद): वैस्ट बंगाल में सबसे ज्यादा है।
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA : ऐसा हो सकता है। I do not disagree. … (Interruptions)
MADAM SPEAKER: You address the Chair.
… (Interruptions)
MADAM SPEAKER: The Minister will reply to all that. Let him speak. आप लोग शांत रहिये।
…( व्यवधान)
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA: Madam, I agree that job loss is a grave problem in West Bengal also. I agree, it is in Kerala also. I agree.… (Interruptions)
अध्यक्ष महोदया : गुरुदास दासगुप्त जी, आप अपनी बात जल्दी समाप्त कीजिए। आपका समय समाप्त हो रहा है।
…( व्यवधान)
अध्यक्ष महोदया : आप उन्हें बोलने दीजिए।
…( व्यवधान)
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA: I would only appreciate if the hon. Members understand the gravity of the situation without politicalising the impact. I agree that joblessness is a problem in West Bengal; I agree it is a problem in Kerala; I agree it is a problem in U.P.; I agree it is a problem in Delhi; I agree it is a problem in Tripura; and I agree that it is an all-India problem. But it speaks of the situation.… (Interruptions) Madam, we have more than one Presiding Officer in the House!.… (Interruptions)
अध्यक्ष महोदया : आप क्यों बोल रहे हैं? आप शांत रहिये।
…( व्यवधान)
श्री उदय सिंह (पूर्णिया): आप लोगों में संवेदना नहीं है। आप लोग संवेदनहीन हो गये हैं। …( व्यवधान)
MADAM SPEAKER: Why do you not address the Chair? Why are you talking to everybody?
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA : Madam, that is not the issue. The issue is, in a House of People, people should be allowed to dissent. I have a right to dissent. Right to dissent is a Fundamental Right in democracy. Everyone is entitled to speak.
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY): Not always.
अध्यक्ष महोदया : आप लोग शांत हो जाइये।
…( व्यवधान)
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA : Now the Minister is on the scene.… (Interruptions) Madam, crisis in the unorganized sector is too serious. Crisis in the medium scale industry and small-scale industry is extremely grim. Therefore, in a situation like this, our estimate is that, let the hon. Minister of Labour note, not less than 50 lakh people have lost their jobs in a recent period in India. And more than 50 lakh workers are on the verge of being thrown out of job. What is my question? What is my complaint? My complaint is inertion; complaint is unconcern; complaint is as if this is no issue. The Presidential Speech does not mention about it. The on. Finance Minister does not refer to it. Job loss is a non-issue in the country like India. Is it a sign of sensitivity? Is it a sign of social obligation? … (Interruptions) NREGA is not the solution. He does not know Indian economics. NREGA is not the solution.… (Interruptions)
MADAM SPEAKER: Please address the Chair. आप लोग बैठ जाइये। मंत्री महोदय इसका जवाब देंगे।
…( व्यवधान)
My first question to the Minister is that the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, has sponsored three packages for the corporates, who have fallen victim to slowdown. What about the relief package for the workers, who have fallen victim to economic slowdown? You have your compassion for the corporate sector; I do not mind, but there should be a compassion for the workers who have lost their job. I want to know what is the relief package prepared by the Government for the workers, who have been thrown out of job,
My second question is, will the Government make it a pre-condition that no corporate can avail of the package if they throw people out of job. Let us make it a pre-condition that they will not receive the bank loan and that they will not receive the subsidy if they do so. They will have to give a pre-condition that they will not offload labour.
May I ask the hon. Minister whether he will make a study of the damage done, how many people have lost their jobs, including West Bengal? Will he make a study? … (Interruptions)
SHRI M.I. SHANAVAS (WAYANAD): What is your statistics? … (Interruptions)
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA: My statistics is 50 lakhs. … (Interruptions)
SHRI M.I. SHANAVAS : What is your source? … (Interruptions)
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA: It is from different sources. … (Interruptions)
MADAM SPEAKER: It is time that you conclude. Please now you may conclude.
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA : It seems that the problem of the workers has now hurt many of us in the House. … (Interruptions)
MADAM SPEAKER: Please sit down.
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA: I will feel highly satisfied and feel extremely privileged if the hon. Member quotes some other figure, to contradict my figure.
So, my second question is whether he will make a study. The third question is whether he will call a meeting of the trade unions? He can meet the Ambanis, I do not mind; he can meet the Tatas, I do not mind. But what about the trade unions? … (Interruptions)
THE MINISTER OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE): This is not the way. He can make his point, but he cannot make allegations against anybody, without knowing the facts. Who met Ambani? Has the Labour Minister met Ambani? … (Interruptions)
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA: Is this the way the Minister should shout? … (Interruptions)
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr. Dasgupta, now you can conclude. How many questions will you ask? You may conclude now.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA: Madam, I feel highly privileged that I have been able to hurt the Minister; because hurting the Minister will bring them to sense. … (Interruptions)
MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you. Now, I call the next hon. Member.
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA: My last question is this.
MADAM SPEAKER: Okay, but please be very brief.
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA: Let the Government call a meeting; let the Prime Minister call a meeting of the trade unions and find out from them the grim ground reality and let the Government say what is the relief today for the aggrieved workers who are in lakhs in the country, including West Bengal.
MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you very much. Now, Shri Basu Deb Acharia. Please ask your question. It is not a debate; so, you may please ask your clarificatory question.
SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA (BANKURA): The statement made by the Labour Minister in regard to the very serious problem the country is facing was concerning 40 crore workers; there is the lackadaisical and casual attitude on the part of this Government. The Hon. Minister while concluding his statement has stated that the Government is taking all possible steps to successfully address this challenge. He has also stated that the Ministry will try to implement the decisions taken in the 42nd National Labour Conference.
The severe impact of the global recession on the Indian working class at large, in different sectors of the economy, can be seen in the form of joblessness, wage cut, lay off, retrenchment, closure, forced leave without pay, etc. The Management of Air India is now proposing before the employees to take without pay leave for one year. This economic slowdown has an adverse impact on all the sectors. It had its adverse impact on the export sector which employs 150 million people directly and indirectly.
In his earlier proposal the Finance Minister had given concession to the exporters by making reduction in the customs duty and the excise duty. But during these few months of 2008-09 and subsequently in 2009-10, the Minister has given more than 2 lakh stimulus packages to the industrialists, exporters and to the entrepreneurs. What is its impact on the joblessness, on the working class which is losing job and on the augmentation of the demand of the people?
Since the time the country started facing economic recession, we had been suggesting that the public investment should be increased. If public investment is increased, jobs will be created and if jobs are created, the purchasing power of the people is increased thereby the demand will grow and the industry will also start production. There will be a glut in the production and that problem can also be addressed. But so far the Government has not taken any positive action towards addressing the most serious problem that the working class of India is facing today.
SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY: What is your question?
SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA : I am coming to the question. Speaker is here. You are not the Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: Please address the Chair.
SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA : Madam, they are disturbing me.
MADAM SPEAKER: It is because you should be brief and you should ask only the question. Please ask your question.
SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA: Madam, we wanted a discussion on this subject under Rule 193.
MADAM SPEAKER: That is all right but this is not a discussion under Rule 193. This is the Calling Attention and you have to ask your question.
SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA : Due to the paucity of time you are kind enough to allow a Calling Attention on the subject. You may give some time to deal with the subject. I will come to the question.
MADAM SPEAKER: This is not a discussion or a debate. Please ask the question.
SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA: I will definitely come to the question. Considering the gravity of the situation, you may give us some more time.
Madam, in diamond cutting industry in Surat, Gujarat, more than three lakh workers have already lost their jobs as there is no export of diamond and 50 diamond cutting workers have so far committed suicide. According to the Government report, in three months from October to December, only five lakh workers had lost their jobs. But today we do not talk of growth in employment as there is a negative growth in employment. We talk about growth in unemployment.
Madam, the Minister has stated that the Government is taking all possible measures but he has not stated those measures. He has mentioned stimulus packages but we would like to know what measures have been taken by the Ministry of Labour to prevent the workers from losing their jobs. We know that there is an Act called the Industrial Disputes Act of 1947. We have a number of labour laws and in this House we had discussed how the labour laws are being blatantly violated. The Industrial Disputes Act is also being violated. The workers are being retrenched.
MADAM SPEAKER: Please ask your question.
SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA : They are being laid off. You will be surprised to know that the share of wages in net value addition in India is the lowest in the world.
MADAM SPEAKER: Hon. Member, please ask your question. Unless you ask your question, how will the Minister reply?
SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA: According to NSS data, it came down to 12 per cent in the year 2006 from 30 per cent in the nineties. I would like to know from the Minister what concrete measures he has taken so far to prevent or to overcome this situation. I would like to know from the Government when the stimulus packages are being given, whether a condition is also being put that no retrenchment will take place. When the Government is providing stimulus packages, financial assistance, reducing the tax, and reducing the interest rates, will the Government also ensure that there is no retrenchment?
MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you very much. Now, Shri A. Sampath would speak and whatever Shri Sampath says that only will go on record. Please take your seat.
(Interruptions) …*
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr. Sampath, please start speaking. Only what Shri Sampath says, that will go on record.
(Interruptions) …*
MADAM SPEAKER: Please take your seat.
SHRI A. SAMPATH (ATTINGAL): Thank you, Madam Speaker. In a way, the seniors have made the point clear. So, I will be very precise and I will limit my speech to five minutes’ time allotted to me.
Madam, in the notice for this Calling Attention itself, I have very specifically stated:
“…situation arising out of large-scale loss of jobs due to retrenchment and closure of industries, including IT sector, and steps taken by the Government in this regard.”
But to my surprise, unfortunately, in the reply given by the hon. Minister of Labour, there is not even a mention of a single word about the IT sector. We all know that the population of our country is on the rise and unemployment is also on the rise. Whatever reason one may attribute to it what is happening is that the permanent employees are now being termed as temporary employees and workers. After some time they would be termed as casual employees and workers and some day some other term will be used to describe them as employees and workers on daily wages and then the employers would finally ask them to rest in peace. The only course then left to them would be to commit suicide. There would be no other alternative left. Our nation has the largest population in the world and so is the rate of unemployment, under-employment and jobless people in this country. This is the time when we have to take into account all these factors. We must have definite agenda and specific goals to protect the interest of the working class, the employees of this nation.
Madam, I am coming to my questions. We all know about the plight of the migrant workers. From every State people migrate to other States for some reason in search of jobs. I am coming from a State where more than 30 lakh people have migrated to different places, including going abroad, to earn their livelihood. I come from the State of Kerala and people from my State work outside and remit precious foreign exchange which amount to 7 times more than the amount of Budgetary support provided by the Union Government to the State of Kerala. It is not only the case in respect of my State, but other states like Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, even Delhi are faced with a very peculiar situation. The problems being faced are firstly, closure of many industries; secondly decision of the management to cut down on wages; thirdly, retrenchment of staff and fourthly, delay in payment of salaries and wages. There is no other alternative for these employees but to return to their native States. But what would happen after their return? Who is going to provide them the avenues for earning their livelihood? Who is going to protect them? This has created a major social problem in many of the States.
Madam, amongst the migrant workers the most affected is the womenfolk. For women there is no choice, it is either take it or leave it. In many sectors the suggestions of the employers is that if one is a women employee then she should not marry; if at all she marries, then she should not conceive and even if she conceives, then she should not give birth to a child and in the event of such a thing happening they would have to leave their jobs. This is a pity. The womenfolk are exploited to the maximum.
Madam, through you I would like to know from the hon. Minister as to what specific measures have been taken by the Government, especially the Ministry of Labour to protect the interest of the women employees and workers… (Interruptions) Madam, I seek your protection… (Interruptions) Some of my friends are trying to obstruct me from speaking such things in this House… (Interruptions) It is a matter of life and death… (Interruptions) I seek your protection in the matter… (Interruptions)
MADAM SPEAKER: You please ask your question.
SHRI A. SAMPATH : Every State is faced with such a peculiar situation. So, in this context I would like to know from the hon. Minister as to what specific measures are being taken by the Government to tackle this problem. It has been estimated that more than 20 crores of people in the whole nation do not get two square meals a day. It means they are starving and to that, we are adding more and more jobless people. Migrant workers and women folk are adding to that stock.… (Interruptions)
Madam, I am specific on the plight of migrant workers. They do not get any job in their home State and hence, they are migrating. Even in Delhi, we know what had happened. Yesterday, the hon. Minister has given the reply on it. We know that around 100 people have been killed during the construction operation of Delhi Metro. Among them, there was only one engineer and all others were workers. Majority of them were migrant workers.
I am concentrating my question on the specific measures which are going to be taken by the Minister for Labour to protect the interests of the domestic migrant workers as well as those migrant workers who have migrated to other countries seeking jobs.
श्रम और रोज़गार मंत्री (श्री मल्लिकार्जुन खरगे): माननीय अध्यक्ष महोदया, अभी माननीय सदस्य श्री गुरुदास जी, बसुदेव जी और सम्पत जी, तीनों ट्रेड यूनियन लीडर्स हैं, ये लेबर समस्याओं की मालूमात रखते हैं। मैं इनका आदर करता हूं लेकिन इन्होंने बात कही है कि लेबर मिनिस्ट्री की ओर से यह जो स्टेटमेंट आया है, यह फाइनेंस डिपार्टमेंट ने तैयार करके दिया है, इसे लेबर मिनिस्टर ने यहां आकर पढ़ा। I can say that they are far from truth. यह ठीक नहीं है। हर स्कीम जो चलती है, हर काम जो होता है वह पैसे के बगैर नहीं होता है। अगर फाइनेंस मिनिस्ट्री, लेबर, इंडस्ट्री, हाउसिंग, कन्सट्रक्शन, रूरल डेवलपमेंट मिनिस्ट्री की मदद नहीं करेगी तो डेवलपमेंट ही नहीं होगा। हमें उनसे जो कुछ मिलता है, जो मदद मिलती है उसके बारे में इस हाउस को बताना जरूरी है कि हमें इन चीजों से फायदा होता है, इन चीजों की वजह से इम्पलाएमेंट बढ़ती है। …( व्यवधान)
श्री गुरुदास दासगुप्त : कानून लागू करने के लिए पैसे की क्या जरूरत है?…( व्यवधान)
MADAM SPEAKER: Hon Member, please sit down. Let him reply.
… (Interruptions)
अध्यक्ष महोदया : आप चुप रहें। आप क्यों खड़े हो गए हैं?
…( व्यवधान)
अध्यक्ष महोदया : आप बैठ जाइए।
…( व्यवधान)
श्री मल्लिकार्जुन खरगे: मैं पहली बार पार्लियामेंट में, इस सदन में आया हूं और नौ बार असैम्बली में रहा हूं। मैं समझता था कि यहां पर गुरुदास दास गुप्ता जैसे सदस्य नए सांसदों का मार्गदर्शन करेंगे लेकिन यहां उल्टा हो रहा है। हम यह समझते थे कि ट्रेड यूनियन के लोग लेबर मिनिस्टर को अच्छे सुझाव देंगे, सलाह देंगे, हमने जो काम किए हैं उसे एप्रिशिएट करेंगे।जो नहीं किये हैं, उनके बारे में आप टीका कर सकते हैं, इसके लिए आप स्वतंत्र हैं। लेकिन आज हमने जो प्रोग्राम लोगों, जनता और देश के सामने रखे हैं, उनके बारे में हमने बताया। इसलिए यह कहना ठीक नहीं है कि यह पूरा फाइनैन्स डिपार्टमैन्ट का ही स्टेटमैन्ट हैं, लेबर डिपार्टमैन्ट का नहीं है।
दूसरी चीज मैं कहना चाहता हूं कि हर सरकार किसी न किसी स्टेटिस्टिक्स पर डिपैन्ड होती है। चाहे बंगाल की सरकार हो, केरल की सरकार हो या जब कभी आप यहां पर बात करते हैं तो किसी न किसी स्टेटिस्टिक्स के आधार पर ही करते हैं। आज आपने जो स्टेटिस्टिक्स दिये, उनका भी कोई आधार होगा, जिसके ऊपर दिया। लेकिन हमारे पास जो स्टेटिस्टिक्स हैं, वे लेबर ब्यूरो ने 2581 यूनिट्स में बीस सैन्टर में कम से कम 11 राज्यों और यूनियन टैरिटरीज मिलाकर जो सैम्पल सर्वे कंडक्ट किया है, उसके मुताबिक अक्टूबर, दिसम्बर, 2008 में कम से कम पांच लाख जॉब लॉस हुए। इस बात को हमने लेबर ब्यूरो की तरफ से सैम्पल सर्वे करके जो किताब आई, उस किताब के बारे में आपको मालूम है, आप वैबसाइट पर देखते हैं। यह परिस्थिति उस वक्त की थी। उसके बाद जनवरी और मार्च में जो सर्वे किया गया, उसमें बहुत से सैक्टर्स में जैसे माइनिंग, टैक्सटाइल, मैटल्स, जैम्स, ज्वैलरी बहुत से सैक्टर्स में बढ़ोतरी हुई है, घटोतरी नही हुई। लेकिन यहसत्य है, हमें इस पर विश्वास करना पड़ेगा। हम एक डाकूमैन्ट पर बिलीव करते हैं और दूसरे डाकूमैन्ट पर बिलीव नहीं करते हैं तो यह ठीक नहीं होगा। इसलिए उसी डाकूमैन्ट के मुताबिक, जिस डाकूमैन्ट की आप बात कर रहे थे, आज की स्थिति यह है कि जैम्स एंड ज्वैलरी सैक्टर में इप्रूवमैन्ट हुआ है। टैक्सटाइल सैक्टर में भी थोड़ा इप्रूवमैन्ट हुआ है। आई.टी., बी.पी.ओ. जिसके बारे में सम्पत जी ने कहा, लेकिन मैं यहां पढ़ना नहीं चाहता हूं क्योकि आई.टी. सैक्टर में रहने वाली जो बड़ी-बड़ी कंपनीज हैं, उन्हीं का कहना है कि इसमें अब इनक्रीज हो रहा है, घट नहीं रहा है। हालांकि पहले जिस स्पीड में, जिस ढंग से वह बढ़ता था, उसमें कमी हो सकती है, लेकिन बहुत गिरावट नहीं है। आज यह इनक्रीज हो रहा है, यह उन्हीं का कहना है। हमारे सर्वे के मुताबिक भी उसमें बहुत सा इप्रूवमैन्ट है। लेकिन लैदर, ट्रांसपोर्ट और मैटल्स इन सैक्टर्स में अभी भी थोड़ी कमी है। इसलिए लेबर लॉज के बारे में या लेबर के बारे में हमें चिंता नहीं है, हम कुछ नहीं करना चाहते हैं और इसके बारे में प्रेसीडैन्ट ऑफ इंडिया की स्पीच में भी कुछ नहीं है। लेबर मिनिस्टर के स्टेटमैन्ट में भी कुछ नहीं है। यह कहना गलत होगा। क्योंकि स्टेटिस्टिक्स यह कहते हैं कि अब ज्यादा इप्रूवमैन्ट हो रहा है। एक तरफ आप बोलते हैं कि एक्सपोर्ट कम हो रहा है और जब एक्सपोर्ट कम हो रहा है तो नेचुरली आपको मालूम ही है कि ज्यादातर टैक्सटाइल इंडस्ट्रीज, गारमैन्ट इंडस्ट्रीज, आई.टी. जैसे सैक्टर्स जब ज्यादा से ज्यादा एक्सपोर्ट करते हैं तो ज्यादा से ज्यादा इम्पलॉयमैन्ट भी मिलता है और उसके लिए अगर फाइनैन्स मिनिस्टर एक्साइज डय़ूटी में कंसैशन दे तो उसे गलत बोलते हैं। …( व्यवधान)
श्री गुरुदास दासगुप्त : वह अच्छा है, गलत नहीं है…( व्यवधान) किसने बोला …( व्यवधान)
SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA (BANKURA): What about the retrenched workers?… (Interruptions)
श्री मल्लिकार्जुन खरगे : मुझे एक मिनट मौका तो दो। आपने तो कहा…( व्यवधान)
MADAM SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, please address the Chair.
श्री मल्लिकार्जुन खरगे : सॉरी। माननीय सदस्य ने तो कहा कि हम एम्पलायर की तरफ देख रहे हैं, इंडस्ट्रियलिस्ट्स की तरफ देख रहे हैं, लेबर की तरफ हमारी तवज्जह नहीं है…( व्यवधान)
श्री बसुदेव आचार्य : मैं पैकेज के बारे में पूछ रहा हूं…( व्यवधान)
अध्यक्ष महोदया : आप मिनिस्टर साहब को उत्तर देने दीजिये। बीच में टिप्पणी मत कीजिये।
श्री मल्लिकार्जुन खरगे : हमने जो पैकेज दिये हैं और आपके सामने अनाऊंस किये हैं, ये इसलिये किये हैं कि इनफ्रास्ट्रक्चर में अगर ज्यादा पैसा लगाया है तो ज्यादा लोगों को काम मिलेगा। अगर हमने रूरल डेवलेपमेंट में ज्यादा पैसा लगाया है तो बहुत से गरीब लोगों को काम मिलेगा। यही हमारा उद्देश्य है । एक्सपोर्ट और इकोनोमिक कन्सैशन दिये हैं, ये किसी को खुश करने के लिये नहीं हैं। हमने एम्पलायमेंट को बढ़ावा देने के लिये कन्सैशन दिये हैं लेकिन फिर भी इस पर टीका हो रही है, यह बात ठीक नहीं है। अगर हमारी बात ठीक नहीं है तो मैं माननीय सदस्य पूछना चाहता हूं कि आप जिस जगह रूल करते हैं, उस जगह आप क्या करते हैं?एम्पलायमेंट को बढ़ावा देने के लिये आपको कुछ न कुछ करना पड़ेगा।…( व्यवधान)
MADAM SPEAKER: Please take your seat. Let him reply.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI GURUDAS DASGUPTA : Mr. Minister, I compliment you for your intelligence and wisdom.
श्री मल्लिकार्जुन खरगे : जब ये मुझ पर हमला करते हैं तो मैं चुप बैठता हूं और जब मैं करना शुरु करता हूं तो? आप सभी लोग यह भी जानते हैं कि …( व्यवधान)
अध्यक्ष महोदया : आप मंत्री महोदय की बात में क्यों बाधा डालते हैं?
… (Interruptions)
MADAM SPEAKER: No. You have had your turn. Please take your seat. Nothing will go on record except the hon. Minister’s reply.
(Interruptions) … *
श्री मल्लिकार्जुन खरगे : अध्यक्ष महोदया, आप सभी जानते हैं कि सारी दुनिया में इकोनोमिक रिसैशन है और नेचुरली इसका इम्पैक्ट थोड़ा-बहुत हमारे देश पर भी पड़ा है। आप सब को मालूम है कि आई.एल.ओ. में सारे देश, चीन जैसा देश भी यह कह रहा था कि हमारे यहां भी अनएम्पलायमेंट बढ़ रही है और वह यह भी जानता है कि हर जगह यही प्राब्लम है। लेकिन भारत में जितना घटना चाहिये था, वह नहीं हुआ। इसलिये कि यहां के प्रधानमंत्री जी ने और फाइनैंस मिनिस्टर जी ने जो स्टैप्स लिये, उनकी वजह से यहां अनएम्पलायमेंट को रोक दिया है। मैं यह नहीं कहता कि पूरी तरह से रोक दिया है। We have stopped it to some extent and we have been successful compared with other countries. अगर भारत के बारे में विचार किया जाये तो एम्पलायमेंट जनरेशन के बारे में या जो एम्पलायमेंटखोए हुये हों तो यहां की स्थिति काफी कुछ ठीक है, अच्छी है। इसके अलावा हमें बहुत कुछ करना है। मैं यह नहीं कहता कि नहीं हुआ लेकिन बहुत कुछ करना है। हमने जो काम किये हैं, कम से कम उनकी तारीफ तो करें .या कम से कम एक-दो अच्छे शब्द बोलिये।
इसलिये, मैं ज्यादा लम्बी बहस में न जाकर इतना ही कहना चाहता हूं कि माननीय सदस्यों ने पूछा है कि हमने क्या एक्शन लिया? हमने कहा कि पहला स्टिमुलस पैकेज, दूसरा स्टिमुलस पैकेज और तीसरा स्टिमुलस पैकेज और बजट 2009-10में स्टिमुलस पैकेज। उसके बाद…( व्यवधान)
MADAM SPEAKER: Please have some patience.
श्री मल्लिकार्जुन खरगे : यह हमारी सरकार का कार्यक्रम है।
13.00 hrs
महोदया, उदाहरण के तौर पर अगर इस मुल्क में 10लाख मकान बन रहे हैं तो क्या उसमें वर्कर्स को काम नहीं मिलता है। जब रूरल डवलपमेंट में 144परसेंटेज इंक्रीज हुआ, मोर दैन 39 हजार करोड़ की बढ़त हुई, तो क्या यह नहीं होता है। उसी तरह से जब ब्रिज, रोड आदि बनते हैं, तो वर्कर्स को काम मिलता है। ऐसी कई चीजें हैं, दूसरी चीज जो हमने रिलीफ मेजर्स किये हैं, मैंने पहले भी बोला है और अभी भी यह कहता हूं कि रिलीफ मेजर्स हमने दिये हैं, वे जनहित में दिये हैं। हम किसी एम्पलायर को खुश करने के लिए नहीं बोल रहे हैं, यह क्लियर बात है। इसीलिए मैं ज्यादा कुछ नहीं बोलूंगा। आज लेबर डिपार्टमेंट के पास बहुत से कार्यक्रम हैं, माइग्रेंट वर्कर्स के लिए सम्पत जी ने पूछा। माइग्रेट वेलफेयर एक्ट के मुताबिक हमें जो कुछ करना चाहिए, उसके बारे में हमें जो सोचना चाहिए, वह हम जरूर सोचेंगे। जो चीजें हमने यहां बतायी हैं, खासकर आचार्य जी को भी मालूम है, गुरूदास गुप्ता जी को भी मालूम है। फरवरी में इंडियन लेबर कॉफ्रेंस में बहुत सी बातें मानकर चले हैं और उसी के मुताबिक गवर्नमेंट आज काम कर रही है। इसके बावजूद कह रहे हैं कि हमें पूछा नहीं है, हमें इनवॉल्व नहीं किया है, यह ठीक नहीं है। फरवरी की मीटिंग में आप भी थे, ट्रेड यूनियन के लोग भी थे, और दूसरे लोग भी थे। जो कुछ भी यह गवर्नमेंट करेगी वह लोगों के हित में, वर्कर्स के हित में करेगी। इसमें कोई संदेह नहीं है और हम वर्कर्स का पक्ष ही लेंगे। इसके लिए हम बहुत सी स्कीम्स लाये हैं, और भी स्कीम्स लाएंगे और अगर इनमें कुछ खामियां हैं तो मैं उन्हें स्वीकार करने के लिए तैयार हूं क्योंकि यह लेबर का प्रश्न है। लेबर वैलफेयर के लिए आप जो कुछ भी हमारे सामने अच्छे सुझाव रखेंगे, उनका मैं स्वागत करूंगा। यह कहते हुए मैं अपनी बात समाप्त करता हूं।
SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA : Madam Speaker, workers are committing suicide. We are not satisfied with the hon. Minster’s reply. So we are walking out in protest.
13.03 hrs
(At this stage, Shri Basu Deb Acharia and some other
hon. Members left the House.)