(Mr. Speaker in the Chair)
Title: Regarding massacre of persons by armed militants in Anantnag district, Jammu and Kashmir
MR. SPEAKER: As the hon. Members are aware, 35 persons were massacred by heavily armed militants on the intervening night of 20th/21st March, 2000 in Chittisinghpora village, Anantnag District, Jammu and Kashmir.
We deeply mourn the loss of lives and the House may place on record its deep sense of grief on this tragedy.
Members may now stand in silence for a short while as a mark of respect to the memory of the departed souls.
11.01 hrs.
The Members then stood in silence for a short while
——-
डॉ. रघुवंश प्रसाद सिंह (वैशाली) : अध्यक्ष महोदय, अंधेर हो रही है। संसद सदस्यों के बिजली, पानी की लाइन काट दी गई है। आपके यहां बैठक हुई थी जिसमें यह तय हुआ था कि किसी हालत में बिजली पानी की लाइन नहीं काटी जाएगी। आज तक के इतिहास में बिजली पानी की लाइन नहीं काटी गई है। चलते सत्र में सदस्यों की बिजली पानी की लाइन काट दी गई तो कैसे वह सदन में आने के लिए पढ़ेंगे, कैसे काम करेंगे?…( व्यवधान) नगरपालिका बिजली का बकाया होने पर सांसदों के भी कनेक्शन काट देती है लेकिन होटल ले मैरडियन को चलाने वाली कंपनी लाइसेंस फी अदा करने में बार बार डिले करती रही। उसकी बकाया राशि ११५ करोड़ रुपये है। सीएजी रिपोर्ट की है लेकिन माननीय सदस्यों की बिजली काट रहे हैं। …( व्यवधान) हम लोगों का मकान भाड़ा काटा जाता है, फर्नीचर भाड़ा भी काटा जाता है और अब बिजली भी काट दी है।…( व्यवधान)
MR. SPEAKER: I have received two or three notices, and also notices for Privilege Motion, on the same subject. They are under my consideration.
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Q.No. 361. Dr. M.P. Jaiswal.
… (Interruptions)
श्री मुलायम सिंह यादव (सम्भल) : अध्यक्ष महोदय, यह बहुत गंभीर मामला है। …( व्यवधान)
डॉ. रघुवंश प्रसाद सिंह : इसके लिए विशेषाधिकार का मामला लाया जाए और उस एन.डी.एम.सी. के चेयरमैन को …*
बुलाया जाए और पूछा जाए कि क्यों मैम्बर्स को क्यों इस तरह से हयूमलियेट किया जा रहा है।…( व्यवधान)
SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA (BANKURA): Sir, this is a very serious matter. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Q.No. 361. Dr. M.P. Jaiswal.
…( व्यवधान)
श्री मुलायम सिंह यादव : अध्यक्ष महोदय, हम दो बातें कहना चाहते है। एक तो सदस्यों की बिजली काटी जाती है और एक बिल ज्यादा भेजते हैं। हम पर ३,४०,००० रुपये का बिल भेजा है। लेकिन आप कहेंगे क
नेता होकर भी बिजली का बिल नहीं देते हैं, इसकी वजह से हमने ३,४०,००० रुपये का बिल तो स्वीकार
Expunged as ordered by the chair
ही कर लिया। लेकिन आप जांच करा लीजिए तो एक लाख रुपये से ज्यादा का बिल नहीं आ सकता लेकिन सांसदों पर तीन-.चार गुना ज्यादा बिल भेजते हैं और उसके बाद बिजली काटते हैं। बिजली कैसे काट सकते हैं?…( व्यवधान)
MR. SPEAKER: You can mention it in the `Zero Hour’. I have already received privilege notices on this issue.
श्री मुलायम सिंह यादव : यह बहुत गंभीर मामला है। अगर नौकरशाही चलाएंगे तो ठीक नहीं है। आप मुलायम सिंह को क्या समझाएंगे? नौकरशाह और पुलिस उद्योगपतियों से मिलकर बिजली खा गए। एक एक उद्योगपति पर करोड़ों रुपया बिजली का बकाया है पर उनकी बिजली नहीं काटी है। एक उद्योगपति का १७ करोड़ रुपया बकाया है और सदस्यों की बिजली आप काट रहे हैं। …( व्यवधान)
MR. SPEAKER: This is Question Hour. Please understand this.
श्री मुलायम सिंह यादव : यह सदस्यों के अपमान का सवाल है, यह सदस्यों के प्रविलेज का सवाल है। …( व्यवधान)
MR. SPEAKER: Shri Mulayam Singh Yadav, I have already received two-three notices on this issue. They are under my consideration. Please take your seat.
श्री मुलायम सिंह यादव : क्या उद्योगपतियों की बिजली काटी है? क्या नियम इसके लिए लाएं? आप कितनी बार कह चुके हैं और इसके लिए नियम लिखने हम जाएंगे। हमें बिजली चाहिए, पानी चाहिए।
MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, please do not disturb the Question Hour.
डॉ. रघुवंश प्रसाद सिंह : अध्यक्ष महोदय, कैसे सदन की कार्यवाही चलेगी?…( व्यवधान)
श्री विजय गोयल (चांदनी चौक) : अध्यक्ष महोदय, आप इस मामले को प्रश्नकाल के बाद उठाने की अनुमति दे दीजिए।
अध्यक्ष महोदय : ठीक है। आप ज़ीरो अवर में इस मामले को उठा सकते हैं।
श्री मदन लाल खुराना (दिल्ली सदर) : अध्यक्ष महोदय, रघुवंश जी ने अपने भाषण में गली-मोहल्ले की गाली दी है, वह कहीं रेकार्ड पर न चली जाए। उसको रेकार्ड से निकाल दिया जाए।…( व्यवधान)
अध्यक्ष महोदय : यह प्रश्न काल है। ऐसे कैसे आप बोल रहे है?
श्री मदन लाल खुराना : रघुवंश जी ने गली-मोहल्ले की भाषा में जिसको गाली कहते हैं, उसका प्रयोग किया है। उसको रेकार्ड से निकाल दिया जाए।…( व्यवधान)
MR. SPEAKER: If everybody raises issues like this in the Question Hour, how can the Questions be taken up? There is a procedure to follow. You can raise it in the `Zero Hour’.
SHRI VIJAY GOEL : Shri Madan Lal Khurana is speaking about the unparliamentary language used by the hon. Member.
THE MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS AND MINISTER OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI PRAMOD MAHAJAN): Sir, hon. Member Dr. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh was here before the assembling of the House. He was here till late last night when the sitting of the House continued up to 10 p.m. … (Interruptions)
SHRI S.S. PALANIMANICKAM (THANJAVUR): You are encouraging this practice by replying. Please realise it. We junior Members are very disappointed with what is going on here. Please allow the Question Hour to continue. We want to learn from the senior Members. They are lecturing like this everyday. This is not a correct practice. Please do not encourage this practice. … (Interruptions)
श्री मुलायम सिंह यादव : महाजन जी आप कहिये जो कहना है। ये कौन होते हैं रोकने वाले?…( व्यवधान)
MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, please take your seats.
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, please take your seats. You are disturbing the House like this again and again.
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Nothing will go on record except the Question Hour.
(Interruptions) …*
MR. SPEAKER: Q.No. 364. Shri Uttamrao Dhikale
* Not recorded.
श्री उत्तमराव ढिकले : अध्यक्ष महोदय, मेरा पहला सवाल है कि कितनी राशि ऐसी है जो बैंकों में पड़ी है और उस राशि पर हर साल कितना इंटरस्ट आता है? मुझे जो जानकारी मिली है, उसके हिसाब से ५० प्रतिशत राशि बैंकों में पड़ी रहती है। मैं पूछना चाहता हूं कि उस राशि पर आपको कितना इंटरस्ट प्राप्त होता है। आप हमें स्टेटवाइस जानकारी दें।
SHRI ARUN SHOURIE: Sir, there are two points. Firstly, of the total amount which has been released for the MPLAD scheme, almost Rs. 1,800 crore are lying unutilised. On this amount of Rs. 1,800 crore, the interest which has accrued is about Rs. 107 crore. I can give the year-wise statement.
SHRI UTTAMRAO DHIKALE : Could you please give us the State-wise figures?
SHRI ARUN SHOURI: The State-wise figures are also available. It will take a long time to read. But if you want, I can certainly read them out to you.
Sir, there is a utilisation table.… (Interruptions)
SHRI PAWAN KUMAR BANSAL : Sir, the State-wise figures should have come along with the written answer in the form of an annexure.… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Please do not disturb. Let him answer.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI PAWAN KUMAR BANSAL : When the hon. Minister gives his reply in written form, it is a general practice that all the relevant information is provided along with the written answer in the form of an annexure. But this is a new practice that we are now being confronted with… (Interruptions)…If any hon. Member seeks some information in the House, that information ought to be provided in the House itself.
SHRI ARUN SHOURIE: Let me just mention.… (Interruptions)
SHRI PAWAN KUMAR BANSAL : Mr. Speaker, Sir, please direct the Government to give correct answer in a right way in future.
SHRI ARUN SHOURIE: Sir, I will read out the figures… (Interruptions)…May I read out the figures?… (Interruptions)
SHRI PAWAN KUMAR BANSAL : Regarding MPLAD scheme, the funds are available with the respective district collectors.… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Let him reply.
SHRI PAWAN KUMAR BANSAL : Sir, this is a serious matter.… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Let him reply first.
SHRI PAWAN KUMAR BANSAL : Sir, this is a fundamental question.… (Interruptions)…That has been a practice for the last fifty years.… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Now, he is giving the State-wise figures. Please allow him to speak.
SHRI ARUN SHOURI: Sir, I will give the State-wise figures.
In Andhra Pradesh, from 1993 to 2000, the amount that has been released is Rs. 403.45 crore. The amount that has been sanctioned for which works have been sanctioend is Rs. 363.83 crore. The sanctioned amount is 90 per cent.
MR. SPEAKER: Mr. Minister, these figures could have come along with the written reply also.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI A.C. JOS : Sir, this is a very bad practice.… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: I am asking the Minister. You are disturbing me also. What is this?
SHRI A.C. JOS : This should have come along with the statement.… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: I am also asking the same thing to the hon. Minister. Please take your seats.
… (Interruptions)
श्री पवन कुमार बंसल : अध्यक्ष महोदय, पूरा रिप्लाई स्टेटमैंट के साथ आना चाहिए था।
…( व्यवधान)
श्री राजो सिंह : अध्यक्ष महोदय, मंत्री जी को जवाब तो देना चाहिए। …( व्यवधान)
जो प्रश्न पूछा गया था, उसका जवाब नहीं दिया गया। …( व्यवधान)
श्री तूफानी सरोज : आप स्टेटवाइस जानकारी सदन में बताये। …( व्यवधान) इस बारे में सभी जानना चाहते हैं। …( व्यवधान)
SHRI PAWAN KUMAR BANSAL : Sir, with your permission, I want to make a suggestion.
MR. SPEAKER: What is this? Let the hon. Minister reply
SHRI PAWAN KUMAR BANSAL : Sir, please direct the Minister to correct the answer. Let it come next time.… (Interruptions)
SHRI ARUN SHOURIE: Please, let me just explain.
SHRI PAWAN KUMAR BANSAL : Mr. Speaker, Sir, please direct the Minister to correct the answer. Let it come next week.
MR. SPEAKER: Let him reply.
SHRI PAWAN KUMAR BANSAL : He has given the reply. We have the reply before us but that is incomplete.
MR. SPEAKER: He has not completed his reply. Please understand.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI PAWAN KUMAR BANSAL :It is the most unsatisfactory reply… (Interruptions)
SHRI ARUN SHOURI: Sir, the question relates to the interest. The figure relating to that interest is not available State-wise. What we have State-wise is the amount that had been released, the amount for which works had been sanctioned and the amount which has been utilised. That figure is available State-wise. That is not asked for in the question.
The question was about the interest accruing to each amount. That is not available State-wise.
श्री राशिद अल्वी : अध्यक्ष महोदय, मेरा कहना यह है कि यह पोर्टफोलियो भी महाजन साहब
को दिलवा दिया जाए। ( व्यवधान)
SHRI UTTAMRAO DHIKALE : I want to ask a supplementary question… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Please take your seats.
THE MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS AND MINISTER OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI PRAMOD MAHAJAN): I have a request to make to the hon. Members. Everybody sitting here has an interest of asking a question. I would request more especially Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal to know that we could reach Q.No. 364 only because hon. Members who were to put Q.Nos. 361, 362 and 363 were not available. If you take it next week, then naturally one is not sure whether the first three people will be there or not and this question may not come. Thank God, it has come. Let us spend half-an-hour on it. Let us ask a question and get answer. … (Interruptions)
SHRI UTTAMRAO DHIKHALE : I want to ask a suppementary question. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Please take your seats.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI UTTAMRAO DHIKHALE : Please listen to me. I have a question. अध्यक्ष महोदय, मेरा दूसरा सवाल यह है कि क्या इस स्कीम की कोई समीक्षा की जाती है। यदि समीक्षा की जाती है तो उसकी डिटेल क्या है। समीक्षा के बाद अगर स्कीम अच्छी यह जानकारी मिलती है तो २ करोड राशि के बजाय क्या ५ करोड राशि देने की कुछ संभावना सरकार के सामने है ।
SHRI ARUN SHOURIE: As you know, the Comptroller and Auditor-General audited the scheme in 1998-99. He passed very severe strictures on the scheme and that report was laid on the Table of the House.
श्री पवन कुमार बंसल : अध्यक्ष महोदय, गलत जवाब दिया जा रहा है। ( व्यवधान) ऊपा हगू दी १९९७.
MR. SPEAKER: Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal, please listen to him. Please let him complete his reply.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI ARUN SHOURIE:The Auditor-General completed his Report for the year ending 1997. It is given there. It came to very adverse findings. These were brought to the attention of the Collectors, the State Governments and also the MPs.
Secondly, the Standing Committee on Finance had given a very strong recommendation at three places in its Report that there should be a sample survey to assess the effectiveness of the Scheme. Those are very strong strictures of the Standing Committee on Finance. For this reason, the Programme Evaluation Organisation of the Planning Commission has instituted a survey in randomly selected constituencies of 57 Members of this hon. House and 28 Members of the Rajya Sabha, in their nodal districts. In these cases, the collection of data was begun in March. It will be finished by June 2000 and the Report of the PEO, the Programme Evaluation Organisation, will be available by the end of the year.
Thirdly, after demands were raised in this august House that the amount should be raised, I am informed by the Comptroller and Auditor-General that he has instituted yet another study of the MPLADS, independent of the work being done by the Programme Evaluation Organisation. जो आपने समीक्षा की बात की, इसमें य़ह तीन चीजें हुई हैं।
The second point is of raising it from Rs.2 crore to Rs.4 crore or Rs.5 crore. Given the fact that already the unutilised amount … (Interruptions) Please see the seriousness of this matter. The unutilised amount, which means the amount that has been released from here but has not been utilised, is Rs.1,800 crore. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Mr. Minister, please complete your reply.
… (Interruptions)
अध्यक्ष महोदय : ऐसा नहीं करें, आप बैठ जाइये प्लीज़।
…( व्यवधान)
MR. SPEAKER: Please complete your answer.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI ARUN SHOURIE: Given the fiscal situation of the Central Government, these are borrowed funds and the Government is paying an interest of about Rs.200 crore on the released but unutilised amount. There are causes for this. The main cause, it seems, is the slow pace of implementation. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Let him complete his reply.
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: You can ask your Supplementary, but not disturb like this.
… (Interruptions)
श्री पवन कुमार बंसल : ये जवाब ही गलत दे रहे हैं। …( व्यवधान) जवाब गलत दिया जा रहा है।…( व्यवधान)
MR. SPEAKER: If you want you can ask a Supplementary.
SHRI ARUN SHOURIE: There is a difference. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: This is not a debate. Please understand.
SHRI ARUN SHOURIE: There is a difference. On the amounts released but not utilised, the Central Government pays interest because they come from the general finances. But on the MPs’ account , as I mentioned earlier, around Rs.107 crore have accrued as interest. You are not differentiating between the two.
The third point I would just like to bring to your attention is that there are, at the moment six writs pending in different High Courts.
MR. SPEAKER: Mr. Minister, please understand. It is almost 25 minutes now.
SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU : I will ask some clarifications.
SHRI ARUN SHOURIE: The constitutional validity of the scheme is under consideration in six different writs, filed in different High Courts and in the Supreme Court. … (Interruptions)
SHRI VAIKO : He is explaining the position. Why are you shouting? You are disturbing the House. … (Interruptions)
SHRI ARUN SHOURIE: At the moment, I can assure you that the view of the Government is that the amount will not be increased from Rs.2 crore to any other amount. … (Interruptions)
श्री प्रियरंजन दासमुंशी : हमें बोलने दिया जाये। आप बैठिये न। … (Interruptions)
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I have every sympathy to the distinguished hon. Minister who has more exposure to the Media in his professional journalism and who is not realising that professional journalism in the Media and articulation on the floor of Parliament are altogether two different things.
Anyway, I just want to know from the hon. Minister whether he would consider the fact that the MPs in their respective constituencies are not responsible for the backlog of the work, and it is the delay in releasing the funds and the non-cooperation of the Collectors in most of the places, which are holding up the whole thing. … (Interruptions)
SHRI VAIKO : MPs are also equally responsible for that. Please understand that.
SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI : Will the Minister give a categorical direction to the Collectors so that there would be bi-monthly meeting with the MPs on a fixed agenda on the programme; secondly, the Collectors would invite officials for those meetings to be present before the MPs, to discuss about the implementation of the programme? The passbooks should also be given to the MPs so that the MPs would understand how much money has been spent and how much interest has accrued, etc. and monitor the whole thing.
SHRI ARUN SHOURIE: The hon. Member has made two very important suggestions, firstly on the release of funds and secondly on the question of implementation by the Collectors. I will give the facts.
On the release of funds, we give a statement each to the hon. Speaker’s Office, to the Chairman’s Office and to the Library also every Monday morning showing the amount that has been released for each MP. We place that statement there. … (Interruptions) It is a thick book; you can see it in the Library. It is there. … (Interruptions) I am trying to assist you. Every single Member of Parliament is informed both at his address in Delhi and at his address in his Constituency. … (Interruptions)
SOME HON. MEMBERS: No. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: If the House agrees, we can have a half-an-hour discussion on this. Mr. Minister, do you have any objection?
SHRI ARUN SHOURIE: No. We can have it.
(ends)
SHRI SUBODH MOHITE Sir, I got the reply for the question that I asked. I have gone through the details given in the written reply. It is stated that incentives have been given to farmers for production. The question that I am going to ask is a very serious one. Food grains sector is important for two categories of people, viz. one is the farmer, and the other is the people who are living below the poverty line.
MR. SPEAKER: Shri Subodh Mohite, you need not give all these explanations. Ask the supplementary question. The Minister will give the reply.
SHRI SUBODH MOHITE : Whenever there is surplus of food grains, it should be exported immediately. Likewise, whenever there is deficit, people who are living below the poverty line should get food grains at reasonable prices and reasonable quantity.
Is there any Response Time System to control and balance all these surpluses and deficits? I would like to cite the example of FACT. When the FACT was facing deficit, it took four months to import the commodities. In the meantime, the price of onions went up. So, my question is this. Is there any Response Time System to balance the surplus and deficit of foodgrains?
SHRI S.B.P.B.K. SATYANARAYANA RAO: Sir, the question relates neither to production nor to consumption. It is for the Commerce Ministry to answer.
SHRI SUBODH MOHITE : Sir, my question has not been answered.
MR. SPEAKER: The Minister has stated that the question relates to the Ministry of Commerce.
Now, what is your supplementary question?
SHRI SUBODH MOHITE : My supplementary question is this. What is the system of balancing surplus and deficit of the food grains?
SHRI S.B.P.B.K. SATYANARAYANA RAO: Sir, I have already stated that the matter relates to the Ministry of Commerce. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: The Minister is giving the reply. Please sit down.
SHRI S.B.P.B.K. SATYANARAYANA RAO: Sir, the job of my Ministry is to produce and supply the food grains. If there is any surplus, we cannot export the food grains. So, it is for the Commerce Ministry to export or restrict imports as the case may be.
Actually, there was no difficulty. Cereals were sufficient. While our rice and wheat production was more, the production of pulses was less. I have given a statement to that effect.
SHRI SHIVRAJ V. PATIL : The population of our country is growing by leaps and bounds. The food production has come down. The rate of growth of food production has come down to 0.8 per cent. Enough funds are not provided for constructing the irrigation dams. The funds provided are not being utilised properly. The agricultural credit facility is also not reaching the farmers. The Government provides that 18 per cent of the loan given by the banks should go to the agriculturists. We have the figures which show that only 8 per cent of the loan given is reaching the farmers. Enough funds are not being utilised on research and development in agriculture. In view of these facts, what is it that the Government is going to do to see that enough food-grains are produced and they are made available to the people in the country? The people should get the required quantity which each individual, each citizen, in the country should get. We would like to know from the Government what plan do they have and in what fashion they want to achieve this objective.
SHRI S.B.P.B.K. SATYANARAYANA RAO: The foodgrains’ requirement is 195 million tonnes. Against this requirement, the actual production this year is 200 million tonnes. So, there is no shortfall. The estimated target of production was 210 million tonnes. There is a shortfall in that by 8 tonnes and odd and it is due to the climatic conditions and severe cyclone in Orissa. We have sufficient foodgrains. The deficiency is only in pulses and oilseeds. Some oil is being imported. There is also the factor of minimum price in that. The production of pulses has come down because of the drought condition in some parts of the country.
As far as evolving a scheme is concerned, we are giving all attention to it. Whatever assistance the State Government asks, we are giving them.
MR. SPEAKER: For augmenting the foodgrains production,what steps the Government is taking?
SHRI S.B.P.B.K. SATYANARAYANA RAO: To increase production and productivity of foodgrains in the country, the Government is implementing Centrally-sponsored integrated Cereal Development Programmes in rice, wheat and coarse cereals. Based Cropping System Area, National Pulses Development Project, etc. Under these programmes, incentives are provided to the farmers for use of high-yielding varieties of seeds.… (Interruptions)
SHRI RAMESH CHENNITHALA : In the written reply, that answer has already been given by the Minister. Why is he reading it again?
SHRI S.B.P.B.K. SATYANARAYANA RAO: Research is also being done. There is no shortfall.
SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA : Sir, there has been less production in all respects except rice where the production has been more by only 2.55 million tonnes. There has been a reduction in the availability of food grains also. The per capita availability of foodgrains in 1997 was 509.3 grams and it came down to 450.4 grams in the year 1998. He has compared it with 1998 but not with 1997. I would like to know whether it is a fact that there has been less production of food grains due to deceleration in the consumption of fertilisers because a number of urea production units have been closed down, and the price of fertiliser has been increased.
SHRI S.B.P.B.K. SATYANARAYANA RAO: Sir, the price of fertiliser has been increased only recently which has no effect on that. Actually the production has come down only in cereals because of the drought conditions prevailing especially in Rajasthan where the oilseeds and pulses are produced. Agriculture is not only dependent on Government support but it is also dependent on natural conditions. The natural conditions also help the farmers to increase the production. Actually, we have no shortfall in cereals but we have surplus stock.
As regards pulses, we are taking proper action and we will become self-sufficient in regard to pulses also… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: He has already replied that it is not due to fertiliser price rise.
श्री साहिब सिंह : अध्यक्ष महोदय, उत्पादन बढ़ाने के लिए दो चीजों की आवश्यकता होती है – पहली, इस बात की आवश्यकता होती है कि किसानों को लाभकारी मूल्य मिले, ताकि किसान फसल ज्यादा पैदा करे और दूसरी, एवेयरनैस की, जिसके लिए कृषि चैनल्स की आवश्यकता है। मैं सरकार से जानना चाहता हूं, क्या सरकार ने इन चीजों की ओर ध्यान दिया है, जिससे किसान ज्यादा पैदावार करें ? लाभकारी मूल्य मिलेगा, तो किसान ज्यादा पैदावार करेगा और साथ ही कृषि चैनल्स के माध्यम से वभिन्न कार्यक्रमों के द्वारा किसान एवेयर होंगे कि कौन सी बीमारी में कौन सी दवाई डाली जाए, जिससे फसल बरबाद न हो। फसल बरबाद होने से किसान को ही नुकसान नहीं होता है, देश को भी नुकसान होता है। मैं सरकार से जानना चाहता हूं, क्या सरकार ने इस ओर ध्यान दिया है ?
SHRI S.B.P.B.K. SATYANARAYANA RAO: Sir, the Government has advised the farmers to go in for commercial crops which are needed in the market. But sometimes the farmers may take up their own farming. Even then we step in to buy their crops at a Minimum Support Price. We always try to help the farmers. We are making the farmers to be always attentive during cultivation.
श्री मुलायम सिंह यादव : महोदय, मंत्री जी कह रहे है कि प्राकृतिक आपदाओं के कारण पैदावार घटती और बढ़ती है। पैदावार घटती है, तो प्रकृति जिम्मेदार है और पैदावार बढ़ती है, तो सरकार जिम्मेदार होती है। यह आपका ही कहना नहीं है, अब तक जितनी भी सरकारें आई हैं, उन सभी का भी यही कहना था। मैं चाहता हूं कि इस परम्परा को बन्द किया जाए।
दूसरी बात, मंत्री महोदय ने कहा है कि उड़ीसा में आए तूफान की वजह से पैदावार पर असर पड़ा है। यह तो प्रतिवर्ष होता है, कहीं बाढ़ आती है, कहीं सूखाड़ होता है और कहीं पर तूफान आता है। क्या इसको रोकने के लिए, बाढ़ को रोकने या कभी …
MR. SPEAKER: Your question is whether the Government is taking any steps to control natural calamities.
श्री मुलायम सिंह यादव : अध्यक्ष महोदय, आप ठीक कह रहे हैं। एक बार एक रिपोर्ट आई थी। एक अंग्रेज ने भी सर्वे कराया था।
जब बाढ़ आएगी तो पानी का निकास हो जाएगा और सूखा पड़ेगा तो किसानों को पानी मिलेगा। अगर इस तरह की कोई रिपोर्ट हो, हम पता नहीं लगा पाए, यह सही है, अगर सरकार पता लगाए तो उस पर आप क्या अमल करेंगे। दूसरी बात यह है कि वहां उड़ीसा और आंध्राा में तूफान आया था, लेकिन जहां तूफान ही नहीं आया और बाढ़ भी भारी नहीं आई, क्या उस सूबे में उत्पादन बढ़ा है? मैं उत्तर प्रदेश का आपको उदाहरण बताता हूं, आप बताइए उत्तर प्रदेश में इन दो वर्षों में उत्पादन बढ़ा है या घटा है और यदि घटा है तो उसके क्या कारण हैं? आप यह कह कर जिम्मेदारी से नहीं हट सकते कि उड़ीसा में, आंध्राा में हुआ है, यह सही है लेकिन जिन सूबों में तूफान नहीं आया और कुछ वे इलाकें हैं जहां बाढ़ भी नहीं आई तो वे क्या कारण हैं जिनकी वजह से किसानों का उत्पादन घटा है, यह मंत्री जी बताने की कृपा करें।
SHRI S.B.P.B.K. SATYANARAYANA RAO: In Uttar Pradesh the situation is not alarming. It has not come down; it is being maintained. The hon. Member says that the Government should not take credit for increase in production. The Indian farmer is very attentive. Whatever increase in the foodgrains production is there, the credit goes to him first. We have to honour the farmer for all the trouble that he is taking. Climate has to help him. The Government is supporting him and giving him the new methods of farming, oil seeds and fertilizers. Subsidies were also there so far.
In Uttar Pradesh the situation is not alarming. There is no cyclone or flood in the State so far. As compared to last year, the climatic conditions are more or less bad this year. Last year the climatic conditions were very good. There is a saying in agricultural communities that we have to average the things for five years. In five years time any climatic change may take place. So, the average income of the farmer has to be calculated for five years. That is the saying among all the village communities. So, we have to see the conditions of the last five years. Last year the climatic conditions were very good.
MR. SPEAKER: Mr. Minister, in view of the natural calamities, is the Government having any permanent solution in mind?
SHRI S.B.P.B.K. SATYANARAYANA RAO: About the natural calamities, the Government takes prompt action. As soon as a State Government sends its report, we are sending our experts team and they recommend the assistance. We give money in the proportion of 75:25. We have already sent it to all the States. Some are still pending and they will be dealt with immediately.
PROF. UMMAREDDY VENKATESHWARLU : We heard a statement from the hon. Minister that there is no shortfall of foodgrains in the country. He has given figures that as against the requirement of 195 million tonnes, the production in the country is 201 million tonnes. I am quite sure that there is no coordination among different Ministries in giving answers being asked in Parliament. Last month, there was a question which had been categorically answered that about seven to ten per cent of foodgrains that have been produced in this country were being wasted in the storage. Even if it is taken for granted that the production of foodgrains is 201 million tonnes, if you deduct the loss in the storage at the rate of seven per cent, the net available quantity for consumption is only about 186 million tonnes. As against that, the hon. Minister has told that 195 million tonnes is required. What is the basis of this calculation? Is it based on the total nutrition that is required per head per day? What is the basis for calculating 195 million tonnes as the requirement?
Sir, 39 per cent of the population in this country do not have adequate accessibility to foodgrains. This is a serious and important situation. How are they giving this calculation? What is the basis of this calculation?
MR. SPEAKER: You can straightaway ask the Minister as to what is the basis of this calculation. The Minister will give all the details.
PROF. UMMAREDDY VENKATESHWARLU : He said that 195 million tonnes are required. Again, you look at the figures that have been given. You may find that the per capita availability of foodgrains has fallen down.
MR. SPEAKER: On the one side you are saying that the Minister is reading the statement and on the other side, you are also doing the same thing.
PROF. UMMAREDDY VENKATESHWARLU : I am trying to draw the attention of the Minister to the fact that the availability of foodgrains has fallen down from 509 grams per day per head to 470 grams. Is it not a serious situation? Actually, the lacuna lies in the defective seeds, adulterated seeds and pesticides, inadequate application of fertilisers, inadequate supply of credit. These are all the areas which have to be addressed in a collective manner. He has said that 195 million tonnes is the requirement of the nation. It is a self-deceiving figure. I would like to ask the Minister as to whether he is going to amend the Seeds Act and Pesticides Act and also withdraw the hike in the prices of fertilisers so that higher quantity of fertilisers can be obtained. What is the basis of the calculation of 195 million of foodgrains requirement?
SHRI S.B.P.B.K. SATYANARAYANA RAO: Sir, the foodgrains required for consumption is 165 million tonnes. The foodgrains required for seed production and to meet the wastage comes to 33 million tonnes. So, the total is 198 million tonnes. We have a production of 200 million tonnes and the surplus is 3 million tonnes which is available now. So, based on the calculation given by the National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, it is 185 million tonnes per year.
श्री थावरचन्द गेहलोत : महोदय, मैं मंत्री जी से जानना चाहता हूं कि पिछले वर्ष जो समर्थन मूल्य घोषित किया था, उसमें एफएक्यू के कारण जो समर्थन मूल्य घोषित किया गया था, उस पर कहीं भी सोयाबीन और गेहूं नहीं खरीदा गया। मैं जानना चाहता हूं कि क्या भविष्य में गुणवत्ता के आधार पर ए-ग्रेड का अनाज समर्थन मूल्य पर खरीदेंगे और उसके बाद बी-श्रेणी का जो अनाज है उसके लिए भी कोई समर्थन मूल्य घोषित करेंगे, क्योंकि यह समर्थन मूल्य घोषित न होने के कारण पिछले वर्ष किसानों का भारी शोषण हुआ।
SHRI S.B.P.B.K. SATYANARAYANA RAO: Sir, last year, the announcement of the support price was a bit delayed due to elections and all that and so, we could not take immediate action. I assure the hon. Members that in future, the support price will be announced in time.
श्री थावरचन्द गेहलोत : महोदय, मैंने प्रश्न किया था कि वर्तमान में केवल ए-ग्रेड के लिए समर्थन मूल्य घोषित होता है और जो एजेंसियां खरीदती हैं वे छोटी-मोटी खामी बताकर, जो अच्छी क्वालिटी का अनाज होता है उसे भी समर्थन मूल्य पर नहीं खरीदतीं।
तो क्या दो प्रकार की श्रेणियां घोषित करके समर्थन मूल्य घोषित करेंगे। मान लो कि ” ए” ग्रेड का ५५० रुपये हो तो ” बी” ग्रेड का या जनरल ५२५ रुपये होगा। क्या इस प्रकार की दो श्रेणियां घोषित करेंगे, ताकि समर्थन मूल्य का उद्देश्य पूरा हो सके और कृषकों का शोषण न हो। यह मेरा प्रश्न है।
SHRI S.B.P.B.K. SATYANARAYANA RAO: There are two grades mostly in respect of rice.… (Interruptions)
SHRI THAWAR CHAND GHELOT : It is not only for rice but also for everything.
SHRI S.B.P.B.K. SATYANARAYANA RAO: The price for the second grade is announced whenever there is a need. Actually, we are making the price equal. But the benefit is not going to the farmers. We will see to it that in future the farmers get the benefit whenever there is any increase in respect of ‘B’ grade variety.… (Interruptions)
SHRIMATI RENUKA CHOWDHURY : I wish to know from the hon. Minister if his Ministry has understood the fact that the fall in foodgrains production is due to the changes in the crop pattern, and more and more farmers are opting for cash crops because they get a higher return in respect of the cash crops vis-à-vis food crops. There are no incentives given to the farmers who cultivate food crops. To add to their burden, there is no special intervention by this Ministry when the foodgrains farmers in the entire country are suffering due to extreme drought conditions, hike in pesticides rates, hike in freight rates, hike in electricity rates for the small farmers, and due to the peculiar State Government policies which want to put meters on the motors. There is non-availability of power to the small farmers. There is also no incentive to them. I would like to know from the hon. Minister if he has conducted a study in order to find out how many of our foodgrains farmers have now adopted cash crop production in our country.
SHRI S.B.P.B.K. SATYANARAYANA RAO: Actually, the hon. Member is enamoured of the commercial crops. In fact, the farmers are having a lot of difficulties in disposing of commercial crops. We see this about tobacco, chillies, cotton, maize and all those things.
About food crops, the market is steady. Of course, the prices may vary a little bit from Rs.40 to Rs.50. That is all. The steady income is only in respect of food crops.
About the scarcity of electricity and all these things, they are dealt with by the State Governments. These will be looked into by the State Governments.… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Today, the Treasury Benches and the Opposition Benches are giving a lot of trouble to the Chair also.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI S.B.P.B.K. SATYANARAYANA RAO: Food crop is safe for cultivation. Where there is no regular water supply, people go in for commercial crops. Whenever water is fully supplied, they convert it into food crops.… (Interruptions)
SHRIMATI RENUKA CHOWDHURY : Floriculture and aromatic plant cultivation has increased and multiplied.… (Interruptions)
SHRI BIKRAM KESHARI DEO : Mr. Speaker, Sir, as Q. Nos. 365 and 367 are co-related, I would like to put a common question in this regard. When will the Government come up with the new Agricultural Policy for the country which will eventually go and help the farmers? I would like to know about this first. Secondly, excessive use of the terminator seed has spoiled production of foodgrains. Thirdly, regarding procurement of paddy, in Orissa, today in respect of the swarna paddy variety, which is a fine variety, the Food Corporation of India is procuring this variety at the rate given to coarse varieties. Will the hon. Minister inquire into this matter?
12.00 hrs.
SHRI S.B.P.B.K. SATYANARAYANA RAO: We are aware of it. We are not allowing the import of terminated seeds.
We have formulated a National Agricultural Policy. It will be submitted to the Cabinet and then the same will be placed before the Parliament.
SHRI MANI SHANKAR AIYAR : Mr. Speaker, Sir, in view of the fact that the hon. Minister has told us that foodgrains production has not reached the target they had set for it; in view of the fact that there has been a decline in the per capita availability of foodgrains; and in view of the assurance the hon. Minister has given to this House that the Government gives incentives to farmers, I want to know as to whether the hon. Minister considers a 15 per cent reduction in the fertilizer subsidy as an incentive to the farmers.
MR. SPEAKER: This question relates to the minimum support price for the agricultural crop.
SHRI MANI SHANKAR AIYAR (MAYILADUTURAI): Mr. Speaker, Sir, you permitted the previous speaker to link Q. Nos. 365 to 367. In exactly the same way, I am asking as to whether the reduction in the fertilizer subsidy constitute an incentive to the farmers.
SHRI S.B.P.B.K. SATYANARAYANA RAO: Sometimes the minimum prices may be fixed at a lower rate. If there is a need, the Government gives more price. We have done it. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Is there any incentive to the farmers?
… (Interruptions)
SHRI S.B.P.B.K. SATYANARAYANA RAO: We have done it in the case of paddy and rice. … (Interruptions)
SHRI E. AHAMED : Very good. The Government is hiking the prices as an incentive to the farmers! … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: The Question Hour is over.