Lok Sabha Debates
Discussion On The Supplementary Demands For Grants In Respect Of Budget ... on 8 August, 2006
an> Title : Discussion on the Supplementary Demands for Grants in respect of Budget (General) for 2006-07.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER : Now we will take up Item No. 10 – Supplementary Demands for Grants (General) 2006-2007.
“That the respective supplementary sums not exceeding the amounts on Revenue Account and Capital Account shown in the third column of the Order Paper be granted to the President of India, out of the Consolidated Fund of India, to defray the charges that will come in course of payment during the year ending the 31st day of March, 2007, in respect of the heads of Demands entered in the second column thereof against Demand Nos. 1 to 3, 5 to 8, 11, 17 to 19, 30, 31, 33, 35, 41, 44 to 48, 52 to 54, 56, 61, 64, 69, 70, 78, 84, 85, 91, 94, 99, 100 and 102 to 105.” THE MINISTER OF FINANCE (SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM): Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, I seek authorisation for gross additional expenditure of Rs. 47,868.97 crore of which the cash outgo will only be Rs. 8,667.95 crore. The technical supplementaries are being requested for Rs. 39,200.66 crore. Sir, of the total cash outgo of Rs. 8,667.95 crore, an amount of Rs. 5,859 crore, that is 68 per cent of the total cash outgo is for transfers to State and Union Territory Governments mainly for assistance to their Plans and for compensation for revenue loss due to the introduction of VAT, for earthquake relief to Jammu and Kashmir and for compensation to victims of the 1984 riots. I am sure, hon. Members will welcome the additional funds that are being provided to the State Governments. The other single major item of additionality is Rs. 1,500 crore for subsidy on fertilisers, mainly on account of increase in prices of imported fertilisers.
Sir, the cash outgo being sought in the first batch of Supplementary Demands will, to my view, not impact the fiscal deficit targeted in the Budget Estimates as the additionality is likely to be offset by savings arising during the course of the Financial Year as has been the case in the previous years. Government is committed to take all possible steps to ensure that the total expenditure for the year remains within the Budget Estimates approved by Parliament. Government is also committed to adhere to a fiscal deficit and revenue deficit.
Sir, I would request the House to take up the Supplementary Demands for consideration and pass the same.
SHRI K.S. RAO (ELURU): Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, I am happy that when the hon. Minister has come for Supplementary Demands for Grants, he is assuring that everything that he is asking today will be within the Budget Estimates only. He said today that out of Rs. 57,868 crore, only Rs. 8,667 crore is going as cash outgo and all the rest is within the extra recovery or the Budget provision. The most important thing is that he categorically assured that even that would be recovered in the course of time before the end of this Financial Year. That means there will not be anything extra, the fiscal deficit will remain as what he has promised during the Budget Session. This is an important thing and I am happy on this and I congratulate him.
Sir, when I went through how he is directing his cash flow, I felt very happy to see that much of it is for helping the farming community and the rural people. He said that out of Rs. 5,800 crore, an amount of Rs. 4,500 crore is going only to support the State plans[krr25] .
That is acceptable to everybody irrespective of their party alliances. He is giving a subsidy to the fertiliser industry. We all agree, in whichever Government it is, that it is the farmer who is suffering all the time. We have discussed, time and again, about suicides committed by the farmers. Unless we go to their rescue to help them against inflation leading to increase in prices of the fertilisers, they will not be able to cope up with this. Naturally, it is a necessity and I am happy that he is going to the rescue of the farmers by supplying fertilisers to them at the same price or at a marginally higher price by giving subsidy against increased prices of fertilisers which have been imported from outside.
Above all, we all know that no marginal farmer with 2,3 or 5 acres can ever live on that income. He has to have some supplementary income either from poultry, dairy or something else. Many of the families, for that matter, including the BPL families are living on the supplementary income which is coming not out of farming but out of other operations. Here, we all know that in the recent past, the entire poultry industry has come to a standstill. Many of them are on the stage of closing their farms because the sudden outbreak of Avian Flu has led to total closure as there are no sales at all. A chicken used to be sold at Rs. 40 to Rs. 50 per kilogram. Now, they are forced to give it free or at a marginal price of Rs. 5. So, we can understand the pathetic conditions the poultry farming community in this country is.
In fact, we made a representation to the Finance Minister as well as the Prime Minister to go to their rescue because they are doing a service in a way; they are not making any money. Sir, if you go into details, you will come to know that an egg weighs about 60 grams and 15 or 16 eggs make about a kilogram. He is selling it between Rs. 16 and Rs. 20. That means, at Rs. 20 per kilogram, solid food rich in protein is coming to the poor man also whereas mutton is being sold at Rs. 180 per kilogram. Even vegetables are being sold at Rs. 30 per kilogram. When one purchases vegetables, 30 to 50 per cent of them go waste. It means that today the best available food in the country is egg which is rich in protein. So, it is the duty of the Government to encourage poultry farming. Lot of people who are living on that are only in villages, depending on this single activity. They are the poor families. So, I really congratulate him for going to the rescue of the poultry farming community.
My humble request to him is that apart from waiving interest of the poultry farming community, there is one more thing which needs to be done. They are also short of maize today. We are not asking for thousands of crores of rupees; we are asking for Rs. 100 crore only for the entire poultry farming community. If he provides Rs. 100 crore to the poultry farming community in subsidising the supply of maize to them, that activity will be revived and lakhs of families in the rural areas will also be able to survive.
Similarly, there is a provision of Rs. 1,500 crore which he has made for VAT compensation and Rs. 100 crore for Maulana Azad Education Foundation. Definitely, all these things are acceptable and will be appreciated by everybody.
He is giving Rs. 300 crore for making additional expenditure on technology upgradation. That is the most important thing today. The country is suffering because the entire R&D is done in Western countries and they are charging exorbitant amounts from us for transferring the technology. If they had to spend Rs. 100 crore, they are charging Rs. 1,000 crore or Rs. 2,000 crore for that. They are utilising our own people. Our NRIs are doing these jobs in the Western countries. Today, there is thinking on the part of the multinationals to start the same research in this country, employing our technological manpower and intelligentsia to make that R&D at a lesser cost to them, and reap the benefits by selling it to the third world.
In this connection, I just want to bring to the notice of the hon. Minister that NRIs have got $ 3 trillion, that is, $ 3,000 billion with them. If he can find a way to attract the NRIs to invest in this country, we can grow by leaps and bounds. The total investment in this country by NRIs till today might be about $ 8 billion whereas in China, it is more than $ 80 billion[S26] .
The Non-Resident Chinese are running to invest in China, but the Non-Resident Indians are not that enthusiastic about the same. Therefore, it is our duty to find out ways to come out with schemes to encourage the same. We do not lose anything by doing this. Tomorrow, they will come and invest not only their money, but they will also attract technology from there. They will utilise their brain here for this country, and they will also borrow money from international organisations at a lesser rate of interest and invest here. All these measures are going to help us in several ways. Therefore, I want the hon. Minister to think about this too.
Thirdly, we have got foreign exchange worth about US $ 150 billion, which we are not using for any useful purpose. Today, they are being put in the American treasury or somewhere. Further, the interest that we are paying on the deposits kept by NRIs or others in this country is more than what we are getting on the same by depositing it in the US treasury. It means that though we are saying to the entire world that we have got US $ 150 billion of foreign exchange reserves, but we are losing on that account also.
Earlier, a suggestion was made to utilise this foreign exchange reserve for building infrastructure in this country. Someone might say that we might not get that back in dollar form in case of any need. All right, do not use it for that purpose. But our corporate sector or public sector undertakings -- like ONGC Videsh or other oil companies or some other industry or sector -- can go and invest in Africa, Asia, Gulf, etc., and reap lots of benefits. Our corporate sector can earn more than 30 per cent there. They can pay money, and they can get dividends not only for this country, but also get dividends for themselves. They could also secure employment for the people of our country.
Actually, if you were to lend about US $ 30 billion to the public sector undertakings or the Indian corporate sector to invest outside, then it is not necessary that all of US $ 30 billion need to go outside. I am saying this because we are going to send our own material. It would mean that we are creating a market for our products; we are creating employment for our own people; and we are creating awareness or exposure for our corporate sector to work outside. If ONGC Videsh were to be given US $ 10 billion, then they could participate in the bidding of blocks outside the country, and they could get oil at a lesser price towards their share. In this way, we can reduce the imports, and we can reduce the foreign exchange required for import of oil. There are several benefits of doing it, and I want the hon. Minister to give a thought to it.
Finally, I would like to state that we have to take care of the poorer sections of the society. He has been providing so many things to so many people. The education, which is being provided, is excellent to minimise the dropout ratio among school children, particularly, from the poorer sections of the society. I am saying this because the children were not getting employment even after completing their schooling. Therefore, they used to stop sending their children because they felt that it was a waste of time and energy to send their children to the schools, as they do not get employment even after completing BA, MA, etc. Hence, they stop sending them to schools. They only think of getting another wage earner for their family. Anyway, the Government has provided a lot of money for the same and as a result of that they are getting encouraged.
What would happen after 10 years? Nearly, 90 per cent of the poor boys and girls will go upto 8th class or 10th class, but after doing 10th class also they will not get employment and all these schemes would become a waste. Therefore, my humble request to the hon. Minister is that we must encourage skill development -- though this subject also comes under the Ministry of HRD and other Ministries -- as it is the most important issue facing this country. I am saying this because there is a shortage of skilled people all over the world and they are thinking of ways to get skilled people. For example, if we want a translator in the Parliament, we are not getting; if we want stenographers in the Parliament, we are not getting them; and if we want good mechanics for our cars or scooters, we are not getting them.
Today, the civil aviation sector is suffering because we do not have repair facilities for aircraft, as we do not have good mechanics for the same. If the Ministry were to provide some allocation exclusively for skill development in this country, particularly, for the poorer sections of the society, then we could impart all these skills in them right from 8th class. As a result, by the time they come to 12th class, they will feel confident that they can live on their own without being a parasite or being dependent on their parents or the society[ak27] .
I have been asking the hon. Prime Minister as well as the hon. Finance Minister to provide healthcare to the poor people who are living below the poverty line. He has already provided for the same. As per the scheme provided for in the Budget, poor people who are living below the poverty line have to pay Rs. 50 in a year towards this scheme. It is being dubbed that we have brought in an excellent scheme, but the total number of people who are insured is only 9,000 in the entire country. There is no point in dubbing this as an excellent scheme. It is my humble opinion that Rs. 50 is not a big amount. Please give that money to provide universal health insurance to all the people who are living below the poverty line. Then, in two to three years, they will understand the benefits. Today, they cannot go to the corporate sector. If they go to a Government hospital, they are not getting proper treatment. They have become orphans. We have to provide this healthcare insurance to all the people who are living below the poverty line. The Minister might say that he wants to involve them by making them pay Rs. 10 per person. Today, they may not do it, but after seeing the benefits, they will come forward and be willing to pay even Rs. 100 or Rs. 200.
As far as the Government is concerned, it does not cost much; it costs only Rs. 3,000 crore to Rs. 4,000 crore for providing insurance to these people in the entire country. The Minister can ask the State Governments to share 50 per cent of the cost. I want him to think it over and provide this healthcare insurance which is a basic requirement of these poor families.
While congratulating the Minister for the allocation that he has made and for the assurance that he gave that this does not affect the fiscal deficit, I support these Supplementary Demands for Grants, and I wish the other Members will do the same thing.
उपाध्यक्ष महोदय: श्री रघुनाथ झा। आज आपने जो कहना है, दिल खोल कर कह दीजिए।
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श्री रघुनाथ झा : जब स्वर्गीय राजीव गांधी देश के प्रधान मंत्री थे और बिहार गए थे तो बिहार की स्थिति को देख कर दिल्ली आने पर उन्होंने इनफ्रास्ट्रक्चर के क्षेत्र में करोड़ों रुपए का विशेष पैकेज देने का बिहार को आश्वासन दिया था। बदकिस्मती से श्री राजीव गांधी नहीं रहे। वर्तमान यूपीए की सरकार सत्ता में आई तो न्यूनतम साझा कार्यक्रम घोषित किया और उसमें इस बात का जिक्र किया कि स्वर्गीय राजीव गांधी द्वारा घोषित विशेष पैकेज जो बिहार को देना था, उसे लागू करेंगे लेकिन मुझे अफसोस के साथ कहना पड़ता है कि इस सरकार को आए लगभग ढ़ाई वर्ष बीत चुके हैं लेकिन इस दिशा में एक भी कदम बिहार के लिए नहीं उठाया गया है। मैं समझता हूं कि यह बिहार के लोगों के साथ वादा-खिलाफी और भेदभाव है।
महोदय, जब बिहार का बंटवारा हो रहा था तो इसी सदन में हम लोगों ने उसका पुरजोर विरोध किया था और तीन दिनों तक संसद नहीं चली थी। तत्कालीन गृह मंत्री जो आज विपक्ष के नेता हैं, उन्होंने खड़े होकर कहा था कि ऐसा नहीं हो सकता कि एक राज्य को धनवान बना दें और दूसरे राज्य को गरीबी में धकेल दें। एक से एक नेता बिहार के रहे हैं। डा० श्री कृष्ण सिंह १६ वर्ष तक बिहार के मुख्यमंत्री रहे। उनके मन में कभी ऐसी बात होती तो बिहार व झारखंड के इलाके में बड़े-बड़े उद्योग धंधे नहीं लगाते।
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: He is not present in this House at this time.
श्री रघुनाथ झा : उनकी इन्टैन्शन ऐसी नहीं थी। वह बड़े-बड़े उद्योग-धंधे, कल-कारखाने झारखंड की सीमा पर लगा देते। लेकिन हमारे सारे संसाधन चले गये। हमारा कोयला, खनिज सम्पदा, कल-कारखाने झारखंड में चले गये। हमारे टैक्निकल एजूकेशन विद्यालय और सैनिक विद्यालय झारखंड में चल गये। मैं यह उदाहरण इसलिए दे रहा हूं कि आज झारखंड को बिहार से अलग हुए छ: वर्ष हो गये हैं। झारखंड हमारे साथ मिलने नहीं जा रहा है और न ही हम ऐसी कोई मांग कर रहे हैं। लेकिन तत्कालीन सरकार ने कहा था कि जो भी कमी है, बिहार का जो भी हक और हिस्सा होगा, वह हम बिहार को विशेष पैकेज के रूप में देंगे। लेकिन उस सरकार ने उस दिशा में एक भी कदम आगे बढ़ाने का काम नहीं किया। माननीय वित्त मंत्री जी आप एक विद्वान अर्थशास्त्री और योग्य वित्त मंत्री हैं। यदि आठ-दस करोड़ की आबादी वाला बिहार अविकसित रहेगा, वहां आने-जाने के लिए रास्ते नहीं होंगे, रहने के लिए घर नहीं होंगे, लोगों को खाने के लिए दो जून की रोटी नहीं होगी तो आप देश को मजबूत नहीं बना सकते। आज हम बदकिस्मती के दौर से गुजर रहे हैं। हम वित्त मंत्री जी से चाहते हैं कि वह अपना वायदा पूरा करें।
उपाध्यक्ष महोदय, जब देश आजाद हुआ था तो योजना आयोग का गठन हुआ था। देश के प्रथम प्रधान मंत्री, पंडित जवाहर लाल नेहरू ने योजना आयोग के अध्यक्ष की हैसियत से आयोग की प्रथम बैठक का उद्घाटन करते हुए कहा था कि जहां योजना आयोग देश के त्वरित विकास के लिए योजनाबद्ध तरीके से योजनाएं बनायेगा, वहीं यह देश में डो क्षेत्रीय असमानताएं हैं, उन असमानताओं की खाई को पाटने का काम भी करेगा। महोदय आप पंजाब से आते हैं, उस समय हरियाणा, हिमाचल सब आपके साथ थे और पंजाब अव्वल नम्बर का राज्य था। तब बिहार तीसरी-चौथी पायदान पर खड़ा था, लेकिन आज हम सबसे आखिरी पायदान पर खड़े हैं। देश की आजादी के बाद हम दस कदम भी आगे नहीं बढ़ सके, बल्कि हम पचास कदम पीछे चले गये हैं। इसके अलावा केन्द्र सरकार को जो हमारे नुकसान की भरपाई करनी चाहिए थी, हमारी मदद करनी चाहिए, वह मदद हमें नहीं मिली। जब बिहार एक था और इसके जो संसाधन थे, तब हम मांग करते थे कि हमें आप मूल्य आधारित रॉयल्टी दीजिए। उस समय वह हमें नहीं मिली। हम कहते थे कि जो बड़े-बड़े उद्योग-धंधे बिहार की जमीन पर हैं, जिन्हें बिहार से कच्चा माल मिलता है, जिनमें बिहार के मजदूर काम करते हैं, जिनमें बिहार की बिजली लगती है, बिहार की पुलिस जिनमें लॉ एंड ऑर्डर मेनटेन करती है, उनमें से किसी का हैडक्वार्टर मुम्बई, किसी का दिल्ली और किसी का कोलकाता है। इस कारण उसी राज्य का इंकम टैक्स, सेल्स टैक्स और कंसाइनमैन्ट टैक्स दूसरे राज्यों को मिल जाता है, वह बिहार या झारखंड को प्राप्त नहीं होता है। यदि वह हमें मिलता होता तो बिहार भी अन्य राज्यों के साथ आगे बढ़ता।
इसी सदन में वित्त मंत्री जी ने घोषणा की थी कि देश के वभिन्न राज्यों के जिलों को पिछड़े जिलों के रूप में सम्मिलित किया जायेगा। उसमें बिहार के ३६ जिलों को सम्मिलित किया गया और बाकी जिलों को छोड़ दिया गया। मुझे खुशी है कि इस बार कुछ जिलों को शामिल किया गया है। इनमें चम्पारण की धरती को भी शामिल किया गया है, जहां से राष्ट्रपिता महात्मा गांधी ने देश को आजाद कराने के आंदोलन की अगुवाई की थी। इस बार पूर्वी और पश्चिमी चम्पारण जिले भी इस सूची में आ गये हैं। लेकिन राष्ट्रीय नियोजन गारंटी स्कीम जो आपने बनाई है, उसके अंतर्गत पूर्वी और पश्चिमी चम्पारण जिलों को आपने छोड़ दिया है, जहां आदिवासियों दलितों, गरीबों और ढांगरों की संख्या बहुत ज्यादा है, इन इलाकों को आपने छोड़ दिया cè[R28] ।
महात्मा गांधी ही उस इलाके की नब्ज को पहचानकर वर्षों वहां रहे थे, देश को आजाद कराने का काम किया था, हम आपसे मांग करना चाहते हं कि राष्ट्रीय नियोजन गारंटी कार्यक्रम में पश्चिमी चम्पारन और पूर्वी चम्पारन को भी जोड़ने का काम आप करिए।
माननीय वित्त मंत्री जी बिहार गये थे। गत सत्र मे हम लोगों से कहा था कि हम बिहार चलेंगे लेकिन अफसोस के साथ कहना पड़ता है कि एक भी यूपीए के सांसद को इस बात की खबर नहीं थी। हम लोगों की भी बात को वह सुनते । बैंको के जो आजकल बहुत से कार्यक्रम, जो प्रधान मंत्री जी चला रहे हैं, बहुत से कार्यक्रमों में बैंकों का जो योगदान होना चाहिए, बिहार को वह योगदान नहीं दिया जाता। हमारे पैसे दिल्ली, मद्रास और कलकत्ता चले जाते हैं लेकिन बिहार के लोग बेरोजगारी मिटाने के लिए, घर बनाने के लिए रोजगार देने के लिए एड़ियां घिस-घिसकर मर जाते हैं लेकिन बैंको का कोआपरेशन नहीं मिलता। यह बात आज वित्त मंत्री जी बताएंगे कि हमारी जमा पूंजी कितनी है ? बिहार के बैंकों में हमारी कितनी पूंजी जमा है और कितने प्रतिशत आपका खर्च हुआ है ? आपकी गाइडलाइन्स क्या हैं और गाइडलाइन्स के अनुसार आप क्या कर रहे हैं ? जरा इस पर आप विस्तार से बताने का काम करेंगे।
महोदय, शेष बिहार जो बचा है, हम हर साल अभी इस सदन में, आज हमारे मित्र सीताराम सिंह जी, हम, राम कृपाल यादव जी और हमारे डिप्टी लीडर देवेन्द्र प्रसाद यादव जी, सभी ने सूखे पर चर्चा की। आज हम सूखे की मार झेल रहे हैं। पहले हमारे यहां के ८ ही जिले सूखे से प्रभावित हुए थे। हर साल हम बाढ़ का रोना रोते थे। नेपाल से निकलने वाली नदियों से हमारा भयंकर नुकसान होता है, जिस तरह से सुनामी से जो नुकसान होता है, उसी तरह से नुकसान बिहार को नेपाल से निकलने वाली नदियों से होता है। दो वर्ष पूर्व ९ लाख गरीबों के मकानों के ऊपर से पानी बह गया। गरीब के मकान बर्बाद हो गये। सब कुछ आपके रिकार्ड में है। बिहार की तत्कालीन सरकार, राबड़ी देवी जी की सरकार से, हम लोगों ने मांग की थी। प्रधान मंत्री जी ने मात्र दो लाख घर बनाने के लिए मदद की। लेकिन सात लाख गरीबों का क्या कसूर है जो भूमिहीन हैं ? बिहार की ऐसी आर्थिक स्थिति नहीं है कि वह घर बनाकर दे। हम आपसे अर्ज करना चाहेंगे कि आप नेपाल की सरकार से वार्ता करें कि वह कोई ठोस कार्यक्रम बनाए। नेपाल से निकलने वाली नदियों से बिहार को हर साल बाढ़ से नुकसान होता है। उसमें कुछ हिस्से उत्तर प्रदेश के और कुछ हिस्से बंगाल को नुकसान होता है। नेपाल में पन बिजली बनाने के लिए आप नेपाल सरकार की मदद करेंगे, आपको पन बिजली नेपाल सरकार बनाकर देगी, अगर आप चाहें तो उस पन बिजली को आप सस्ती दर पर लोगों को उपलब्ध करवा सकते हैं।…( व्यवधान)
महोदय, हमारी दस लाख हेक्टेअर जमीन वॉटर लॉगिंग में बेकार हुई पड़ी है। बढहीया ताल और मुकामा ताल हमारे यहां हैं। हर समय हमारे यहां बक्सर से लेकर बंगाल के फरक्का तक दोनों तरफ हमारी हजारों एकड़ जमीन गंगा में विलीन हो जाती है। सैकड़ों गांव उसमें विलीन हो जाते हैं और सरकार को जिस तरह से मदद करनी चाहिए, उस तरह से सरकार हमारी मदद नहीं करती। जो अभी गुजरात में भूकम्प आया, तमिलनाडु और दूसरी जगहों में तूफान आया, सुनामी आया भारत सरकार ने मदद की, हम लोगों ने सहायता की। हम उसका स्वागत करते हैं। कभी भी हमारे मन में यह बात नहीं आई कि उनको मदद क्यों दी गई ?
नेपाल से कोसी, गंडक, बागमती और कमला अधवारआ समूह नदी निकलती है[R29] ।ये नदियां पूरे उत्तर बिहार को बरबाद कर देती हैं। बिहार में जो भी सरकार रही, चाहे वह श्रीमती राबड़ी देवी की सरकार हो या नीतीश जी की सरकार हो, क्या उनको नेपाल सरकार से वार्ता करने का अधिकार नहीं है? हम वित्त मंत्री जी से जानना चाहते हैं। यदि हमें वार्ता करने का अधिकार है तो केन्द्र के वित्त मंत्री की हैसियत से आपको या प्रधान मंत्री जी को चाहिए कि वे नेपाल सरकार से वार्ता करें और हमें इस समस्या से निजात दिलाएं। निजात नहीं दिलाना चाहते हैं तो जैसे दूसरे प्रदेशों में होने वाले नुकसान की भरपाई करते हैं, वैसे ही हमारे यहां भी शत प्रतिशत नुकसान की भरपाई केन्द्र सरकार को उठाना चाहिए। यह जवाबदेही केन्द्र सरकार को लेनी चाहिए, ऐसी मांग हम आपसे करना चाहते हैं।
महोदय, बिजली के क्षेत्र में कल ही एक प्रश्न था लेकिन वह नहीं हो सका। हम लोग भी सप्लीमैंट्री प्रश्न तैयार करके लाए थे। बिजली का सबसे कम उत्पादन बिहार में है और सबसे कम खपत भी बिहार के लोगों पर होती है। हमारे कहलगाँव का विस्तार जो ५०० मेगावाट स्वीकृत है बाकी है। बिजली मंत्री जी बाढ़ में शुरू करने गए थे। वहां कुछ काम शुरू किया है। कांटी का ५०० मौगावाट का एक्सपैन्शन था और बरौनी का ५०० मैगावाट का एक्सपैन्शन था। वह भी अभी तक पूरा नहीं हुआ। बिहार में भयंकर रूप से लाइन लॉस हो रहा है। राजीव गांधी ग्रामीण विद्युतीकरण योजना में भी बिहार का कार्य सन्तोषजनक नहीं है।
महोदय, रूस में जब जार्ज के बाद लेनिन सत्ता में आए तो अखबारनवीसों ने पूछा कि आप समाजवाद का नारा लगा रहे थे, आप समाजवाद कैसे लाएंगे? तब लेनिन ने एक शब्द में कहा कि बिजली दे दो तो हम समाजवाद ला देंगे। आज बिजली रोशनी का काम ही नहीं देती बल्कि जीवनदायिनी बन गई है। हम वित्त मंत्री जी से कहेंगे कि हमारा जो स्पेशल पैकेज है उसमें सब हिसाब लगाकर हमें दीजिए तो बिहार भी दूसरे राज्यों के समकक्ष खड़ा हो जाएगा।
महोदय, अभी एक माननीय सदस्य देश में किसानों द्वारा आत्महत्याओं की चर्चा कर रहे थे। हम इस सदन में कई बार इस विषय पर चर्चा कर चुके हैं कि किसान क्यों आत्महत्या कर रहे हैं। एक साधारण सी बात है कि अगर प्रति एकड़ ज़मीन में किसान को २५ क्िंवटल पैडी होती है जिसकी २० हजार रुपये लागत आती है, उसके बाजार में यदि १८ हजार रुपये मिलेंगे तो कौन किसान मूर्ख है जो आत्महत्या नहीं करेगा, कौन किसान उस अलाभकर खेती को करेगा? एक सर्वे आया है कि ६० प्रतिशत किसान खेती छोड़ रहे हैं। आपने फॉरवर्ड ट्रेडिंग की घोषणा कर दी कि अगले साल क्या मूल्य होगा लेकिन उसके लिए कोई इनफ्रास्ट्रक्चर तैयार नहीं किया। आप अपने किसान को कम पैसा दे रहै हैं। आप आस्ट्रेलिया से ९०० रुपये क्िंवटल के भाव पर गेहूं मंगा रहे हैं लेकिन अपने किसान को ६०० रुपये क्िंवटल दे रहे हैं। यह किस तरह का न्याय है? क्या किसान इसके लिए आपको कभी माफ करेगा? कौन इस प्रश्न पर आपसे विरोध नहीं करेगा? हम चाहते हैं कि किसानों को उचित मूल्य मिले तथा उनके लिए मार्केटिंग और स्टोरेज के इनफ्रास्ट्रक्चर की व्यवस्था की जाए। हमारे यहां के आम, लीची, मखाना, मछली, फल-फूल तथा हरी सब्ज़ियां बड़ी मात्रा में पैदा होती हैं। हमारे यहां मोतिहारी और बेतिया में परवल पांच रुपये किलो मिलता है जबकि दिल्ली में आज भी २५-३० रुपये किलो है। रेल मंत्री जी भी हमारे बिहार से हैं और हमारे दल के नेता भी हैं। मैं उऩसे निवेदन करता हूं कि सभी प्रमुख ट्रेनों में अगर ए.सी. रेफ्रिजरेटर या कंटेनर लगा दें तो आसानी से किसान अपनी सब्ज़ियों और फलों को दिल्ली के मार्केट में ला सकता है। हमारे यहां हवाई अड्डा गया, पटना, मुजफ्फरपुर और रक्सौल में है। क्या आप वहां से कार्गो नहीं चला स्ाकते[h30] ? आप कारगो चला कर आम और लीची फल-फूल को विदेशों में पहुंचा सकते हैं, लेकिन आपकी इच्छाशक्ति नहीं है, आपके मन में बिहार के प्रति रिस्पेक्ट नहीं है। जिस वक्त आपकी इच्छाशक्ति होगी तो यह कौन सी बड़ी बात है, जो नहीं हो सकती। इसलिए इस काम को कराने की आवश्यकता है। इधर पंजाब और राजस्थान की साइड में पाकिस्तान से बार्डर सील हो गया। तिब्बत के बाद चीन से हमारे संबंध कैसे हैं और इन्हें हम लोग जानते हैं। सारे बिहार और हिन्दुस्तान में आतंकी, नक्सलवादी और माओवादी गतवधियां हो रही हैं, तस्करी हो रही है और फेक करेंसी आ रही है। आप एके-४६ और ४७ नेपाल मार्केट से खरीद कर ले आइए। बिहार और नेपाल का ६००-७०० किलोमीटर सीमा का इलाका खाली पड़ा हुआ है। वहां कोई बार्डर रोड नहीं है, कोई सीमा सड़क नहीं है। इनके एसएसपी हर जगह तैनात हैं और हमारे यहां दर्जनों बड़ी और छोटी नदियां नेपाल से निकलती हैं। वहां छ: महीने रोड ठीक नहीं रहती, इसलिए वहां कोई भी आदमी इधर से ऊधर जा नहीं सकता और वहां आसानी से सब चीजें स्मगलिंग हो रही हैं, आ रही हैं। क्या इस सरकार को इस बात का पता नहीं है? पाकिस्तान और आईएसआई के जरिए, सारी एक्टीविटीस नेपाल के जरिए इंडिया में हो रही हैं, आप वहां ठीक से रोड नहीं बना सकते और सरकार चला रहे हैं। जब चीन में गच्चा खाए थे तब आपको पता चला था, उसी तरह आपको फिर से गफलत खानी पड़ेगी। हमारे यहां तीन एयरफोर्स के, सैकिंड वल्र्ड वार के बाद एयरपोर्ट बने थे - एक रक्सौल में, दूसरा हथुआ में, जहां लालू जी का घर है और तीसरा पूर्णियां में। इनमें से एक चालू है और दो ५००-५०० एकड़ जमीन वाला एयरपोर्ट एनक्रोच हो रहा है, सरकार का उधर कोई ध्यान नहीं है। सरकार नेपाल को बड़े हल्के ढंग से देख रही है। अगर चीन चाहें तो २४ घंटे में लासा से सीधे, भारत नेपाल सीमा रक्सौल, जो हम लोगों की सीमा है, वीरगंज के पास उसके बड़े से बड़े टैंक और लड़ाकू सामान और उसकी आर्मी आ सकती है, लेकिन इंडियन गवर्नमेंट के कोशिश करने के बावजूद भी इन्हें पहुंचाने में काफी कठिनाई होगी क्योंकि न सड़क मार्ग ठीक है, न हवाई अड्डा ही।
उपाध्यक्ष महोदय, शिक्षा के क्षेत्र में नालंदा, तक्षिला और वैशाली सबसे प्रमुख हैं और हम लोग दुनिया को शिक्षा देते थे, लेकिन बंटवारे के बाद जितने भी ये बड़े-बड़े शिक्षा संस्थान थे, वे हमारे यहां से झारखण्ड में चले गए हैं। हमारे यहां एक भी इंजीनियरिंग कॉलेज, तकनीकी शिक्षा एवं सैनिक स्कूल नहीं है, ये सारे के सारे चले गए। इन्हें खोलने के लिए आठ करोड़ की आबादी वाले बिहार के लिए कुछ भी नहीं है। क्या हम इसी के लिए सरकार में हैं, क्या हम लोगों से जनता अपेक्षा नहीं करती, हमसे सवाल नहीं पूछती। उनके लिए वित्त मंत्री जी के यहां पहुंचना कठिन है, लेकिन हम लोग हर हफ्ते अपने क्षेत्र में जाते हैं, वहां जनता से मिलते हैं और उनकी बातों को सुनते हैं। इसलिए हम चाहते हैं कि पटना, जो हमारी केपिटल है, वहां जो सबसे बड़ी पटना युनिवर्सिटी है, उसे सेंट्रल युनिवर्सिटी बनाया जाए। हमारे यहां एम्स की तर्ज पर अस्पताल खोले गए हैं, लेकिन नार्थ-बिहार दो भागों में बंटा हुआ है। वहां एम्स खुला है, लेकिन उत्तर-बिहार में हो, चाहे दरभंगा या मुजफ्फरपुर में हो, वहां जो पहले से मेडीकल कॉलेज हैं, उन्हें बनाया जाए। वहां चलने के लिए ठीक से रास्ता नहीं है, प्रधानमंत्री ग्रामीण सड़क योजना के अंतर्गत काम हो रहा है, लेकिन उसकी रफ्तार बड़ी धीमी है। हम लोगों ने ग्रामीण विकास मंत्री जी से बात की है, जो आपका विभाग है, आप बिहार से आते हैं, आप उसकी रफ्तार तेज कराइए। बिहार में २४०० किलोमीटर नेशनल हाईवे है और उसकी सबसे खराब स्थिति है। वहां ९४० किलोमीटर को फोर लेनिंग करना है और उसे फोर लेनिंग करने में, इस सरकार ने पहले कहा कि ६० प्रतिशत हम देंगे और ४० प्रतिशत बिहार सरकार दे[R31] ।
15.00 hrs उपाध्यक्ष महोदय, बिहार सरकार कहां दे ? केन्द्र सरकार को देना चाहिए। आप दीजिए क्योंकि आपने बिहार को विशेष पैकेज देने की घोषणा की थी। विशेष पैकेज की धनराशि में से केन्द्र सरकार बिहार को धन मुहैया कराए। केन्द्र सरकार ने बिहार को विशेष पैकेज देने की घोषणी की थी और एक बार नहीं, तीन-तीन बार। यदि सरकार चाहे तो आज सदन में घोषणा कर दे कि हमने बिहार को विशेष पैकेज देने की घोषणा नहीं की, फिर हम कभी भी केन्द्र सरकार से बिहार को विशेष पैकेज देने की बात नहीं करेंगे।
महोदय, मैं बताना चाहता हूं कि प्रथम बार स्व. राजीव गांधी जी ने, दूसरी बार श्री अटल बिहारी वाजपेयीजी ने और तीसरी बार इसी यू.पी.ए. सरकार ने बिहार को विशेष पैकेज देने की घोषणा की, लेकिन अभी तक विशेष पैकेज बिहार को नहीं मिला। अत: मेरा वित्त मंत्री जी, आपसे नम्रता पूर्वक निवेदन है कि इसकी तरफ तवज्जुह दीजिए और बिहार को देश के दूसरे राज्यों के पैरेलल खड़ा करने में हमारी सहायता कीजिए।
महोदय, मैं इन्हीं शब्दों के साथ अपनी वाणी को विराम देता हूं और आपको कोटिश: धन्यवाद देता हूं कि आपने मुझे बोलने का अवसर प्रदान किया।
SHRI P. KARUNAKARAN (KASARGOD): I rise to support the Supplementary Demands placed before the House by hon. Finance Minister, Shri P. Chidambaram.
This Government had come to power some two-and-a-half year’s back. I do understand the limitations of this discussion on Supplementary Demands. It is pointed out that there is 8 per cent growth rate in our country. Of course, it is the better economic position. It is also pointed out that the inflation rate is also under control, that is about 4 per cent. Of course, it is a better economic parameter that we can claim. We have also implemented the National Employment Guarantee Bill. The Government has already taken up some social measures. But when we see the experience of the people, this economic parameter is not reflected in the actual life of the rural people of our country. This House itself is witness to some of the discussions, the facts and figures with regard to the price rise that we are facing nowadays. When we say that the inflation rate is under control, that is only 4 per cent, can the Finance Minister claim that the prices of the essential goods have gone down? In most of the prices of the essential goods, that is vegetable, sugar, cement, wheat and such other commodities, there is a rise in prices as compared to last year or two years back. We cannot translate the economic figures or the economic parameters saying that our economy has gone up or it is in a better position, especially on the side of the experience of the people.
I would like to confine myself to two or three points only, especially with regard to the agriculture sector. Swaminathan Commission Report is before the Government. I do not think that the Government has come forward with the suggestion that Swaminathan Commission Report be implemented. The Commission has pointed out that 4 per cent of the interest to the farmers is not being implemented. Also, with regard to insurance… (Interruptions) As far as food security is concerned, for the first time, in the last many years, we are forced to import wheat. Why have we come to such a situation? It is because in the field of procurement, in the open market private persons have come and they have given a better price than the Government. As a result not only the production of wheat has gone down but the procurement also has gone down. Hence, the Government is unable to give food products to the PDS, especially to the States. We can control the prices of essential goods through the PDS. In the last Budget speech the Finance Minister had claimed that he is going to strengthen the Public Distribution System[R32] .
But it is only through the public distribution outlets that we give the necessary goods so that we can control the prices. In some States only two-three things are given through PDS but in Kerala, there are instances that we have been giving almost all the things. The quantity of wheat has gone down. At the same time, the prices have gone up. As a result, we are unable to control the prices. Why are the prices going up? I think the main reasons is that we are not able to give necessary goods to the people through the Public Distribution System. Unless and until, we have good buffer stock and food stock, we may not be able to give a satisfactory answer to this. Even though we have the inflation rate under control at four per cent or the growth rate at eight per cent.
Coming to the other sector of the State, of course, I really congratulate the Government as it has declared a special package for the Vidharbha. For the last two years, we have been discussing the issues of the farmers. In one State or the other, there is flood or famine or some other problem. In comparison to the last two years, we cannot claim that our situation has become better. It is deteriorating further. Therefore, we should have a comprehensive plan and some more deep thinking with regard to the farmer issues. The issues of the farmers may differ from State to State. It may be because of geographical position or climatic conditions or due to the investment that the Central Government is giving to the States. These may be the reasons for that. For the last three to four months, in almost all the States like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, etc. the farmers are committing suicide. It is not because of their mental pressure. But they are forced to commit suicide.
In this connection, I would like to criticize the Government with regard to some of the policies that the Government has taken up at the national level especially in regard to import policy. These are all connected issues. We cannot separate one issue from the other. Being a member of WTO, we were forced to sign the Sri Lanka Accord. It is true that as an international obligation, we have to permit export and import. But what is the actual situation in the agricultural sector. I can say that Kerala is the most hit by this Accord. Three years’ back, the price of the pepper for one quintal was Rs.21000 and now it has declined to Rs.6000 to Rs.7000 per quintal. How is it possible to survive with this low price? Take for example arecanut. According to the report of the committee which was constituted by the Karnataka Government, the cost of producing one kilogram of arecanut was Rs.60 and three years ago its price was Rs.160 which has now declined to Rs.45 to Rs.50 per kilogram. How is it possible for the arecanut farmers to survive? The farmers are committing suicide because of two reasons. One is the policy of the Government of India, especially the unrestricted import policy. We are not imposing any tax. An interesting answer that we have got in this House is that the export of Sri Lanka to India is three times higher than its actual production. How is it possible? It is because Sri Lanka has trade relations with other countries. They are exporting their pepper to Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka is exporting it to India. As a result of this, they are benefited but we are importing cheaper quality pepper. As far as Kerala is concerned, the Malabar pepper is know to all. According to the history, Vasco de Gama was attracted to Calicut because of Malabar pepper, the black asset. Now pepper farmers are really in a very bad position. They are unable to get any relief[r33] .
On the one hand when the prices of these agricultural products are declining, the service charges, on the other hand, are going up in the health, education and transport sector. The farmers are unable to survive this situation. It is high time that the Government comes out with a comprehensive policy in order to salvage the situation for the farmers. It has been the slogan of every party that India is the land of the farmers and farmers are the backbone of India. But, ironically, it is the farmers today are being compelled to commit suicide. The reason for this is the policy of the Government and therefore, the Government has to re-think and re-consider their policies with respect to the farming community.
Sir, in this connection I would like to also congratulate the hon. Minister for having announced the Vidarbha package. The Government also is declaring many other packages. But all these are temporal measures. The disease has now been diagnosed and just providing a temporal relief would not be the solution or cure to the disease that has been diagnosed. If we really wish to save the farmers then the policies pursued in respect of farm sector would require a complete change.
Another point that I would like to mention here is that for the last four to five years the State of Kerala has been experiencing flood and also is suffering owing to certain other natural calamities. As a result of this the farmers are suffering. On the one side the prices are declining and on the other the farmers are losing their crops. They need considerable support from the Government to overcome such a situation. The situation in Kerala has been deteriorating every year. Years ago we used to find many farmers engaged in paddy cultivation in our State, but over a period of time they have shifted to the cultivation of plantation crops like rubber, pepper and such other things. But even then their economic conditions have not found any improvement and are faced with the same type of difficulties as they faced while cultivation of paddy. This has greatly hit the economy of the State.
Sir, the Government of Kerala has already submitted a package to the Central Government. I am glad that three districts, namely, Waynard, Kasargod and Palakkad have been chosen by the Central Government for providing assistance. But I would like to mention here that condition of the districts of Alleppy and Idukki are also in a very bad shape. In my district, in the recent monsoon, 18 people have lost their lives and farmers also have lost their crops, vegetables, paddy fields have suffered damages and roads also have been damaged. The people in the area are facing a lot of difficulty. The hon. Finance Minister is the final authority for sanctioning the package. He may be knowing well as to the situation prevailing in the State.
The other issue that I would like to raise is that the Central investment in our State is decreasing year by year. It is true that in matter of education, health and housing the State of Kerala is doing better than other States. We have not been included in the list meant for providing more investment and more assistance to States. But now with changing situation, the Government has to re-consider its decision of excluding our State from that list. Take for example education. In higher education and in primary education, our State is doing better than most of the States. But at the same time our State does not have better opportunities for pursuing a career in law and in technical education. There are no such institutes meant for pursuing those courses. That is what we really need. It is also true that in the health sector our State is doing better than most of the States. But in the recent past we have found an alarming increase in the incidence of cancer in our States. As Members of Parliament we find that most of the requests that we get from people seeking relief from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for treatment are mostly cancer patients and AIDS patients. AIDS is a new disease. Therefore, what we need is more assistance from the Centre to fight such diseases. Therefore, I would like to request the Government for making more Central investment in the State of Kerala.
Sir, with these words, I support the Supplementary Demands.
SHRI SURAVARAM SUDHAKAR REDDY (NALGONDA): Sir, I stand to support the proposals for 42 Demands for Grants considering several Ministries. It touches almost all Ministries in the Government of India.
Sir, I would like to bring a few important points to your notice on this occasion. There is a special grant of Rs. 50 crore which has been put here as compensation for the victims of Bhopal gas tragedy and Rs. 22 crore for compensation for the victims of Delhi riots. Bhopal gas tragedy is a very long pending issue. It has occurred almost 15 years back and compensation was paid but it was inadequate. In some cases, it is still going up. I would request the Government that this should be settled once for all.
As regards the amount of Rs. 22 crore of compensation for victims of Delhi riots, after last year’s discussion in Parliament and taking into consideration the sense of the House, it was decided that there should be more liberal compensation to the victims who were unfortunately killed and to those families who are on the roads today. I would request the hon. Finance Minister that it should be settled as early as possible.
On this occasion, I would like to appeal to the Government of India on one important issue. It is also necessary to be more liberal on the question of Telengana and Ponnapura Vyalar freedom fighters. This morning also, hon. Members belonging to Kerala raised the matter in the ‘Zero Hour’. Several years have passed since the Government decided to form a Committee in 1998. It was formed when Shri V.P. Singh was the Prime Minister of the country. Hyderbad State Special Screening Committee was formed and 13,500 freedom fighters out of 1,20,000 applications were selected and they were supposed to get the grant. The NDA Government unfortunately decided not to sanction it. When the UPA Government came to power, it decided that 4500 freedom fighters should be given pension. But unfortunately, because of the bureaucratic interference, it has been stopped. There were repeated requests made to Govt. by the Union Ministers belonging to the Telengana area of Andhra Pradesh and all the hon. Members from Andhra Pradesh on this issue. On a small flimsy ground that some inquiry is going on as regards some Telengana freedom fighters, the whole process has been stopped. The freedom struggle was over 60 years back and many freedom fighters are dying every week. It is almost an insult to them I would request the Government that this should be taken up seriously.
I support the idea of reinvestment of Hindustan Antibiotics and about Rs. 250 crore is being asked for this. For the import of fertilisers, Rs. 1500 crore is also proposed. But here, I would like to say that while we need imports of fertilizers for the necessity of the country, we should also take the issue of reinvestment of Ramagundam Fertiliser Factory very seriously. It has been closed for the past several years. By this time, it would have been economically viable. While we need more and more fertilisers and fertiliser demand is increasing year after year, why should we close this Fertiliser Factory in Telengana[bru34] ?
The IDPL was supposed to be reopened, but there is no proposal for reinvestment and reopening of the IDPL factory.
There is a proposal to give Rs. 40 crore to the Ministry of Heavy Industries, for the Cement Corporation of India. In Telengana, which is one of the backward areas of the country, Adilabad cement factory has been closed. Now, the price of 50 kg. cement bag is between Rs. 190 and Rs. 225. It is possible to manufacture it at Rs. 140. There is no possibility of loss for the factory. It is only a question of investment of Rs. 40 crore for the Adilabad cement factory. The State Government of Andhra Pradesh had agreed to adjust Rs. 24 crore by way of electricity and other types of taxes which are to be waived. This should be taken into consideration. Adilabad cement factory, which is in a backward area Telengana, should be re-opened. That would help the people.
I submit that the aspirations of Telengana people cannot be fulfilled by simply making promises, but by bringing in new factories in that area. They should be given industrial and irrigation facilities. That is the most important thing. This should be taken into consideration.
Regarding agriculture economic relief, about Rs. 126 crore have been proposed for relief to the suicide-prone districts. I think, only Rs. 26 crore is supposed to be the additional grant, which has been asked for. It is a good thing that on behalf of the Government of India, hon. Prime Minister when on a visit to Nagpur, has announced a special package for Vidarbha. Along with Vidarbha, several other districts have been included in this. I think it is going to be announced phase-wise.
Suicides are only one part of the agricultural crisis. Agricultural crisis is so serious now. We should provide them fertilizer, quality seeds, pesticides; and remunerative price for agricultural products. All these should be taken into consideration.
Crop loan should be much more than what it was last year. I think that there is a need for a comprehensive agricultural policy. This type of small packages is definitely not going to help. Members of Parliament have raised this issue several times. Between 1991 and 2001, seventy-one lakh agriculturists have gone out of this profession. This number is much bigger than the population of several countries of the world. Agriculture is in such a serious crisis now. It is very necessary that more amount of money should be spent on agricultural relief.
The Swaminathan Committee's recommendation to provide credit at four per cent to the farmers should be one of the immediate tasks of the Government. Credit should be much more than what is being given now. I would request the Finance Minister to bring the National Rural Indebtedness Relief Act so that agriculture sector can get some help.
There is a request for a special grant to the Department of Atomic Energy. Here I would like to submit about a problem being faced by the people in my constituency, Nalgonda. Recently, five uranium processing plants have been proposed including one in Nalgonda district. It was opposed by everybody, including the village, mandal, the local MLA, the MP, and the Zilla Parishad. Earlier it was to be put up within the 5 km. area, near the Nagarjuna Sagar, which is one of the biggest water reservoirs in Andhra Pradesh. About twelve districts will get affected if there is going to be any contamination because of the uranium. When it was brought to the notice of the Supreme Court, it was shifted to another place, which is 20 kms. away. This is also a very dangerous thing. We are opposed to these uranium plants being set up here. They should be set up not in places where human beings live in large numbers. These types of atomic plants, which are having very serious pollution and other dangerous types of effects, should be taken to far off places where human beings do not generally live[r35] .
The Jadiguda experiment in Jharkhand State is a very bad experience. It is very unfortunate that in spite of all these things being brought to the notice of the Ministry of Environment and Forests and to the Ministry of Atomic Energy, again and again, these plants are being forced on the people. I would like to say that there is going to be a very big resistance, if this plant is going to be put up there in Nalgonda District. Even the State Government did not agree and even the hon. Chief Minister openly announced that the people do not want this uranium plant there. I hope that the State Government is also not going to give the permission.
Sir, I would like to ask one information from the hon. Minister of Finance. There is something called the Department of Disinvestment. As I understand after the UPA Government has come, the Department of Disinvestment is not there. According to the CMP, the Department of Disinvestment will not be there. But under Grant No. 44, page number (ix) it is mentioned: Department of Disinvestment; for allocation of funds estimated to be received in National Investment Fund to the three selected fund managers (I) Life Insurance Corporation Mutual Fund (Rs. 419 crore), (ii) State Bank of India Mutual Fund (Rs. 1,056 crore), and (iii) Unit Trust of India Mutual Fund (Rs. 2,365 crore). Altogether it comes to Rs. 3,840. I would like to know what exactly is the purpose for which the Department of Disinvestment has been proposed this amount.
We from the Left Parties, again and again, requested that disinvestment should not be allowed, particularly in the profit-making public sector units. But due to pressure from the DMK and other friends also, including the Left friends, the Government has decided to postpone the disinvestment in NALCO and in Neyvelli Lignite Corporation (NLC). … (Interruptions) It is postponed. That is what I am saying. … (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: There should not be any running commentary in the House.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI SURAVARAM SUDHAKAR REDDY : I do not understand why the Government of India is, again and again, insisting for disinvestment in profit-making units. There can be some logic, though politically there should not be any disinvestment. But in profit-making units, I understand it is out of philosophy that public sector units should be reduced. This is not a proper thing. The Government should take into consideration not only the sentiments but also the necessities of the country. There should not be any Grant for this.
Lastly, for the modernisation of the police, a sum of Rs. 176 crore is requested. Modernisation is necessary, but I would like to say that several issues, which are to be settled in a democratic manner, cannot be settled by policing alone. Recently there were some incidents that have taken place in Chattisgarh, and in Andhra Pradesh. The problem of naxalism cannot be solved only by killing the naxalites. The Salwa Judum is a very unfortunate thing. On both sides, the tribals are becoming the victims. Instead of police taking up the responsibility for restoring peace and law and order, the tribals are being made to take up the responsibility. The tribals have become victims of the naxalites. When the budget is kept for the policing, it is also necessary that the backward areas should be given better relief and there should be more development in these areas. Only that can solve the problems of naxalism. It should be seen from the socio-economic and political angles and it should be settled by going in for several reforms, including the land reforms. Only these types of things will settle the issue and not policing alone.
Sir, with these few words, I support the Supplementary Demands for Grants (General).
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Shri S.K. Kharventhan. You can speak for five or six minutes.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI S.K. KHARVENTHAN (PALANI): Sir, I rise to support the Supplementary Demands for Grants (General).
First of all, I would like to thank the hon. Minister of Finance for brining in important proposals in the Supplementary Demands for Grants (General). There is the main thrust upon the farmers[R36] .
At this juncture, I want to mention that the Supplementary Grants for Appropriation are required for meeting the expenditure in connection with organic farming, which is also considered based on the judgement of the Central Government Industrial Tribunal. I want to mention furthermore that for agricultural research, Supplementary Grant is sought for meeting the additional expenditure of nearly Rs.200 crore. It is for strengthening and development of agricultural education, vermiculture and for the coffee growers. These aspects were all sufficiently discussed in the Budget. It is considered here additionally.
15.30 hrs. (Shri Devendra Prasad Yadav in the Chair) In this connection, I want to mention about the problems of the farmers. Our friends previously discussed the subject elaborately. More particularly, I want to mention that the farmers in Tamil Nadu are facing so many problems. They are not able to get any good seeds, fertilizers and pesticides. Even a few days back, I mentioned in this House with respect to the onion growers. When our hon. Finance Minister Shri Chidambaram, our hon. Minister Shri EVKS Elangovan and ourselves visited Oddanchattiram, the agriculturists raised an important issue. The point is that they are not able to get good price for the onions. What happened in Tamil Nadu is that farmers borrowed huge money from the cooperative banks, nationalised banks as also from the private moneylenders. They purchased seeds from the seed companies. It turned out that all the seeds were spurious. After a great deal of agitation, all the seed companies paid Rs.2000 to all the farmers as compensation.
So is the case in respect of pesticides. They are not able to get genuine pesticides. This is the situation not only in respect of onion growers but also in respect of all the farmers. The agriculturists are not able to get any help from even the nationalised banks, the cooperative banks. I would, therefore, request the hon. Finance Minister to direct the nationalised banks to help the poor farmers by giving timely loans.
Recently, our Government in Tamil Nadu announced the withdrawal of cooperative loans running into nearly Rs.6782 crore. The total cooperative loans were wiped out. Even if the nationalised banks are not coming forward to wipe out the entire loans, at least they can wipe out the interest part of it to help the poor farmers. It is one way of helping the farmers.
Another area in Tamil Nadu is the textiles sector, particularly it is pertaining to the handloom weavers. Our Government and the hon. Finance Minister announced so many schemes for the welfare of the textile industry. That is why, the textile industry people are very happy in Tamil Nadu. They developed the infrastructure facilities. They are getting very good income. They are giving very good salaries and all the benefits to the employees. But the handloom industry is getting spoiled. Particularly, in my constituency, a large number of handloom weavers are residing and doing handloom profession. Health-wise, economy-wise, they are suffering a lot. They are not able to get good yarn and good income. Even though our Government announced the Insurance Scheme for the weavers, those projects and programmes have not reached the needy people. So, this is another area which is to be concentrated on and helped. We have to help the weavers in this country.
Today, previously also, I mentioned about the infrastructure facilities for the subordinate judiciary. A few minutes back, I raised it under Rule 377. Our hon. Finance Minister is one of the senior advocates in this country. He better knows the position of the legal profession and the position of the lawyers in this country. I humbly request the hon. Finance Minister to consider the pathetic situation of ten lakh lawyers in this country. Most of the persons are residing in the villages. They are suffering a lot even to get five rupees or ten rupees per day by way of earning in the court. So, the Government of India has to come forward to help the lawyers particularly in the mofussil areas by introducing an Advocates’ Welfare Fund Scheme by providing finance. The Union Government has to provide this for the entire country. This is the first point.
Secondly, those advocates who are practising in the mofussil areas are not having even a court building; they are not having any library[R37] and any infrastructural facilities .
They are not having bar rooms. Our Government proposed a 10-year perspective plan for them and sought opinion from various High Courts, Law Ministers and Chief Ministers. The Government convened a Conference also in this regard a few months back and the only State that was not represented in that Conference was Tamil Nadu and this happened when the previous Government was there in power in Tamil Nadu. At that time, neither the Chief Minister nor the Law Minister from the previous Government of Tamil Nadu attended that Conference. So, the perspective plan drafted by our Government was not supported by the then State Government of Tamil Nadu. The present Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Dr. Kalaignar Karunanidhi will fully cooperate with the Government of India in this matter. So, I request the hon. Finance Minister to specially earmark some fund for the improvement of the subordinate judiciary. Then only we will be able to help the poor lawyers in this country.
These are my views. With these words, I support the Supplementary Demands for Grants.
SHRI M. SHIVANNA (CHAMRAJANAGAR) : Mr. Chairman Sir, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak. On behalf of my party JD (S), I rise to support the Supplementary Demands for Grants (General) for the year 2006-2007.
The garden city of India, Bangalore may loose its status as the Silicon city of India. Software companies are leaving the city one after another. ‘Apple’ company left the city few months ago. Very recently one more software company left the city and went back to U.S.A. This trend has to be checked immediately. The only way to do so is to improve the infrastructure facilities in Bangalore immediately. Government of India should provide more funds for the construction of overbridges, subways, expansion of roads, and expediting the work of metro railway etc. Secondly Sir, the farmers should get proper encouragement from the Government of India. The support price for sugarcane was recently increased by about Rs. 70 per quintal. This is a very meagre increase. Further enhancement of the support price for sugarcane is very essential.
Good quality seeds are not being provided to the farmers. I would to cite an example here. The farmers in Chamarajanagar, Mysore, Kolar, Bangalore and Tumkur purchased tomato seeds and produced a substantial quantity to tomatoes. Shockingly, later they realised that the seeds were affected by CHIKUN GUNYA disease. Tomatoes are being thrown on the streets. There are no takers. If this is the situation, what can the farmers do other than committing suicide?
As far as bank interest is concerned we have to follow Tamil Nadu pattern. The Hon. Chief Minister Shri M. Karunanidhi is planning to waive all the interest on agricultural loan.
*English translation of the speech originally delivered in Kannada.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE (SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM) : Sir, the interest rate on agricultural loans remains at 7% in Tamil Nadu.
*SHRI M. SHIVANNA : Sir, now, in Karnataka the State Government has announced that the rates of agricultural loans will be brought down to 4 per cent. What I say is that there must uniformity all over the country. Otherwise all the areas cannot develop and progress as we expect. Infact, Mahatma Gandhi preached an practiced equality among all people. That is why it is very essential that we have to provide more funds to backward districts like my constituency Cnamarajanagar.
Sir, India is at the top in the world as far as borrowings from the World Bank are concerned. I would like to know the response of the Hon. Minister in this regard. I hope he would respond to this point while giving reply to this discussion.
Chamarajanagara is one of the most backward districts in the country. It became a new district seven years ago. But unfortunately no special funds were allocated to develop infrastructure facilities in my district. The number of schools remains the same where as the number of students has increased manifold. Particularly for the SC and ST students some more hostels should be there in Chamarajanagara district. Scholarships, library facilities should also be provided to them in a big-way.
The funds for these purposes are not reaching the state of Karnataka in time. The Centre should make it a point that the Central Assistance to the state should reach in time with out any delay. There is an urgent need to construct a sports stadium in Chamarajanagara which is a long pending demand. The farmers are also demanding for FCI godowns, cold storages, and food processing industries.
*English translation of the speech originally delivered in Kannada.
I hope, the Centre will come to the rescue of the people of Chamarajanagara and provide all the above facilities such that the farmers can lead a happy and peaceful life. I thank you Sir, and with these words I conclude my speech.
श्री सीताराम सिंह (शिवहर) : सभापति जी, मैं अनुदानों की पूरक मांगों का भरपूर समर्थन करता हूं। इन मांगों में सबसे पहला नं. कृषि की मांग का है। महोदय, जाहिर है यह देश किसानों का देश है और इस देश में किसानों की संख्या सबसे ज्यादा है तथा इस देश की अर्थनीति भी किसानों पर सबसे ज्यादा निर्भर करती है। जब तक इस देश का किसान खुशहाल नहीं होगा, तब तक इस देश की सारी अर्थ-नीति विफल हो जाएगी।
इसमें किसानों के लिए जो व्यवस्था करनी है उस पर सभी माननीय सदस्यों ने अपने विचार रखे हैं। मेरा कहना यह है कि किसानों को जो खाद दी जाती है, यहां पर माननीय वित्त मंत्री जी बैठे हुए हैं, क्या उस खाद पर सब्सिडी बढ़ाई गयी है? किसान के लिए जो ऋण निर्धारित है, और भारत सरकार ही बैंकों का संचालन करती है, उस पर राज्य सरकारों का कोई कंट्रोल नहीं cè[h38] ।
क्या भारत सरकार इस बात को सोचती है कि जितने प्रतिशत किसानों की जनसंख्या है, उस जनसंख्या के प्रतिशत के हिसाब से किसानों को कृषि बजट का उतना ऋण दिया जा रहा है? किसानों को जनसंख्या प्रतिशत के हिसाब से ऋण नहीं दिया जा रहा है। यह अलग सवाल है कि भारत सरकार जो ऋण देती है, उसके सूद का प्रतिशत क्या होगा। माननीय वित्त मंत्री जी ने बजट भाषण में कहा था कि हम कृषि ऋण का प्रतिशत और उसके सूद का प्रतिशत घटाएंगे, लेकिन इस बारे में कुछ नहीं हुआ। अभी कर्नाटक के माननीय सदस्य बोल रहे थे कि राज्य सरकार इस पर विचार कर रही है, लेकिन भारत सरकार ने किसानों को जो ऋण देना है, उसका प्रतिशत अभी भी कम नहीं कर रही है। मैं सरकार का ध्यान इस तरफ भी आकृष्ट करना चाहता हूं कि किसानों को जो ऋण दिया जाता है, उसके सूद का प्रतिशत भी कम होना चाहिए और जिस फसल के लिए किसानों को ऋण की जरूरत है, उस समय उन्हें ऋण देना सुनिश्चित होना चाहिए, जो नहीं हो रहा है।
आज किसान महंगाई के समय में महंगा डीजल और सिंचाई की सुविधा न होते हुए भी अनाज पैदा करता है। मैं मानता हूं कि किसानों को लाभकारी मूल्य नहीं मिल रहा है, क्या भारत सरकार को इस बारे में विचार नहीं करना चाहिए। मैं कृषि नीति के बारे में विशेष तो नहीं कहना चाहता हूं, मगर इतनी बात जरूर कहना चाहता हूं कि भारत सरकार ने जो कृषि नीति बनाई है, वह नीति पूर्ण रूप से विफल हो गई है। इस बारे में एक लाइन ही काफी है कि आप विदेश से गेहूं मंगा रहे हैं। उस गेहूं की अधिक कीमत दी गई है और जबकि किसान से जो गेहूं खरीद रहे हैं, उसकी कीमत कम है। इस पर भी भारत सरकार को सोचना चाहिए। माननीय वित्त मंत्री जी तो इस नीति को बनाने में शामिल हैं, इसलिए उन्हें विचार करना चाहिए।
तीसरी बात, जो किसानों के खिलाफ है, वह यह है कि किसानों को सबसे कम बिजली मिल रही है। हमारा बिहार राज्य तो बिजली के मामले में सबसे पिछड़ा राज्य है और जो बिजली हमारे यहां बनती है, वह भी किसानों को बिलकुल नहीं मिलती है। बिहार के किसान को जीरो परसेंट बिजली मिलती है और पूरे दिन में एक घंटे के लिए भी बिजली उपलब्ध नहीं है। इस बारे में सरकार की नीति स्पष्ट नहीं है और किसान बिना बिजली के खेती करते हैं। बिजली सभी कामों के लिए आवश्यक है, लेकिन अधिकतम जनसंख्या जिस चीज पर निर्भर करती है, वह कृषि है, उसके लिए बिजली नहीं मिल रही है। सरकार को इस बारे में विचार करना चाहिए और इस बारे में सही और ठोस कदम उठाने चाहिए। बिजली के मामले में भारत सरकार ने घोषणा की थी। दो बरस से हमारी सरकार चल रही है। भारत सरकार ने स्पष्ट किया था कि हम राजीव गांधी विद्युतीकरण योजना के अंतर्गत हर गांव में बिजली लगाएंगे। इस घोषणा को किए हुए, एक-डेढ़ साल से अधिक का समय हो गया है, मगर हमारे बिहार के किसी एक टोला या गांव में अभी तक बिजली नहीं लग पायी है। यहां तक कि बिजली लगाने की कोई प्रक्रिया भी शुरू नहीं हुयी है। इन्होंने कई एजेंसियों को काम दिया। एनएचपीसी को हमारे इलाके मोतीहारी, बेतिया, शिवहर तथा सीतामढ़ी में जब बिजली लगाने के लिए रूपया दे दिया, मैं माननीय वित्त मंत्री से चाहूंगा कि वे मेरी ओर मुखातिब हों, क्योंकि जब आप जवाब दें, तो मैं इन बातों का उत्तर आपसे चाहूंगा, जब आपने पैसा दे दिया, तो गांवों में बिजली लगाने का काम क्यों नहीं हो रहा है? इसका क्या उत्तर है, हमें तो कुछ पता नहीं लग पा रहा है। टेबल पर बैठकर गांव का सर्वे हो जाता है और एक गांव में बिजली का तार या पोल पता नहीं लगेगा या नहीं, लेकिन हम लोगों ने लंबा-लंबा भाषण दे दिया कि भारत सरकार राजीव गांधी विद्युतीकरण योजना के अंतर्गत बिजली लगा रही है[i39] , जबकि एक ग्राम में भी बिजली नहीं लग रही है। समय रहते इसका ख्याल नहीं किया गया तो बड़ी कठिनाई होगी। लोगों में सरकार के प्रति अविश्वास पैदा हो रहा है। बिहार के मामले में हमारे नेता श्री रघुनाथ झा बोल रहे थे। उन्होंने बहुत सी बातों को कह दिया लेकिन जो बातें छूट गई हैं, मैं उन्हें बोलना चाहता हूं। बिहार के मामले में इसी सदन में लंबी चर्चा हुई थी लेकिन बिहार का दुर्भाग्य है कि हम आज सुबह बिहार में आए सूखे के बारे में बोलने के लिए खड़े हुए। हम पहली बार सूखे के मामले में बोलने के लिए खड़े हुए थे। इससे पहले लगातार बाढ़ के लिए खड़े होते थे। बाढ़ के बारे में एक सवाल था कि आप इसका स्थायी समाधान कीजिए और नेपाल सरकार से बात करके बड़े-बड़े डैम बनाइए, नदी का पानी नदी से पास कर जाए तथा उसका रास्ता बना दीजिए, हाई डैम बना दीजिए और बिजली पैदा करिए। हमारे ५-६ इलाके इसके सफरर हैं और हम हर वर्ष इसके भुक्तभोगी होते हैं। इन्होंने इस सदन में घोषणा की थी कि नेपाल से वार्ता करके ६ कार्यालय खोलेंगे लेकिन मात्र तीन कार्यालय खोले गए। माननीय वित्त मंत्री जी, हम चाहते हैं कि आप हमारी बात सुनें जिससे हमें जवाब मिल जाए। सभापति महोदय, क्या वित्त मंत्री जी हमारी बात नहीं सुनेंगे?
सभापति महोदय : नोट कर रहे हैं।
श्री सीताराम सिंह : कहां नोट कर रहे हैं?
SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM: Sir, this is not fair. He must assume that I am listening and I will reply. I have got my headphone. What is the point of criticizing like that?… (Interruptions)
श्री सीताराम सिंह : महोदय, सदन में सरकार ने घोषणा की थी कि ६ कार्यालय खोलेंगे लेकिन डेढ़ वर्ष हो गया है, मात्र तीन कार्यालय खोले गए। इस सदन में सरकार ने धोषणा की थी कि डिटेल प्रोजैक्ट रिपोर्ट बनाएंगे। क्या वह बनी है? अगर डिटेल प्रोजैक्ट रिपोर्ट बनी है तो आज जो सप्लीमैंटरी डिमांड्स लाए हैं, क्या उसमें खर्च करने के लिए पैसा दिया है? वह एक लंबा प्रोजैक्ट है। इसके लिए प्रति वर्ष बजट में प्रावधान नहीं किया जाएगा तो यह प्रोजैक्ट सफल नहीं होगा, हम केवल भाषण करते जाएंगे और सरकार आश्वासन देती रहेगी, लेकिन काम आगे नहीं बढ़ेगा। जो पांच राज्य हैं उनमें बंगाल, उत्तर प्रदेश और विशेष कर बिहार है। हम चाहते हैं कि इसके लिए प्रावधान किया जाए और इस प्रोजैक्ट द्वारा बाढ़ के स्थायी निदान के लिए कार्रवाई की जाए।
आपने ग्रामीण रोजगार योजना बनायी। बिहार जो गरीब प्रदेश हैं उसके मात्र २३ जिले लिए हैं और बाकी जिलों को छोड़ दिया है। उन्हें अभी तक नहीं लिया गया है। जिन जिलों को लिया गया, वहां काम नहीं हो रहा है। आपने जिस रूप में इसे रखा, उसके तौर-तरीकों को आज तक गांवों तक नहीं पहुंचाया गया है। काम शुरु नहीं किया गया है। लोकतंत्र में गरीबों और कुशल मजदूरों के लिए कानून बनाया गया था लेकिन उस आधार पर गांवों में काम नहीं हो रहा है। शत-प्रतिशत जिलों में लागू करने के लिए सभी जिलों को लिया जाए। मैं आपको इस बात के लिए धन्यवाद देता हूं कि आपने २६ जिले जो गरीबी रेखा के नीचे हैं, उनको लिया है।
मैं बैंकों के बारे में एक बात कहना मुनासिब समझता हूं। ऋण के रूप में बैंकों से पैसा दिया जाता है। गरीबी और बेरोजगारी दूर करने के लिए सैल्फ हैल्प ग्रुप बना कर बैंकों द्वारा ऋण देने की योजना है। बिहार में यह योजना सही ढंग से कारगर नहीं हो रही है। लोग प्रयास कर रहे हैं और जनता जागरूक है। सैल्फ ग्रुप बन चुके हैं लेकिन बैंकों से एक पैसे की सहायता नहीं मिल रही है। मैं वित्त मंत्री जी से विशेष रूप में आग्रह करना चाहता हूं कि बिहार में सैल्फ हैल्प ग्रुप्स को सहायता पहुंचाने के लिए, अपने स्तर से कार्रवाई करें, रिव्यू करें और बैंकों से जो ऋण मुहैय्या होना है, उसे रोजगार देने के लिए उपयोग करें[R42][R41][R40] ।
बिहार सबसे गरीब राज्य है और वहां से गरीब लोग रोजगार की तलाश में बाहर पलायन करते हैं, क्योंकि उन्हें रोजगार नहीं मिलता। आज रोजगार के लिए भारत सरकार की जो नीति है, उसका पैसा उपलब्ध है। मैं आपसे आग्रह करूंगा कि आप अपने स्तर से इसमें विशेष रुचि लेकर देखें और गरीबों को सहायता पहुंचाने का काम करें।
अंत में मैं कहना चाहूंगा कि बिहार के लिए जो पैकेज के बारे में आपने कहा, उसमें एन.एच. के बारे में चर्चा हुई। एन.एच. के मामले में हम सभी एक मत से कहना चाहते हैं कि आपको जिस रूप में भी यह काम करना हो कीजिए, लेकिन ६०:४० और ७०:३० के रेश्यों में इसे मत बांटिये। जब तक यह चलता रहेगा, तब तक बिहार की एक इंच रोड भी नहीं बनेगी। अत: इसे खत्म किया जाए और जितने किलोमीटर रोड बनाना चाहते हैं, उसे आप अपने स्तर से बनवायें। भारत निर्माण के अंतर्गत ग्रामीण विकास के लिए आपने एक हजार की आबादी वाले गांवों के बारे में घोषणा की है। लेकिन सिर्फ घोषणा कर देने से ही काम नहीं होगा। पहले प्रधान मंत्री ग्रामीण सड़क योजना की आपने घोषणा की, जिसे आपने टेक-अप किया, लेकिन जो पैसा जिलों में जा रहा है, उसमें आप हमसे दस रोड्स की प्राथमिकता की सूची ले लेते हैं, लेकिन पैसा दो रोड्स का देते हैं। वित्त मंत्री जी आप मालिक हैं, यदि आप पैसा नहीं देंगे तो चाहे भारत निर्माण योजना हो या प्रधान मंत्री ग्रामीण सड़क योजना हो, कोई भी योजना कामयाब नहीं होगी। इसलिए मैं आग्रह करूंगा कि गांवों के विकास के लिए चाहे भारत निर्माण योजना हो, प्रधान मंत्री ग्रामीण सड़क योजना हो या अन्य कोई योजना हो, ग्रामीण विकास के लिए आप राशि उपलब्ध कराइये, ताकि बिहार के गांवों का विकास हो सके। इन्हीं शब्दों के साथ आपको धन्यवाद देते हुए मैं अपना वक्तव्य समाप्त करता हूं।
DR. THOKCHOM MEINYA (INNER MANIPUR): Mr. Chairman, Sir, I rise to join the discussion and voting on the Supplementary Demands for Grants (General), 2006-07.
At the very outset, I would like to congratulate the hon. Finance Minister for his General Budget proposals and the Supplementary Demands put forward. We have a lot of confidence in him.
While supporting these Demands, I would like to put on record that this discussion would have been very fruitful if we had our hon. Members from the Opposition benches also with us. Since the gathering here is very less today, I would rather concentrate on the helps extended by this Government, particularly, to the States of North-Eastern India and more particularly for my State, Manipur.
As you know, we have got certain missions of this UPA Government, like Bharat Nirman, and our flagship programmes; and under these heads, the Government of India is diverting a good amount of money, to be more precise, at the rate of 10 per cent of the Budget allocation from every Department of the Union Government, for the development of the North-Eastern Region. In spite of all these helps so far extended, this area, that is, the North-Eastern Region of the country is now asking for more. Why? It is because, the people there are very, very sensitive. I would rather put it in a very mild language, that the people there are emotional. It is because we come from a very far away distance, and at the same time, whenever we come here, our look, and our way of movement attract the attention of the rest of the people[KD43] .
16.00 hrs. This way, whatever has been done is not enough. Much is yet to be done. I would put an example. We have developed recently in the State of Manipur a very good infrastructure for sports when we had the Fifth National Games. But this good infrastructure is crying for proper maintenance. You know, this could have happened only when we have more number of national tournaments in that area. Otherwise, it is very difficult. For reasons known to all of us, the roads leading to those areas are yet to be developed, and for that we require money.
I am very proud of being a Member of this House, particularly of the UPA that with the coming of this Government in power, these States are given a lot of money. What we have to see is, how the money is being utilised. Here, I draw your kind attention to the fact that the hon. Finance Minister will come up with the Outcome Budget as was done last year. With that, we know how the things are being performed.
We have certain problems while implementing many of the Centrally-sponsored schemes under which the monies are flowing into these areas. There are certain difficulties. I will take the privilege of mentioning these difficulties in the discussion on the Supplementary Demands for Grants (General). The first difficulty is regarding law and order situation. Unfortunately, in that part of the State and in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, we have certain laws which are area- specific. I will cite the exact example. Area-specific in the sense, we have Armed Forces Special Power Act, 1958 being applied there. I fully agree with the fact that the State Governments declare some areas as disturbed areas. Only after that, this Act comes into the picture. But even then the Government of India, having seen the difficulties faced by these people in that area, has ordered a Review Committee headed by Justice Reddy.
We are all aware of the fact that the Reddy Committee Report has already come to the Government. All the people in that part of the country, particularly North-Eastern India as well as Jammu and Kashmir, are waiting for the repeal of this infamous Act. But so far it has not happened. This will help a lot in improving the psyche of the people there.
We require certain environments for development, and peaceful atmosphere is very, very essential for the proper development of everything. Taking into consideration all these things, I would like to remind this august House that we are talking much that this country is the country of agriculturists, the country of farmers. Everyday in this House we listen to this. We have heard the problems of the farmers being discussed here[m44] .
It may be that I am not perfectly correct. But one reason for this is that our planners have to see that at least the farmers are given the Minimum Support Price for their farm produce. Once this is achieved, perhaps, they would come up and participate in the nation-building activities. Today we are very much proud of our hon. Minister of Finance. I am not praising him in his presence. Recently there was a discussion on price rise. Everyday there is a hue and cry on this. Price rise is there. No doubt, we agree. But why is this price-rise? We have to look into it. The Government is trying very hard, rather the hon. Minister of Finance is trying very hard in this regard. He has increased the subsidy rate. He has cut down the excise duty. He has done so many things. But still there is price rise. Why is it so? It is because of the increasing population. The demand is more. If the demand is more than the supply, naturally the prices have to rise. For that we are all here to find a solution. We have to sit together and understand it and tell to the people that these are the circumstances under which we had to do like this. It cannot be solved simply by chiding one another. Fully understanding all these difficulties, what we have to remember is that we have to work very hard. This is one thing which is very important. I still remember one thing which I learnt in my young age. What we have learnt is that God helps those who help themselves. It is very very important.
Recently, I was called upon to join a discussion on our Lok Sabha TV at 9 pm. The discussion was very interesting about the proceedings in the Parliament where our Opposition brothers are boycotting or disturbing the proceedings. That discussion was open for public to put questions and seek answers. At that time no question was asked during the discussion. The moderator was asking me as to why no question comes on this issue. I said – ‘Sir, it is 9 pm; in Manipur or in North-Eastern India or in that part, they shut all doors at 6 pm and go to sleep because of the law and order problem. Nobody will be there to listen to our programme. Only here in the Capital somebody might be listening to us’.
I am very sorry to say this. There are certain things to be done. At Government of India level, we move to look towards that socio-economic development of that area. Our region is a very peaceful area. But how has it become like this? Everybody knows this. We require to give a thrust to the socio-economic development in that area. It is very very important. Whatever money that is given, is quite a big amount. Still these areas require more. I think the hon. Minister of Finance will take into account all these aspects and in the next Budget I hope that there would be more allocation of funds. I am very proud to say that the Government of Manipur is given this time Rs. 1,160 crore for the Plan expenditure. That means every month we can spend Rs. 100 crore. But even then, the law and order problem is still there. For that we have to consider so many ways. I draw the attention of this august House to this aspect.
The Supplementary Demands come as a routine matter. Even then we have to go with this. I congratulate the hon. Minister of Finance once again and I support the Demands.
SHRI PRABODH PANDA (MIDNAPORE): Thank you, Sir. I rise to support the Supplementary Demands for Grants. On behalf of our Party, hon. Member Shri Sudhakar Reddy spoke on many things. I want to supplement him. Several hon. Members of this august House raised many important points. This is not a General Budget. This is a Supplementary Demands for Grants. It is sought to authorise a gross additional expenditure of Rs. 47,868.97 crore. The scope of discussion is very limited.
While supporting these Demands, I want to draw the attention of the hon. Minister of Finance to some important aspects. It is correctly said and I do support that subsidy on imported urea is given at Rs. 1,500 crore and subsidy on imported de-controlled fertiliser is Rs. 600 crore. The hon. Minister is aware of the fact that in our country a lot of fertiliser plants are closed[krr45] .
In the Eastern zone, almost all the fertiliser plants are closed. If the money had been provided to revitalise the plants in our own country, I think, it would have been more beneficial for the peasants as well as for the country. There is no scope in these Demands for Supplementary Grants, but in the long run, in the coming days, our Government should think over how to revitalise our own fertiliser plants in our own country so that we do not have to depend on imported fertilisers and imported urea. We have enough plants to produce urea. That is my first point.
At the time of initiating this discussion on Supplementary Demands for Grants, hon. Finance Minister told that the subsidy would go to the farmers in the form of fertilisers. I would request him to explain whether the subsidy will go directly to the farmers or to the plants. They should think how to provide this subsidy to the farmers direct.
I am coming to another point in relation to farmers. Several Members have touched the point. Though this is not the occasion for discussion on plight of the farmers, yet several points have been raised. The first point to address the plight of farmers is building adequate infrastructure. For that, irrigation and rural electrification are needed. In the General Budget, the concerned Department claimed Rs. 12,000 for irrigation, but the Planning Commission sanctioned Rs. 8,000 crore only. My point is whether the Planning Commission is supreme or the Parliament is supreme in the parliamentary system. First, the Planning Commission should be tutored, Planning Commission should be oriented. What is the use of having a Common Minimum Programme if the Planning Commission does not think on that line? Departments are claiming certain amounts of money, but the Planning Commission curtails those amounts. In such a case, how will our nation progress? Much more money should be provided for irrigation as well as rural electrification.
Capital formation in agriculture is declining day by day. Hon. Minister is aware of this fact. Even the credit flow to agriculture is not up to the mark. It is increasing, but it is not up to the mark. The commercial banks of our country are not in a position to achieve the stipulated target, even 18 per cent of the net credit flow. Though it is required that at least 20 per cent of the total credit flow should go to agriculture, the stipulation is that of 18 per cent. It is made by the RBI. But most of the commercial banks of our country do not even meet the stipulated target. Not only that, out of our Budget outlay, I think, not even two per cent are provided in agriculture. Around one per cent of our GDP is provided to agriculture. This is the situation[S46] . What is the position with regard to this issue at this stage?
It is a fact that the income of the peasants, and the farmers has increased. Different agencies have observed that it has increased by 1.5 per cent, but their expenditure has also risen by more than five per cent. Therefore, there is a gap of more than 3.5 per cent in it. How would we eliminate this gap in it? The farmers have no other way, but to go to the moneylenders or other non-institutional agencies to borrow money. I want to know this from the hon. Minister. Is he contemplating to tap all the non-institutional agencies? I am asking this because if you do not tap them in your institutional credit network, then you would not be able to address these problems.
A number of hon. Members have mentioned about Dr. Swaminathan Committee. We used to refer about China’s situation on different occasions, but as far as I know, credit for agriculture in China is given at zero per cent interest. I am not saying that our country should provide credit to the farmers at zero per cent interest, but at least, Dr. Swaminathan Committee’s views should be followed. I feel that our Government should follow the view of the Committee of giving credit in agriculture at four per cent interest.
I would also like to take this opportunity to mention about the Vaidyanathan Committee. We have different layers in the cooperative sector, and the Government should come out with necessary steps, so that at least one or two layers could be removed. This provision of giving money at four per cent interest would mean lesser burden on the peasants or the members of the primary agriculture society. It is not only important that credit is available to them, but it is equally important that cheap credit is made available for agriculture.
As regards technology upgradation, we are providing some money for research and development work, but I feel that market for the same is also required. How will there be market if we do not allocate more money to FCI for procurement of food grains or allocate more money to JCI for procurement of jute from the workers? Therefore, I would request the Government to ensure that more money is allocated to the FCI, JCI and such other agencies.
I would also like to mention about the cases of suicides. Names of some of the districts have already been announced where some sort of a package would be given to the peasants. But, at present, these cases of suicides are not confined to some districts only. Therefore, there should be a national outlook for the peasants, especially, the farmers who are facing such a critical crisis in different districts of the States in our country. The Government has to take a view to address this problem.
I would not like to take much time of the august House. I do support the Supplementary Demands for Grants (General), but while supporting the same I would appeal to the hon. Minister to think and ponder over all the problems that have been raised in this august House. I would conclude with these words.
SHRI RAVICHANDRAN SIPPIPARAI (SIVAKASI) : Hon. Chairman, Sir, the House has now taken up Supplementary Demands for Grants (Budget-General) for the year 2006-07 for 43 items, and I rise to support the same on behalf o f my party, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazagham. I also thank the Chair for giving me an opportunity to speak on this occasion. Rs. 47,868 crore are sought to be released through this Demands for Grants.
I find the steps contemplated by the Government to help mitigate the sufferings of farmers in areas where agriculturists are driven to their wits end and commit suicide. Rs.27 crore have been earmarked to attend to the needs of the farmers and ease their credit burden in districts all over India where suicide deaths have become rampant of late.
When there is crop loss or damage to the crop, instead of waiting till the last movement till everything is lost, right in the very beginning when the damage is noticed, adequate compensation should be paid to the farmers. Under Crop Insurance Scheme, this must be aimed at to benefit the farmers. Not only the farmers who have been covered under crop insurance scheme, but also small and marginal farmers must get helping hand from the Government. Such farmers who are not in a position to go for insurance cover, also must get compensation from the Government when there is monsoon failure or crop loss or when they have to face the wrath of nature all of a sudden. This is all the more necessary to save the poor farmers.
As far as my home State Tamil Nadu is concerned, the second biggest activity in the agricultural sector is poultry. Last year, there was a heavy loss due to bird flue. In order to compensate the small farmers who resort to poultry farming during off season period, Rs.80 crore have been earmarked in this
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* English translation of the speech originally delivered in Tamil.
Supplementary Demands for Grants. I welcome this kind gesture of the UPA Government. Rs.5 crore has been earmarked for weavers in the handloom sector which is the second largest occupation in Tamil Nadu. I feel this amount is inadequate because lakhs of weavers are solely dependant on this traditional occupation. This sum may not help to meet their aspirations to develop this sector and to improve their looms and productivity.
In order to ensure growth and development of Taxtile sector on a continuous basis, a scheme called 'TUFS' has been evolved and an additional fund of Rs.300 crore have been earmarked. The Government must aim at providing a much desired competitive edge to our Textile sector so that we can compete with the Chinese Textile industry. Under clustered development, many schemes were announced in the Budget and many of them are yet to be implemented fully. Hence, I urge upon the Union Government to implement them to give a pep to the weaving industry.
As far as the process of urbanisation was concerned, in the whole of India, about 44 per cent of them live in urban areas and in the suburbs. There is a projection that in 2025 the urban population in Tamil Nadu would rise to 70 to 75 per cent. And such increased population can be provided with job opportunities only in the industrial sector. In order to provide job opportunities to such emerging population, we need to evolve ways and means to develop various industries in the industrial sector. If we take up Sivakasi, the industrial town for printing industry, that is situated in my constituency, we find many setbacks now. This industry is under threat. For instance, a cellophane paper needed for this industry along with firecrackers units costs more now. I urge upon the Union Government to ease the burden of this industry by way of lifting the import duty on this variety of paper. Under Cluster Approach Development Scheme, a way out must be evolved to Siva Kasi's Printing and Rajapalayam's Textile industry which was booming till recently.
I find an allocation of Rs.5 crore to promote arts connected with the language Sanskrit and its culture. I gratefully recall the measure of this Government to have declared Tamil as a classical language. Hence, there is a need to promote various forms of arts found in Tamil and Tamil culture. So, I urge upon the Union Government to set up art funds to promote Tamil culture and its art forms to the world. Ancient art forms are still there in Tamil Nadu and there is a national mission waiting before us to conserve and preserve them. Both in Bhakti literature and other literatures our art forms have been referred to.
Fertilizers and quality seeds are the basic ingredients to give a pep to the agricultural sector . I urge upon the Union Government to take effective steps to see that fertilizers are available without quantitative restrictions. In Cauveri Delta, after many years about 12 lakh acres of land have come under cultivation because of availability of irrigation water this year. Paddy cultivation is being taken up there when there is such a conducive atmosphere there is a need and necessity to supply in an adequate measure the needed fertilizers and quality seeds. An additional subsidy of Rs.1,500 crore have been earmarked for fertilizers this year. At this juncture, I would like to impress upon the Government that adequate care is taken to increase production and distribution of fertilizers. While congratulating the Government for various progressive and measures to obviate the hardships faced by the farmers, I request the Government to continue with the pace. With these words, I conclude my speech.
SHRI K.V. THANGKABALU (SALEM): Sir, I rise to support the Supplementary Demands for Grants of the Ministry of Finance.
Sir, first of all, I thank the hon. Finance Minister for his eloquent and very efficient way of functioning. After he took over as the Minister of Finance, his first approach was to give a great impetus to agriculture by providing Rs. 1,05,000 crore to the agrarian community in the country, which was the need of the hour. Subsequently, this year, he has earmarked a sum of Rs. 1,77,000 crore for the loan proposals[R47] . This will help a lot in the development of agriculture sector. People talk about suicides by agriculturists now and then. But the efforts being made by the Government will certainly create a new awareness, a new thinking and a new spurt of development in the agrarian sector by infusing more funds.
The recent announcement made by hon. Finance Minister reducing the interest rate on loans to agriculture sector to seven per cent is a very important announcement. I congratulate the hon. Minister for that. It is a welcome step. As mentioned by other hon. Members also, agricultural community in the country is the most vulnerable section of our population. Majority of the agriculturists are facing problems due to famines, droughts and floods year after year. I would like to emphasise that there is a requirement of reducing this interest rate further to four per cent. That will help enhance the agricultural production of the marginal and sub-marginal farmers in the country. They should be given a special benefit of this lower interest rate on loans.
The most important community after agricultural community in the country is the weavers’ community. Weavers’ community at large is yearning for very good measures. Due to the policy followed by the NDA Government, textile workers, jute industries and handloom sector were facing great problems. It is only after the UPA Government came into power in 2004 that the problem was revisited and finally the Government accepted a more viable and concrete proposal to meet their needs and aspirations removal of CENVAT Tax.. As a result of that, today the entire textile industry is booming. There was a dire need of a rehabilitation programme. The Ministry of Finance of Government of India has been implementing the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme. There was a fear in the minds of the people that this would be discontinued. When the hon. Finance Minister visited Salem, he declared that the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme would be continued. As a result of that a majority of the people involved in handloom, power loom and other industries in the sector are now breathing easy. They are now confident that the Government of India would always come to the help of this sector[KMR48] .
This sector is only next to agriculture in employment generation. A lot of potential is there to give more employment opportunities for the workers, weavers, and youths, in particular. The hon. Minister has earmarked Rs.300 crore in the Supplementary Demands as additional fund. I would request you, as other hon. friends in this august House have requested, that you should continue with this programme up to 2010. If required, you can extend it even further for another 10 or 15 years so that the majority would get employment in the handloom sector, jute industry and all other related activities.
I would like to thank the hon. Minister for providing Rs.80 crore for the poultry industry. Poultry industry is one of the biggest industries in the rural areas where a lot of entrepreneurs are taking up the job and a lot of people are getting employed, particularly, women. Hence, we should give more money to help this poultry industry in this country.
A subsidy of Rs.1,500 crore was meant for imported urea and de-controlled fertilizers. The total additional expenditure was Rs.2,100 crore, of which the cash outgo was to the tune of Rs.1,500 crore and the balance amount is met by the enhanced recovery. Fertilizer is an essential commodity for agrarian development. Whatever subsidy is given to the fertilizer companies, I would request the Government to ensure that it should directly go to the farmers. It is a known fact that the subsidy goes to the fertilizer companies and not to the farmers. I express my dismay in this regard. Only farmers are at the receiving end. Whatever subsidy is given to the fertilizer companies, the same should be given to the farmers directly so that the farming community at large would be benefited.
In Tamil Nadu, the newly elected Government headed by Dr. Kalaignar waived off the agricultural cooperative loans to the tune of Rs.6,800 crore. This is one of the very important programmes. This is one of the unique programmes in the whole country which has saved the farming community from indebtedness. Likewise, there has been a demand concerning the public sector banks. People get loans from the public sector banks. I am afraid as to whether we would be able to help those people or not. But a demand exists in our country and in my State concerning public sector banks. One set of people are benefited through this programme enunciated by the State Government led by Dr. Kalaignar. And the other set of farmers who got loans from the public sector banks are not in a position to get the same benefit. Hence, I would request the hon. Finance Minister to kindly ponder over this issue and see as to how best we can come to the rescue of the farmers who have received loans from the public sector banks. At least, the interest waiver can be given or else, some form of help should be extended to the farming community at large.
Another thing I would like to mention here is that the hon. Minister has taken a very good initiative after he assumed the office of Finance Minister. Thousands of youths in our country were not able to go abroad for higher studies for want of funds. Poor families, workers, peasants were not able to give higher education to their children. In your wisdom, when I raised this issue in the Consultative Committee on Finance, you have readily agreed, not only readily agreed, but you have also sanctioned and ordered that all the public sector banks should give educational loans to the qualified people belonging to the weaker sections[s49] .
Today thousands and thousands of youths all over the country are benefited from that scheme. Thanks to the hon. Minister not only from me, but also from the lakhs and lakhs of people for his greatness or generosity. So, the working class people, the poor peasants and people from the weaker sections in our country are praying for his good health.
Due to this scheme, today people are going abroad, studying higher education, be it engineering, be it medicine, etc. Here, I have some demand. The hon. Minister ordered distribution of loans for technical education. He had advised the banks to give loans for the purpose of technical education only. At the same time, people are not able to study B.Com, B.Sc., B.Sc. (Hon.), M.C.A., B.C.A., or even teachers’ training and they want to get loans. If they are also given loans, it will be a very major help for the poor people in the country. I seek your indulgence and request the hon. Minister to kindly issue instructions to the banks to give loans to those people also.
I want to add one more thing. Whenever the Minister goes and addresses meetings, he is emphasizing that the banks should come forward and give loans to the needy people. At the same time, I would say that Madam Indira Gandhi, the great leader of our country, the former Prime Minister, nationalized the banks only for the purpose of reaching the weaker sections and poor people so that they get loans and other facilities. But still some authorities, some managers in the same very banks are not attuned to the existing position; they are not even obeying the orders of the Ministers; they talk rubbish and they talk non-sense; and they are not willing to cooperate. In some cases, they do say that they are not bound by these things and that they need collateral securities, whereas the hon. Minister has time and again told that there is no necessity of collateral security for loans up to Rs. 4 lakh. Even then, their attitude has not changed. I request the hon. Minister to take some tough stand against them and he could even punish at least one or two persons so that they become all right. This is very important.
Recently, there was an announcement by the Ministry of Minority Affairs that 15 per cent money is to be allocated for the welfare and development of the minorities. I welcome it wholeheartedly. There is already a 10-per cent allocation from each Ministry for the development of North Eastern States. That is also a very important factor. The North Eastern States as well as the minority communities in the country must be given this facility, and I wholeheartedly welcome and support this initiative.
We find that more than 60 per cent of our population is from backward classes in this country. There is a Ministry looking after the Backward Classes. But last year the budget allocation to this Department or Ministry is only Rs.78 crore. When I was a Minister in the Department of Welfare, we created National Backward Classes, finance and Development Corporation, National Finance and Development Corporation for the Minorities, National Finance and Development Corporation for the SC/STs. From 1996 till date, this Department in the Ministry has not given any additional fund to them. I seek your indulgence here. As we give 10 per cent of each Ministry’s allocation for the development of North East, as we give 15 per cent allocation for the minorities, why should we not have allocation for the backward classes, based on the percentage of their population? More than 60 per cent of the people are backward and they are not getting anything; they get only a meagre amount of Rs.78 crore. Then, what will happen to the development of these communities[V50] ?
Socio-economic development is the need of the hour. They are deprived socially, educationally and economically. I seek your indulgence to help this community. Like North-Eastern States and like minorities and SCs/STs, the backward sections of the society should also be given impetus, assistance, by providing reasonably good amount of money. This is our long felt need and demand.
In the last Budget, the Minister had announced a very thoughtful and important programme, the National Water Conservation Programme. That is one of the very-very important things today because we face drought, cyclone and such other water-related problems. We are not able to store water when there is cyclone. There is no water during drought. To conserve water, we need to develop all the water bodies in the country on a war footing manner. That is the only way by which we can make use of water for agriculture as well as drinking purposes.
In my district Salem, we are getting water through Cauvery for drinking only. For the last six consecutive months, our Mettur dam has good storage of water. For the last 50 years we have been demanding an additional dam at Hogenakal. If an additional dam is built at Hogenakal, we can achieve four objectives - an integrated dam, electricity generation, drinking water and water for agricultural needs. The Members of Parliament belonging to Tamil Nadu have jointly submitted a proposal to the Government of India for creating an integrated Hogenakal Scheme but we have not so far got any reply. On behalf of the State Government and on behalf of all the Members of Parliament belonging to Tamil Nadu, I would request the hon. Finance Minister to consider this scheme so that the drought-affected Salem, Dharmapuri and North Arcot districts get drinking water in addition to meeting the needs of electricity and agricultural development of the area.
We have recently submitted a proposal for Mettur-III Water Scheme covering Salem, my Parliamentary constituency. We are not getting enough drinking water. It is a very important programme for my constituency, my district and my State. The State Government has submitted a proposal with the required investment of Rs.600 crore. I would request the hon. Finance Minister to sanction this amount particularly to solve the water problem of Salem district. It is a very important programme. The State Government’s initiative is to be supported by the Union Government.
Another important area, I would like to mention before this august House, is the self-help group scheme. It is a very important scheme whereby our women folks are given a lot of impetus. They are growing day-by-day in self-sufficiency[R51] . [R52] This should be encouraged and in your tenure, you have done your best to allocate more funds for them. The Central Government share is 75 per cent and the State Government share is 25 per cent. The rolling funds should be given to the needy people. In Tamil Nadu, three months’ back we were not getting the due share for the needy people. But at least now the new Government has taken new initiatives to support the Self-Help Groups. These entrepreneurs and NGOs are to be given more facilities for training the Self-Help Groups. I would request that the Central Government share should be increased from 75 per cent to 100 per cent. This will help the Self-Help Group movement to a greater extent.
MR. CHAIRMAN : Please conclude now. Your time is over.
SHRI K.V. THANGKABALU : I would request the hon. Finance Minister and the Minister of State for Finance to extend all the help so that the Self-Help Group movement progresses. I would seek their committed support for this movement.
Sir, the SSA Programme is one of the very important schemes of the Government of India and a sum of Rs.11,000 crore was announced this year for this programme. It is for the State Government’s initiative for helping the education sector and particularly the primary education sector would get a boost. In this area, there is a problem. The NABARD is sanctioning the schemes.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Please conclude. I am calling the next speaker.
SHRI K.V. THANGKABALU : Sir, I am concluding. I would request that more money should be allocated under the SSA Programme to the States for revamping of the education system. Many schools are not having class rooms, toilets and drinking water facilities. This is a very important scheme. We want that this scheme should be implemented properly in the whole country. We should assess the requirement so that accordingly we could provide the facilities in the rural areas, villages, schools, etc. It would help the weaker sections, dalits, minorities , backward classes and every section of the country. The Central Government should come forward to help under this Scheme. Under various schemes like Bharat Nirman, Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and such other schemes we are getting full support of the Government. With the result, the common people and the weaker sections are benefited. The elected Members of Parliament and the MLAs should be involved in this. Today, it is not being done. Even when we passed the Rural Employment Guarantee Bill, it was a mistake that we did not incorporate it in that. I would request that the Finance Minister should instruct the authorities to involve the elected representatives as monitors in this scheme. It is very important. With this, I support the Supplementary Demands of Finance Ministry.
श्री गणेश प्रसाद सिंह (जहानाबाद) : माननीय सभापति महोदय, मैं आभार प्रकट करता हूँ कि आपने मुझे बोलने का अवसर प्रदान किया।
महोदय, आज माननीय वित्तमंत्री जी ने वर्ष २००६-२००७ की अनुदानों की पूरक मांगों को इस सदन की स्वीकृति के लिए प्रस्तुत किया है। उन्होंने अनुदानों की मांगों में जो विभागों और मंत्रालयों की सूची प्रविष्ट की है, उसमें ४२ विभाग आते cé[R53] । उसके कुल व्यय के लिए ४७,८०७ करोड़ रुपए का प्रावधान किया है। इसके साथ ही ३९,२०० करोड़ रुपए की वसूली प्राप्त करने का लक्ष्य इन्होंने रखा है। साथ ही ८,६६७ करोड़ रुपए भी व्यय करने करने का प्रस्ताव इन्होंने रखा है। मैं वित्त मंत्री जी के इन प्रस्तावों का समर्थन करता हूं, क्योंकि जो राशि व्यय करनी है और जो राशि व्यय हो गई है, वह संसद की स्वीकृति के बिना नहीं हो सकती।
प्रत्येक वर्ष हम सामान्य बजट से लेकर अनुदानों की अनुपूरक मांगों को संसद में पास करते हैं। हम इसलिए इन्हें पारित करते हैं ताकि राष्ट्र का विकास हो, राष्ट्र से गरीबी, फटेहाली और बेकारी दूर हो सके। लेकिन वास्तव में क्या होता है, यह मैं सदन में बताना चाहता हूं। विगत दो वर्षों में जिस रफ्तार से देश में महंगाई बढ़ी है, मेरी समझ में यह बात नहीं आती, क्योंकि एक तरफ तो हमारे वित्त मंत्री जी अपने भाषणों में बार-बार कहते हैं कि हमारी विकास दर बढ़ी है और दूसरी तरफ इतनी महंगाई लोगों को झेलनी पड़ रही है। हमारी ग्रोथ रेट बढ़ी, लेकिन हम महंगाई पर नियंत्रण नहीं कर पा रहे हैं, वह बेतहाशा बढ़ रही है। सरकार और देश के लिए यह काफी खतरनाक है। मैं वित्त मंत्री जी से निवेदन करना चाहूंगा। आप एक अर्थशास्त्री के रूप में जाने जाते हैं। आपको गहन चिंतन और अनुभव है तथा वित्त विभाग को आपने कई वर्षों से सम्भाला है। इसलिए महंगाई पर नियंत्रण करने के लिए आर्थिक सलाहकारों से और अन्य लोगों से आपको बातचीत करनी चाहिए।
महोदय, मैं दूसरी बात कहना चाहता हूं कि सरकार द्वारा कृषि के विकास के नाम पर काफी धन खर्च किया जा रहा है। लेकिन हमें यह भी देखना चाहिए कि क्या हम वास्तव में कृषि का विकास कर रहे हैं या नहीं। कृषि का विकास तब तक सम्भव नहीं है, जब तक सिंचाई की व्यवस्था नहीं होगी। हमें यह देखना होगा कि हमने देश की कितने प्रतिशत भूमि में सिंचाई की सुविधा प्रदान की है। जब तक यह सुविधा पूर्णरूप से हम किसानों को प्रदान नहीं करेंगे, तब तक हमारे देश में कृषि का उत्पादन नहीं बढ़ सकेगा। मैं वित्त मंत्री जी से निवेदन करना चाहूंगा कि आप जो प्रावधान करते हैं, उसमें कृषि के साथ-साथ सिंचाई की व्यवस्था के लिए भी प्रावधान करके अधिक धन आबंटित करें, तब हम पूर्ण रूप से सिंचाई की व्यवस्था देश में कर पाएंगे।
हमारे देश में कई राज्यों की हालत खराब है और वे गरीब हैं, लेकिन भारतवर्ष में बिहार की गरीबी अव्वल दर्जे पर आती है। बिहार के किसानों की हालत अन्य प्रदेशों के किसानों की अपेक्षा अधिक तकलीफदायक और फटेहाली की है। इसका मुख्य कारण है कि बिहार के किसानों के साथ हमेशा उपेक्षा का भाव रखा गया है। पहले भी जो पैकेज अन्य प्रदेशों को मिलता था, वह बिहार को नहीं मिल पाया और अब भी वही स्थिति है।
सभापति महोदय, आप बिहार से भली-भांति अवगत हैं कि वहां की भूमि कितनी उपजाऊ है और वहां की माटी कितनी अच्छी है। लेकिन सिंचाई के अभाव में वहां अधिक पैदावार नहीं हो पाती। वहां के किसानों को कृषि के लिए समुचित साधन मुहैया नहीं हो पाते हैं। वित्त मंत्री जी ने कहा है कि हम किसानों को सस्ते ब्याज पर ऋण देने का काम करेंगे। महोदय, आप भी अवगत हैं कि बिहार में कितने बैंकों द्वारा कितने किसानों के बीच ऋण वितरित किया गया है। जहां तक मेरी जानकारी है, मेरे क्षेत्र किसानों को ऋण नहीं मिल रहा है[R54] ।
महोदय, तीसरी बात मैं यह कहना चाहता हूं कि बिहार के लोग इतने गरीब है कि आप किसी भी प्रदेश में जाकर देखें तो वहां पर जो मजदूर कुली,खलासी या दूसरे किस्म की मजदूरी करते हैं वे बिहार से आकर करते हैं, बिहार से लोग दूसरे प्रदेशों में रोजी-रोटी कमाने के लिए जाते हैं। बिहार में शिक्षा का प्रतिशत भी कम है और उसका कारण यह है कि वहां पर शिक्षा-संस्थानों, चकित्सा-संस्थानों और तकनीकी संस्थानों की भारी कमी है और वहां पर उद्योग-धंधे भी नहीं के बराबर हैं। झारखंड और बिहार जब अलग हुए तो उद्योग-धंधे भी झारखंड में लगे और बिहार को उपोक्षित कर दिया गया। आज बिहार के पास क्या है? कृषि के अलावा बिहार के पास कुछ नहीं है। उत्तर बिहार बाढ़ से और दक्षिण बिहार सुखाड़ से परेशान है। माननीय झा जी ने और माननीय सीताराम सिंह जी ने बताया कि किस प्रकार से नेपाल के साथ जो समझौता हुआ था उसे लागू नहीं किया जा रहा है। जो बड़े डैम हैं वे अगर नदियों पर नहीं बनाए जाएंगे, पन-बिजलीघर नहीं बनाए जाएंगे और महोदय, बाढ़ नहीं रुकेगी तो बिहार का विकास नहीं होगा। दूसरी तरफ दक्षिण बिहार में सोन, पुनपुन, मुरहर, भुतही, दरधा और कररुआ आदि अनेक नदियां हैं जो दक्षिण बिहार होकर जाती हैं। इनमें सोन नदी पर बांध मिलेगा, बाकी नदियों पर आजादी के इतने सालों बाद भी डैम का इंतजाम नहीं किया गया है, अगर इन नदियों पर डैम का पहले से इंतजाम कर दिया जाता तो निश्चित रूप से वहां के किसान खुशहाल होते, वहां के किसानों को खेती में काम मिलता और वे खुशहाल होते। अगर अब भी डैम बनें तो वहां के किसान खुशहाल होंगे और उनकी आर्थिक स्थिति सुद्ृढ़ होगी।
महोदय, जब तक बिहार में कृषि पर आधारित उद्योग-धंधों की स्थापना नहीं होगी, तब तक वहां के किसान खुशहाल नहीं होंगे। हमारे बिहार में आम, लीची, केला और सारी की सारी सब्जियां पर्याप्त मात्रा में होती हैं लेकिन वहां उनकी प्रोसैसिंग के लिए उद्योग न होने के कारण बड़ी मात्रा में फल और सब्जियां बेकार हो जाती हैं। अगर बिहार को अन्य खुशहाल प्रदेशों के समान लाना है तो निश्चित रूप से इन सारी बातों पर ध्यान देना पड़ेगा।
अंत में मैं एक बात और कहकर अपनी बात समाप्त करुंगा। बिहार से जो हार्ट-पेशेंट, कैंसर-पेशेंट या किडनी के पेशेंट दिल्ली के एम्स अस्पताल आते हैं उनका इलाज सही ढंग से नहीं हो पाता है। उनके साथ दुव्र्यवहार किया जाता है, उनको परेशान किया जाता है। आपने पटना में एक एम्स की तरह के अस्पताल की स्वीकृति प्रदान की है, इस कार्य की गति को बढ़ाया जाए। जो भी पैकेज वगैरहा या घोषणाएं आप करते हैं उनके अनुरूप राशि भी उपलब्ध होनी चाहिए। चाहे राजीव गांधी विद्युत परियोजना हो या ग्रामीण सड़क निर्माण योजना हो, वे कैसे पूरी होंगी। दक्षिण बिहार में पावर-ग्रिड के लिए पैसा तो रखा है, विद्युत्तीकरण करने का जिम्मा दिया गया है लेकिन उसका काम भी नगण्य है[h55] ।
17.00 hrs. महोदय, अभी तक एक परसेंट भी वह काम नहीं हो पाया है। दूसरी बात मैं यह कहना चाहता हूं कि जो सड़क निर्माण योजना है, उसके तहत इनकी प्लानिंग है कि वर्ष २०११ तक हम सभी गावों को सड़क से जोड़ देंगे, लेकिन उसका काम भी बड़े-बड़े व्यक्तियों को दे रखा है। वह स्वयं काम नहीं करते। वह टेंडर करते हैं, टेंडर के बार वह पेटी कंट्रेक्टर रखते हैं, इसलिए उनका काम भी सराहनीय नहीं है। मैं वित्त मंत्री जी से निवेदन करना चाहता हूं कि इस तरफ विशेष ध्यान दिया जाए।
श्री नखिल कुमार (औरंगाबाद, बिहार) : सभापति महोदय, मैं आपका आभारी हूं कि आपने मुझे इस महत्वपूर्ण विषय पर बोलने के लिए समय दिया है।
महोदय, बोलने के लिए तो बहुत से विषय है, लेकिन क्योंकि समय कम है मैं कुछ ही विषयों पर सरकार का ध्यान आकर्षित करना चाहूंगा। सबसे पहले मैं बताना चाहता हूं कि राष्ट्रीय ग्रामीण रोजगार गारंटी योजना हमारी एक बहुत महत्वाकांक्षी योजना है। इस पर हम बहुत निर्भर करते हैं। ग्रामीण इलाकों में जो गरीबी है, उसे दूर नहीं भी तो कम करने में यह योजना बहुत कारगर सिद्ध होगी और इसी उम्मीद से े इस योजना को गत फरवरी माह में लागू किया गया था । उम्मीद की थी कि बिहार में जो काफी पिछड़ा राज्य है, उसकी तरफ ध्यान जरूर दिया जाएगा। मैं मानने को तैयार हूं कि वहां पंचायत और जिला परिषद के चुनाव में प्रशासन थोड़ा व्यस्त रहा फिर भी छह महीने से ज्यादा हो गए हैं पर इसमें जो प्रगति होनी चाहिए थी, वह नहीं हो पाई है। मसलन मैं अपने क्षेत्र की ही बात करूं । हमारे यहां ११ प्रखंड है और इनमें उम्मीद थी कि अब तक ज्यादा नहीं तो एक लाख जाब कार्ड बंट चुके होंगे। जिला अधिकारी कहते हैं कि उन्होंने ३० हजार जाब कार्ड अब तक बांटे हैं। पर प्रखंडों के लोगों से बातों में इस बात की पुष्टि नहीं होती । सच्चाई है कि जाब कार्ड बने ही नहीं हैं उनके वितरण का सवाल ही पैदा नहीं होता है। सवाल यह उठता है कि यह जाब कार्ड बने क्यों नहीं। और विडम्बना यह है कि जो पैसे इस मद के लिए निर्धारित किए गए थे, वह पैसे मुखिया, सरपंच या दूसरे अधिकारियों ने बैंकों से निकाल लिए हैं। अब चुनाव के बाद नए मुखिया, सरपंच या दूसरे अधिकारी आ गए हैं। लेकिन जिन लोगों ने पहले पैसे निकाले, वे पुराने थे और उनके ही पास पैसे हैं और वह पैसा अभी तक वतरित नहीं हो पाया है । पैसा वितरित हो भी नहीं सकता है, क्योंकि जाब कार्ड वितरित नहीं हुए हैं। जब तक जाब कार्ड वितरित नहीं होंगे, तब तक मजदूरी नहीं मिलेगी, तो पैसा कैसे मिलेगा। मैं केंद्र सरकार से अनुरोध करता हूं कि कोई ऐसा मोनिटरिंग मैकेनिज्म निकाले, जिससे राज्य सरकार पर एक अंकुश रहे और इस स्कीम को लागू करने में हम सफल हो सके।
पर जहां जाब कार्ड बने हैं, वहां लोगों को रोजगार मिलना चाहिए। कहीं-कहीं पर लकड़ी का काम है तो कहीं पर मिट्टी का काम शायद मिल गया हो लेकिन अधिकतर जिन्हें जाब कार्ड मिले हैं, उन्हें रोजगार नहीं मिला है। पर रोजगार नहीं भी मिला तो उन्हें रोजगार भत्ता मिलना चाहिए। यही स्कीम का प्रावधान है कि अगर १५ दिन में उन्हें रोजगार नहीं मिलता है तो प्रशासन उन्हें मजदूरी देगा और उसी रेट पर देगा, जिस रेट पर लोगों को रोजगार मिला है, मतलब ६० रुपए प्रतदिन के हिसाब से। यह भी नहीं मिल रहा है। मेरी केंद्र सरकार से अपील है कि वह एक रिपोर्ट बिहार सरकार से मंगवाए कि जिलों में क्या हो रहा cè[i56] ।
नेशनल रूरल एम्पलॉयमैंट गारंटी स्कीम के कार्यान्वयन का जहां तक मामला है, उसमें क्या प्रगति हुई है? अगर प्रगति ठीक नहीं हुई है तो कोई तरीका निकालें जिससे गरीब जनता जो गांवों, ग्रामीण इलाकों में रहती है, उनको इसका फायदा हो सके। यह स्कीम बहुत अहमियत रखती है और इस पर केन्द्र को ध्यान देना निहायत जरूरी है।
दूसरा मामला सड़कों के निर्माण के बारे में है। बिहार के माननीय सदस्यों ने इस बात पर जोर दिया था कि इसमें जो प्रगति होनी चाहिए, नहीं हो रही है। मैं विशेष कर नेशनल हाईवे की बात कर रहा हू। एक नेशनल हाईवे ९८ बहुत महत्वपूर्ण है। जो बिहार में बंगाल से सिलीगुड़ी की तरफ से होते हुए गंगा और सोन पार करके, हमारे क्षेत्र से होते हुए झारखंड की ओर चला जाता है। यह बहुत ही व्यस्त सड़क है। जिस पर कमर्शियल और पैसेंजर ट्रैफिक दोनो चलता है। इसलिए यह बहुत महत्वपूर्ण हाईवे है लेकिन बार-बार बिहार सरकार केन्द्र सरकार से कहती है कि वह अन्य नेशनल हाईवेज के चौड़ीकरण व सुधार के लिए चयन करती रही है। इस तरह कम से कम ९ या ११ नेशनल हाईवेज चुन लिए गए हैं । लेकिन पता नहीं क्यों नेशनल हाईवे ९८ कभी नहीं चुना जाता? इसका असर यह हुआ है कि उधर का ट्रैफिक अब उधर से नहीं जाता है और सौ किलोमीटर का चक्कर लगा कर जाता है । यह इसलिए है कि यह सड़क खस्ता हाल में है। जिसका रिपेयर निहायत जरूरी है। मैं मनिस्ट्री ऑफ सरफेज ट्रांसपोर्ट और हाईवे कनस्ट्रक्शन से यह अनुरोध करूंगा कि इस विषय में जो आकलन बना है उसे बिहार सरकार से मंगाए और सैक्शन करके इस पर कांम शुरू करे। मैं आश्वस्त करना चाहता हूं कि यह जनहित में होगा, भारत सरकार और बिहार सरकार को इस काम को हाथ में लेना चाहिए। इस नेशनल हाईवे ९८ के बारे में मैं पहले भी रूल ३७७ में बात उठा चुका हूं लेकिन अब तक कोई प्रगति नहीं हुई है। मैं इसलिए अपील करता हूं कि इस पर तवज्जो दें और अधिक विलम्ब न करें।
प्रधान मंत्री ग्राम सड़क योजना और राष्ट्रीय सम-विकास योजना की सड़को के निर्माण में भी वांछित प्रगति नहीं हो रही है। मसलन मेरे क्षेत्र में ११ ऐसी सड़कें हैं जिन की कुल लम्बाई ६०० किलोमीटर की है और जिस पर करोड़ों रुपए का व्यय है। इनमें से ४ सड़कें ही अब तक ली जा चुकी है। सितम्बर २००४ से काम शुरू होना चाहिए था। सितम्बर, २००६ आ ही गया है। दो साल बीत गए हैं। पर बाकी सड़कों को अब तक छुआ भी नहीं गया है। ऐसा नहीं करने की वजह से लोगों को बहुत असुविधा होती है। ये सड़कें बड़ी महत्वपूर्ण है और न सिर्फ हमारे क्षेत्र के लिए बल्कि अगल-बगल के जिलों और दक्षिण बिहार के क्षेत्र के लिए भी वे महत्वपूर्ण हैं। इन पर तवज्जो देना जरूरी है यह काम इरकॉन को यह सोच कर केन्द्र सरकार ने दिया था कि अगर कोई केन्द्रीय एजेंसी वहां जाती है तो सुनियोजित ढंग से काम करेगी। लेकिन इरकॉन ने सिद्ध किया है कि उस पर विश्वास करना ठीक नहीं था । खैर अभी भी कुछ बिगड़ा नहीं है। हालांकि जैसा अभी गणेश बाबू कह रहे थे जहां कहीं इरकॉन को काम मिले हैं, वहां प्रगति नहीं हो रही है। इससे केन्द्र सरकार की छवि धूमिल हो रही है। छवि धूमिल हो या न हो लेकिन वहां की जनता को सरकार जो सुविधा प्रदान करना चाहती थी, वह नहीं कर पा रही हैं। इस पर ध्यान दिया जाए।
राजीव गांधी ग्रामीण विद्युतीकरण योजना एक और महत्वाकांक्षी योजना है। उम्मीद की जाती थी कि इससे न सिर्फ बिहार में, बल्कि पूरे हिन्दुस्तान के गांव-गांव में बिजली चली जाएगी[R57] । और इसीलिए बड़ी उम्मीद और विश्वास से यह योजना एक केन्द्रीय संगठन पावर ग्रिड कारपोरेशन ऑफ इंडिया को दी गई थी।
But I am very sorry to say that the Power Grid Corporation of India, which is otherwise an extremely efficient body, well-known, and reputed to do excellent work, has not been able to do as in Aurangabad. This is so as it has not procured supplies and stores to be able to complete the work on rural electrification. I do not know why it is so. This work of rural electrification comprises three things. It has to pup up the electric poles; it has to put up electricity wiring and install transformers. Unfortunately, in my constituency, Aurangabad, the only kind of work that has been taken up with some amount of visible progress is the work on installation of transformers and the laying of lines. But this too is limited only, I think, to two-and-a-half blocks out of the total 11. Now, this is not a very satisfactory rate of progress. I would request the Government of India, which is the controlling authority of the Power Grid Corporation of India, to see that this whole thing is expedited and speeded up. This is very important. अभी वहां रेनफाल है, मानसून का दौर है, इसलिए वहां कुछ काम नहीं हो पा रहा है। लेकिन जो स्टोर और सप्लाईज, प्रोक्योर करनी थी, वह अभी तक प्रोक्योर क्यों नहीं की जा सकी। तार सब जगह मिलता है, ट्रांसफॉर्मर का रॉ मैटरियल भी मिलता है, फिर इसे प्रोक्योर करने में क्या दिक्कतें पेश आ रही हैं। यदि दिक्कतें पेश आ रही हैं तो उन्हें केन्द्र सरकार दूर करे, ताकि वह ग्रामीण लोगों को सुविधा पहुंचाने में कारगर सिद्ध हो सके।
सभापति महोदय, मैं पावर की बात कह रहा हूं, तो मुझे एक महत्वपूर्ण project का वर्णन करना है। १९८९ में बिहार की तत्कालीन सरकार ने नवीनगर में एक सुपर थर्मल पावर प्रोजैक्ट की परिकल्पना की थी। यह प्रोजैक्ट २२०० मेगावाट की थी। इस प्रोजैक्ट को दस सालों तक ठंडे बस्ते में डाल दिया गया। ऐसा क्यों किया गया? मैं समझता हूं कि ऐसा इसलिए किया गया, क्योंकि १९८९ से १९९९ तक वहां से चार गैर कांग्रेसी सांसद चुनकर आये और उन्होंने इसमें कोई दिलचस्पी नहीं ली, इसलिए इस पर कोई कार्रवाई नहीं हो पाई। १९९९ के बाद ही इस पर कार्रवाई शुरू हो पाई है और इतनी जल्दी में बात शुरू हुई कि बीच में ही तत्कालीन रेल मंत्री, जो वर्तमान में बिहार के मुख्य मंत्री हैं, उन्होंने इस स्कीम को लिया। और वर्ष २००४ में लोक सभा भंग होने के बाद उन्होंने इस प्रोजैक्ट का शिलान्यास कर दिया। जबकि यह जरूरी था कि यूनियन कैबिनेट जोकि इकोनोमिक अफेयर्स की सब-कमेटी है, से अप्रूवल ले लें। The Cabinet Sub-Committee on Economic Affairs has not till date given its approval to that project. Still, the foundation stone was laid. I would appeal to the Government of India, to the hon. Power Minister and to the hon. Prime Minister to kindly pay attention to this project. This is a very important project. It has been pending for the past 17 years. If this is now approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, then some progress can be made towards installing this Super Thermal Power Project. It goes without saying that Bihar is woefully short of power that is required. Even though we are getting power from outside, we must have some indigenous sources of production of electricity. There has been some kind of progress by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Thermal Power Corporation and others regarding Barauni and Kanti stations. But that is not enough. The Nabi Nagar Super Thermal Power Project has to be pushed through. It has to be put up before the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. This is now taking a lot of time. My most earnest appeal is that the Government of India should kindly see to it that this is placed before the CCEA for this approval without further delay so that it can complete its work.… (Interruptions)
Finally, I would just like to mention one thing. This is something that relates to public health and hygiene in our rural areas. The Health Ministry has floated a National Rural Health Mission. One important aspect of this Mission is providing public toilets in villages, in the rural areas. This is utterly important to protect and guard the dignity of our women-folk.… (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN : Now, Shri C.K. Chandrappan to speak.
… (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Nothing is going on record except the speech of Shri C.K. Chandrappan.
(Interruptions)* SHRI NIKHIL KUMAR : Sir, I am very much grateful to you for giving me this opportunity to speak on this subject. I hope that the points that I have raised today will be taken note of by the Government and appropriate action will be taken.
_________________________________________________________________ * Not Recorded.
SHRI C.K. CHANDRAPPAN (TRICHUR): Mr. Chairman, Sir, I rise to support the Supplementary Demands for Grants. I would like to raise a few points relating to these Grants.
First of all, a grant has been listed under the head of consumer affairs and public distribution. It is very important for this House to deliberate upon the failure of the Public Distribution System all over the country because it was expected that through the Public Distribution System the Government would be able to provide articles of necessities to the common people. In Kerala, for example, there was a Public Distribution System that was applauded by the Centre. When Shrimati Indira Gandhi was in power, she sent letters to all the State Chief Ministers to follow that system of public distribution. It is in a shambles today under your dispensation because in the name of people below the poverty line, the Centre imposed certain parameters under which people above the poverty line have come under it and poor people are outside it. So, a lot of people are kept out of the purview of the Public Distribution System and it has become almost a dead affair.
Then, Kerala, as you know, is a food-deficit State and so, Kerala has been treated on a special footing because of that. Due to the new policies of this Government, wheat and rice quotas have been reduced and as a result, people will not be benefited. So is the case of kerosene oil. So, if the Public Distribution System is to be useful to the people, then the Government has to revise the entire approach towards the State of Kerala considering its special problems as a food-deficit State. Another important thing about Kerala is that from one end to the other end, it is having sea-coast with a lot of fishermen. I am not talking of those fishermen who are using trawlers and big fishing boats, but of the ordinary fishermen who drive their boats with Yamaha machine, which run on kerosene oil. You have denied kerosene oil to them. In the past, Kerala was in an elitist position so far as PDS is concerned, but now the poor fishermen are denied the supply of kerosene oil through Public Distribution System. When the Government discusses this issue, I hope it will look into this problem.
Sir, I congratulate the Government for including under the head of the Department of Culture a grant of Rs. Five crore for the development of Koodiyattam, - though it is wrongly mentioned here as Kuttiyattam - which is one of the heritage arts of this country as was recognised by the UNESCO. I congratulate the Government for giving a reasonably good grant for its development. I hope the Government would take some more measures for the development of Koodiyattam.
Coming to Union Territories, the Minister, who is sitting here, comes from the area just adjoining Pondicherry. The Standing Committee on Home Affairs has recommended that full Statehood should be given both to Pondicherry as well as Andaman and Nicobar Islands. So, I hope that the Government would look into that recommendation favourably and take a decision quickly. This decision should have been taken much earlier because Pondicherry, as you know very well, is qualified for becoming a State[k58] . If [Rs59] Delhi can be a State, Pondicherry can also be a State and similarly Andaman & Nicobar Islands can also be.
So far as Delhi is concerned, whether some more power could be given to the State government, it should be looked into because at the moment, being the national capital so many things are denied to them. So, the case of these three Union Territories should be looked into. Delhi is not at the moment a Union Territory, but it should be looked into whether more powers could be given to Delhi State. But for the other two States, the Statehood should be restored.
As far as health is concerned, they have asked for grants. We have no grudge against it, but certain promises are to be fulfilled. The Government of India has decided that AIIMS type of institutes will be established in 12 States, including your State, Mr. Chairman. But the promise remains the promise given today. What they are trying to do is that they are trying to elevate the level of some of the medical colleges. Actually, it is good and we will appreciate if they are providing some money to elevate the level of some of the medical institutes. But what is required is the fulfillment of the promise made, that is, AIIMS type of institutes should be created in those 12 States identified earlier. It is not that we are enamoured with the name of the institute, it is the facilities that we are providing to those States where such facilities are, at the moment, not available. If these institutes are developed to that level, it will be a good thing that the UPA Government would be doing. I hope you will consider this demand too.
Under the Jawaharal Nehru Urban Development Scheme, in Kerala, they have selected two important cities, that is, the capital city of Trivandrum and Cochin. But there is no reason when they have selected those two cities and not selected Trichur, Kozhikode and Quilon. All these are corporations more or less of similar types. So, the benefit of these should go to these three corporations in Kerala. Besides that, Guruvayoor, a Temple city, where, from all over the country, people are coming. Guruvayoor deserves a special treatment for having good drainage system and better water supply system. So, under the scheme, it should also be provided better facilities. These are some of my suggestions.
But while concluding, I would again mention that when they are giving compensation to Sikh victims of 1984 riots as it was mentioned here, they should not be very stringent in providing pension to Punnathu Vayalar Struggle participants, that is Freedom Struggle and also to the participants of Tebhaga Struggle in West Bengal. These are all struggles that took place some 50 to 60 years ago. There are not many people who are going to claim that they should be given the pension. But the Central Government is asking them to bring the original documents to claim. It is impossible because it was 60 years ago when this happened. These were all Princely States or they were under the British Rule. Those original documents are all destroyed. It would only mean that they are denying pension to those people, who legitimately deserve it. As somebody said in the morning, let us not forget those in whose sacrifice we are all sitting in Parliament, in Ministerial Benches and in the Opposition Benches. Let us be just to them. Let us take a decision, which will be more practical.
With these words, I support these Supplementary Grants.
श्री राम कृपाल यादव (पटना) : माननीय सभापति महोदय, हम आपके प्रति आभार व्यक्त करते हैं कि आपने मुझे सप्लीमेंट्री डिमांड्स फोर ग्रांट्स २००६-०७ पर बोलने का अवसर प्रदान किया। यह बात सही है कि यूपीए सरकार ने अपने वायदे के अनुसार काफी काम किए हैं। हम लोग पूरे आवाम को वायदा करके आए थे - गरीबों के विकास के लिए, बेरोजगारों को रोजगार देने के लिए, बिजली की समुचित व्यवस्था करने के लिए, जल प्रबंधन के लिए और समाज के हर वर्ग एवं तबका विकसित हो, इसके लिए जो कमिटमेंट किया था, मैं समझता हूं कि न्यूनतम सांझा कार्यक्रम के अनुसार माननीय प्रधानमंत्री, श्री मनमोहन जी के नेतृत्व में आशा के अनुकूल कार्य जरूर किए हैं, इसके लिए मैं आभार व्यक्त करता हूं। इसके बावजूद हमने हर तरफ देखा है, शिक्षा और सड़कों की तरफ भी देखा है, कई ऐसे महत्वपूर्ण जनोपयोगी सवाल हैं, उनकी तरफ देखा है। उसकी कमी को दूर करने का निश्चित तौर पर हमने प्रयास किया है, इसके बावजूद आज देश का बहुत बड़ा तबका परेशानी हालत में है। कई ऐसे प्रदेश हैं, जिनकी स्थिति ठीक नहीं है। मैं समझता हूं कि उसके लिए केन्द्रीय स्तर पर जो ठोस कार्यवाही करनी चाहिए, वह शायद नहीं हो पाई है। खास तौर पर, मूल तौर पर जो महंगाई बढ़ी है, उससे आम लोगों के सिर पर बहुत बड़ा बोझ एवं परेशानी आई है।
महोदय, मैं इस बात को स्वीकार करता हूं कि सरकार के लाख प्रयास के बावजूद भी हम महंगाई पर नियंत्रण नहीं कर पाए हैं, इसलिए जनता में आक्रोश है। मूल रूप से देश का जो मूल बेस है, वह खेती एवं खलिहान है, उसकी तरफ मैं आपके माध्यम से मंत्री जी का ध्यान आकृष्ट करना चाहूंगा। आज मैंने जो कहा कि महंगाई बढ़ रही है, उसका मूल कारण यह है कि उत्पादन की कमी हुई है। किसान तबके में निराशा हुई है, चूंकि उसकी जो उत्पादन करने की क्षमता है, उसका कहीं न कहीं ह्रस हुआ है और देश में उत्पादन में कमी होने का यही कारण है। आज बड़े पैमाने पर हमें विदेशों से भी गेहूं एवं दूसरी सामग्रियों का आयात करना पड़ रहा है, जब कि अगर हम व्यवस्था करें तो हमारे पास मानव संसाधन इतने मजबूत ढंग से हैं और जमीन भी उपलब्ध है, अगर हम उनका सदुपयोग करें, उन्हें पर्याप्त साधन मुहैया कराएं तो निश्चित तौर पर आज जो परिस्थिति है, वह परिस्थिति हमारे सामने नहीं रह पाएगी। हमारी विदेशों पर निर्भरता नहीं रह पाएगी। किसान जो मूल रूप से अपना धन लगाता है, उसकी मेहनत की कमाई का जो प्रोफिट होना चाहिए, वह नहीं हो पा रहा है। उसके कई कारण हैं, इसकी कई अवसरों पर चर्चा भी हुई है। आज भी कई माननीय सदस्यों ने कहा कि एक स्वामी नाथन रिपोर्ट थी, जिसने कई ऐसे सुझाव दिए थे, उसके अनुसार सरकार को जो निर्णय लेना चाहिए, वह नहीं ले पाई, वैसे ब्याज की दर यूपीए सरकार ने कम की cè[R60] ।
सभापति महोदय, सरकार ने किसानों का ब्याज ७ प्रतिशत कर दिया, मगर वह अपर्याप्त है। स्वामीनाथन जी ने अपनी रिपोर्ट में सुझाव दिया था कि ३ या ४ परसेंट किया जाए, लेकिन वैसा नहीं किया गया। इस पर सरकार को विचार करना चाहिए। यही कारण है कि किसान आज भी आत्महत्या कर रहा है। पूर्ववर्ती सरकार के जमाने में भी बड़े पैमाने पर किसान आत्महत्याएं कर रहे थे। वे आज भी हो रही हैं। वे रुक नहीं पाई हैं। विदर्भ के इलाके में पिछले दिनों अनेक किसानों ने आत्महत्याएं कर लीं। इसलिए मैं आपके माध्यम से सरकार से निवेदन करना चाहूंगा कि सरकार को इस तरफ ध्यान देना चाहिए और इस संबंध में कोई ठोस नीति बनानी चाहिए।
सभापति महोदय, सिंचाई की व्यवस्था ठीक प्रकार से नहीं होने के कारण भी किसान खेतों में अच्छा उत्पादन नहीं कर पा रहे हैं। बिजली की कमी है। इसलिए वह मिलती नहीं है। डीजल का उपयोग हम नहीं कर पा रहे हैं क्योंकि वह महंगा है। वर्तमान सरकार राजीव गांधी मिशन के तहत बिजली की व्यवस्था पूरे देश के गांव-गांव में कर रही है और हर गरीब के घर तक बिजली पहुंचाने का प्रयास कर रही है। इस बारे में आपको मालूम है, लेकिन उसका प्रतिफल नजर नहीं आ रहा है और गांव-गांव तक बिजली नहीं पहुंच पा रही है। डीजल के दाम रोज बढ़ रहे हैं। महंगा डीजल होने के कारण जो किसान अपने खेतों की सिंचाई हेतु जमीन के नीचे से पानी निकाल कर खेती कर रहे हैं, वह बहुत महंगी पड़ रही है और उसका उत्पाद लाभप्रद मूल्यों पर मार्केट में बिक नहीं पाता है। इसलिए खेती घाटे का सौदा होती जा रही है। इन सब चीजों की तरफ ध्यान देने की आवश्यकता है। जब तक देश का किसान खुशहाल नहीं होगा, तब तक देश खुशहाल नहीं हो सकता। अगर इस देश की अर्थव्यवस्था को मजबूत करना है, तो किसानों की तरफ ध्यान देना होगा।
महोदय, बिहार प्रदेश में सिंचाई की ठीक व्यवस्था नहीं है। आप देखें, जितनी भी ब्रटिश टाइम की नहरें हैं, वे जीर्ण-शीर्ण अवस्था में हैं। यदि सिंचाई की व्यवस्था ठीक प्रकार से नहीं होगी, तो किसान कैसे उत्पादन करेगा। मैं दावे के साथ कह सकता हूं कि बिहार की इतनी उर्वरा जमीन है कि यदि वहां सिंचाई की ठीक प्रकार से व्यवस्था हो जाए, तो वह केवल बिहार को ही नहीं बल्कि देश के अन्य राज्यों को भी अन्न की पूर्ति कर सकता है।
महोदय, हमारे यहां चीनी का उत्पादन होता था, लेकिन अब वह बिलकुल समाप्त होने के कगार पर है। वहां चीनी की मिलें बन्द हो गई हैं। वहां जूट और गन्ने की खेती बड़े पैमाने पर होती थी, लेकिन अब समाप्त होती जा रही है। वहां कागज का कारखाना था। वहां बरौनी में खाद का कारखाना था जिसमें बड़े पैमाने पर खाद का उत्पादन होता था, लेकिन अब सरकार द्वारा उस तरफ कोई ध्यान नहीं दिया जा रहा है। मैं आपके माध्यम से वित्त मंत्री जी से प्रार्थना करना चाहता हूं कि बिहार के किसान की उन्नति के लिए तथा उसकी खेती को लाभप्रद बनाने के लिए कोई ठोस कार्रवाई करें। आज वहां का चीनी उद्योग, कागज उद्योग और जूट उद्योग तबाह होता जा रहा है। यदि वहां चीनी, जूट और कागज उद्योग बढ़ेगा, तो वहां की गरीबी और बेरोजगारी दूर हो जाएगी। बिहार को आत्मनिर्भर बनाने की जरूरत है।
महोदय, हमने बार-बार मांग की है कि बिहार को स्पेशल पैकेज दिया जाए। स्व. राजीव गांधी जी ने बिहार की भूमि पर जाकर, वहां की गरीबी और बेरोजगारी को देखकर वहां के लिए स्पेशल पैकेज दिए जाने की घोषणा की थी, लेकिन वह आज तक नहीं मिला और कोरा आश्वासन बनकर रह गया। जब बिहार का बंटवारा हुआ, तब वर्ष २००० में एन.डी.ए. की सरकार ने स्पेशल पैकेज देने की घोषणा की थी, लेकिन वह आज तक नहीं मिला। पंचवर्षीय योजनाएं बनती हैं उनमें बिहार के लिए भी व्यवस्था की जाती है, लेकिन वह समविकास के अन्तर्गत की जाती है, स्पेशल पैकेज के अन्तर्गत नहीं। समविकास के अन्तर्गत तो प्रत्येक राज्य को सहायता दी जा रही है, बिहार के लिए कोई विशेष सहायता नहीं दी जा रही है। बिहार के बंटवारे के बाद, विद्युत एवं खनिज संपदा झारखंड में चली गई। हमने तब मांग की थी कि शेष बिहार के विकास के लिए स्पेशल पैकेज दिया जाना चाहिए। एन.डी.ए. की सरकार के समय में, माननीय पूर्व प्रधान मंत्री, श्री अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी जी ने खुद आश्वासन दिया था कि बिहार के बंटवारे के बाद विशेष पैकेज दिया जाएगा। [rpm61] ।
हम बिहार के बंटवारे के बाद विशेष पैकेज देंगे। योजना आयोग के उपाध्यक्ष की अध्यक्षता में एक सैल बनेगी, जो दो वर्ष के मुआयने के बाद बिहार के बंटवारे के बाद कितनी आर्थिक क्षति बिहार को हुई है और झारखण्ड को इससे कितना आर्थिक मुनाफा हुआ है, इसका आकलन करेगी और उसी हिसाब से बिहार को झारखण्ड और देश के दूसरे राज्यों के बराबर लाने के लिए पैकेज देने का काम किया जाएगा। लेकिन पता नहीं क्या हुआ और वह सैल खत्म हो गया। यह सरकार का आश्वासन था, किसी व्यक्ति विशेष का आश्वासन नहीं था। क्यों नहीं सरकार इस पर एक्सरसाइज़ कर रही है? क्या वजह है कि आप बिहार को इस तरह से नैगलेक्ट करने का काम कर रहे हैं? हमारा राज्य एक बीमारू राज्य है। हमारे घर या परिवार में कोई भाई बीमार होता है या कमजोर होता है, उसको हम सपोर्ट करने का काम करते हैं। हमारे देश में बिहार जैसे और भी प्रदेश हैं, उड़ीसा जैसे प्रदेश हैं। लेकिन हमारे राज्य में सब कुछ रहते हुए, एक भी उद्योगधन्धा नहीं है। आप हमें सेल्फ डिपेन्डेंट क्यों नहीं करते हैं? क्यों बार-बार हमें भीख मांगने के लिए मजबूर होना पड़ता है? आज बिहार में क्या है? हमारा राज्य पूरी तरह से कृषि पर बेस्ड है। वहां पर लीची, केला इत्यादि फल तथा सब्जियां होती हैं। इन सब पर यदि उद्योग लगाए जाएं तो मैं समझता हूं कि पर्याप्त मात्रा में उत्पादन करके दूसरे राज्यों को भी खिला सकते हैं, वहीं हमारी अर्थव्यवस्था भी ठीक हो सकती है।
हमारे उत्तरी बिहार में हर साल बाढ़ आती है और वह नेपाल के कारण आती है, जिसकी चर्चा हम हर बार करते हैं। आप इसका परमानेंट सोल्यूशन क्यों नहीं निकालते हैं? आप हमें भीखमंगों की तरह हमेशा रिलीफ दे देते हैं। हम आपसे रिलीफ नहीं चाहते हैं। We do not want relief. हम सेल्फ डिपेन्डेंट होना चाहते हैं। आप अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर क्यों नहीं इस मुद्दे को उठाते हैं? स्वर्गीय भीरू जी के जमाने से यह चर्चा आज तक होती रही है, लेकिन उस पर स्तही रूप से इम्पलीमेंटेशन नहीं हो पाया है। आपने २९ करोड़ रूपये दे दिए हैं लेकिन अभी तक उसका खाका नहीं आया है, अब आपने कह दिया कि डीपीआर बना दीजिए।
महोदय, हम आपके माध्यम से जानना चाहते हैं कि डीपीआर के माध्यम से जो राशि आवंटित की गयी थी, उस डीपीआर की रिपोर्ट का क्या हुआ? आप उस पर क्या कार्यवाही करने जा रहे हैं? क्या आपने ग्यारहवीं पंचवर्षीय योजना में और राशि देने का काम किया है या सिर्फ हम लोगों को फुसलाने का काम कर रहे हैं।
दक्षिणी बिहार के १९ जिले सुखाढ़ के जोन में आते हैं। इस बार तो वहां बिलकुल भी बारिश नहीं हुई है। पहले तो नेपाल की तरफ से बारिश आ जाती थी, जिसके कारण फसलों का रोपण हो जाता था, इस बार तो वह भी नहीं हो पाया है। इस बार जानवरों के चारे की भी समस्या उत्पन्न हो गयी है। ऐसे इलाकों के लिए सिंचाई की व्यवस्था कीजिए, जिसकी चर्चा मैंने पहले भी की है। ऐसे इलाकों के लिए पर्याप्त मात्रा में राशि देने का काम कीजिए। हमें लोग कहते हैं कि आप रोज़ ही बिहार का इश्यू उठाते हैं।
महोदय, कई ऐसी नदियां हैं, जिनका उल्लेख नहीं किया गया है, जिसमें सोन और त्रिवेणी नदी इत्यादि हैं। इसी तरह से कटाव की समस्या है। गंगा नदी से सटे इलाकों का भारी पैमाने पर कटाव हो रहा है। लोगों की जमीन नदी में जा रही है। त्रिवेणी कनाल, प्रद्यूमन और सोन कनाल बंद पड़ी हुई हैं। ऐसे में विकास किस तरह से हो पाएगा? किस तरह से किसान आत्मनिर्भर हो पाएगा? इन नहरों के उद्धार करने की आवश्यकता है। मोकामा का टाल और जल्ला का क्षेत्र, जहां पानी जमा होता है, लेकिन इससे भी समस्या पैदा होती है। यहां बढि़या टाल है, यहां जल जमाव होता है। यहां दलहन हो सकता है, जबकि दलहन इस समय काफी महंगा हो रहा है। यहां तीन-चार फसलें हो सकती है। इसके लिए विशेष पैकेज दिए जाने की आवश्यकता है ताकि किसान खुशहाल हो सके।
महोदय, राष्ट्रीय समविकास योजना की चर्चा हो रही है[c62] ।अब राष्ट्रीय श्रम विकास योजना में क्या हो रहा है। राष्ट्रीय श्रम विकास योजना में आपने पैसा दे दिया है और बिहार की सरकार राष्ट्रीय ग्रामीण रोजगार योजना और राष्ट्रीय श्रम विकास योजना वह सब अपने राज्य के नाम से वहां के हमारे नये मुख्यमंत्री जी ने काम करना शुरू कर दिया है। माल महाराज का और खर्चे कोई दूसरा, पैसा भारत सरकार का है और वहां की राज्य सरकार अपने नाम से काम बजा रही है। इसको देखना चाहिए, मोनेटरिंग करनी चाहिए, विज्ञापित करना चाहिए। हम सांसद लोगों को तो पूछा तक नहीं जाता है। हजारों-हजार करोड़ रुपया हम राज्य सरकार को दे रहे हैं, मगर पब्लिसिटी वहां की सरकार ले रही है और यहां की सरकार कुछ कर नहीं रही है। सर्व शिक्षा अभियान के तहत स्कूल बढ़ाने की बात कर रही है। इसके लिए भारत सरकार पैसा दे रही है। ऐसी कई योजनाएं हैं, जितनी राज्य सरकार की वहां सड़कें हैं, सब में श्रम विकास योजना के अन्तर्गत पैसा चला गया है और खासकर उग्रवाद के इलाके को छोड़ने का काम किया जा रहा है, जो वहां की राज्य सरकार चाह रही है। इसके लिए कोई गाइडलाइन नहीं है, पता नहीं क्या कर रहे हैं। इसके लिए कोई गाइडलाइन होनी चाहिए, कोई कंट्रोल होना चाहिए ताकि इसकी वजह से पूरे तौर पर वहां के लोगों का विकास हो सके, गरीबों का विकास हो सके। हम लोगों को, सांसदों को तो कोई पूछता ही नहीं है, क्योंकि वहां प्रतिपक्ष की सरकार है। सब योजनाओं पर अपने बोर्ड लगा रहे हैं। वैसे राष्ट्रीय ग्रामीण रोजगार योजना है, लेकिन वहां बिहार रोजगार योजना लिखा जा रहा है।
मैं आपके माध्यम से माननीय मंत्री जी से यह निवेदन करूंगा कि आपने कई पिछड़े जिले घोषित किये तो सिवान जिले को क्यों छोड़ दिया। वहां सिवान जिला छोड़कर सब जिले हो गये, उसको भी इन्क्लूड करना चाहिए। मैं आपसे निवेदन करना चाहता हूं और आपके सामने एक बहुत महत्वपूर्ण सवाल लास्ट पाइंट के रूप में रखना चाहता हूं।
जल प्रबन्धन इस देश की सबसे महत्वपूर्ण समस्या है। हमें तीन तरह से जल मिल पाता है, मगर अभी तक हम उसका ठीक से जल प्रबन्धन नहीं कर सके हैं, जिसकी वजह से हमें बहुत परेशानियों का सामना करना पड़ रहा है। हर रोज़ कहीं पानी नहीं है, कहीं ज्यादा पानी है, इसकी व्यवस्था अगर हम ठीक तरह से करें तो भूगर्भीय जल, वर्षा का जल और नदियों का जल, तीनों तरह के जल के प्रबन्धन का कोई साधन हमारे पास नहीं है। इन तीनों तरह के जलों का कैसे समावेश हो, इसके लिए एक परियोजना बने ताकि इन तमाम जलों को एक साथ इकट्ठा करके एक यूनिट मानकर, कहां कमी है, कहां अधिक जरूरत है, वहां जल की व्यवस्था की जा सके। मैं देखता हूं कि हमेशा एक राज्य के माननीय सदस्य कह रहे हैं कि हमें पानी चाहिए, दूसरे राज्य के कह रहे हैं कि हमें पानी चाहिए, इसके लिए झगड़ा-झंझट होता रहता है। अगर जल प्रबन्धन ठीक ढंग से होगा तो सिंचाई भी हो जायेगी, पीने के पानी की व्यवस्था भी हो जायेगी, मगर इसके लिए सरकार ने सामान्य रूप से कोई ठोस नीति नहीं बनाई है। मैं समझता हूं कि एक नीति बनानी चाहिए, एक आयोग बनाना चाहिए और एक यूनिट मानकर जल को पूरे देश में वितरित करना चाहिए, ताकि जल की समस्या, जो हमारे सामने दिनों-दिन विकट होती जा रही है, उस विकट समस्या से हम अपने आपको बाहर निकालने का काम कर सकें और देश में पानी का सही सदुपयोग हो सके।
मैं अपनी बात खत्म करूंगा। मैं माननीय मंत्री जी से निवेदन करूंगा कि इस सरकार के लिए बिहार का बड़ा कंट्रीब्यूशन है। हम हमारे नेता लालू प्रसाद जी यादव के नेतृत्व में कंट्रीब्यूशन देंगे, मगर हमें हमारी जनता ने जो मत दिया है, वह कुछ आपसे चाह भी कर रही है और हम हमेशा मांग भी करते रहे हैं। हम यह नहीं कहते हैं कि आप हमें इग्नोर कर रहे हैं। जब एन.डी.ए. की सरकार थी और वहां हमारी सरकार थी तो इन्होंने हमें इग्नोर कर दिया, लेकिन हम इग्नोर नहीं कर रहे हैं और हम सब कुछ से ऊपर उठकर विकास की धारा में अपना सहयोग देना चाहते हैं। हमारी सरकार माननीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री मनमोहन सिंह जी के नेतृत्व में सहयोग दे रही है, मगर हमारा जो हक है, जिसकी चर्चा हमने की और हमारे कई माननीय सदस्यों ने की, उस पर आप कब तक ध्यान दे पाएंगे? हम चाहेंगे कि आप अपने जवाब में बिहार को कोई ठोस पैकेज दीजिए ताकि हमारी आर्थिक सम्पन्नता हो सके, हम सैल्फ डिपेंडेंट हो सकें और सैल्फ डिपेंडेंट होकर हम अपने लोगों को राहत देने का काम कर सकें। हमें अच्छा नहीं लगता कि हमेशा हम आपके साम हाथ जोड़कर भिखमंगों की तरह खड़े हैं, इसलिए आप हमें सैल्फ डिपेंडेंट कर दीजिए। हमारी क्षमता है, हमारे पास मानव संसाधन है, हमारे पास भूमि है, सब कुछ है, लेकिन आप हमारे यहां सही बिजली की व्यवस्था कर दीजिए।६३ट आप हमारे लिए पानी की समुचित व्यवस्था कीजिए और किसानों को उचित मूल्य प्रदान करिए। मैं समझता हूं कि हम निश्चित तौर पर सेल्फ सफीसिएंट हो सकते हैं। हमारे प्रदेश में कोई उद्योग नहीं है। हमारे यहां जो खेती पर आधारित उद्योग हैं, जैसे चीनी और जूट की मिलें, वे बंद हैं, उन्हें पुन: चालू कराइए। बरौनी स्थित कागज का कल-कारखाना बंद है, उसे पुन: चालू करने के लिए हमने पहले भी डिमांड की थी और हमारे यहां हर साल बाढ़ के पानी की समस्या होती है, आप हमें उससे निजात दिलाइए।
मैं इन्हीं निवेदनों के साथ और इस विश्वास के साथ कि बिहार के प्रति माननीय मंत्री जी इसी सप्लीमेंट्री बजट में कुछ ठोस निर्णय लेंगे, ताकि बिहार का विकास हो सके, मैं अपनी बात को समाप्त करता हूं।
SHRIMATI TEJASWINI SEERAMESH (KANAKAPURA): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Of course, this is always the sentiment of this House that whenever my colleagues were speaking for the farmers and poor people of this country. Though we are enjoying the fruitful results of 60 years of our Independence, even today the farmers, poor people and those in the lower middle class are suffering to afford the basic, minimum needs. In this background I would like to utilise my valuable time to shed some light on these issues.
Even though the UPA government is having a renowned economist like Shri P. Chidambaram as our Minister of Finance, he is trying to meet his requirements through the additional revenues. In spite of his best efforts, natural calamities like tsunami, drought and floods were increasing the demands on the expenditure unexpectedly. I have gone through the Supplementary Demands presented by the hon. Minister. I am very happy to see that he is increasing the revenue, adjusting the allocations and meeting the additional demands. I think the actual extra cash requirement is Rs. 5,800 crore and he promises that he will cover this also by additional revenue in the coming months.
I am the daughter of a farmer and I am a farmer myself. I am representing Kanakapura rural constituency in Karnataka where more people are farmers. Naturally I am happy to hear from the hon. Minister of Finance that he is going to give Rs. 1,500 crore subsidy to fertilisers. It will be a great, great relief to the farmers. It will definitely strengthen the helpless farmers in this hour of crisis in the country.
The hon. Minister of Finance is providing Rs. 80 crore to the poultry farmers for interest rebate. All of us know how the poultry farmers suffered during the time of deadly disease called ‘bird flu’ affected the poultry industry in the country. Recently, in all Southern States including my State of Karnataka, an epidemic disease called ‘chukunganya’ was there which affected the human beings. But due to the false concept which is because of the name ‘chukunganya’ the innocent farmers misunderstood this as ‘chicken gunya’ and stopped eating chicken. The poultry industry also suffered. This help of Rs. 80 crore will really help the poultry farmers. I would like to thank the hon. Minister of Finance for this. Even the farmers who are below the poverty line, who were having 20 or 30 chickens also suffered. Really, it will be a great help to the farmers. I would like to thank the Government and also the hon. Minister of Finance for this.
Suicides by the Indian farmers is the biggest tragedy in this civilisation. We are living in a civilised society. Our farmer is feeding our stomach but he is dying, he is opting for death. Why is it so? He is very desperate. His agricultural expenditure has gone up but his agricultural produce is not getting the same proportionate price. We should look into ourselves to find reason for this. We are unable to guarantee stable prices for the farmers. Naturally, the desperate farmer is opting for suicides. By providing him the financial assistance we must stop this menace.
My fourth point is this. As far as the empowerment of women is concerned, I would like to appraise the hon. Minister of Finance about the achievement of self-help groups in the entire country which also includes my State of Karnataka[krr64] .
We should feel proud today that our women self-help groups are repaying their loans honestly not only in time but the rate of recovery of loans from them is also 98 per cent. So, we should appreciate the women folks. For that, I would like to request the Finance Minister to provide Rs. 50,000 crore worth of credit loans to empower these self-help groups at the interest rate of three per cent. Really, it is the need of the hour. We must provide them loan at the interest rate of three per cent. It would empower the rural women folks. This is a very important point and inter-related to the farmers’ issue. This would enable them to purchase agricultural products like wheat, paddy, maize, vegetables, fruits and pulses directly from the farmers. Thereby, we can also reduce corruption which arises because of the middlemen. These women can purchase products from the farmers and supply them to the PDS. Thus, we can also strengthen the PDS. This process will reduce the problem of unemployment in rural areas. It will empower the women in the rural areas. It will increase their income. It will bring respect to the women in the society. It will also reduce their dependence on the men folks. Not only will it reduce corruption, but it will also increase the GDP of our country. It will stop urban migration also. So, we should strengthen them.
I urge upon the Finance Minister to provide free health insurance schemes to all BPL people in this country. Health is our basic right. Just because they are poor, they cannot accord costly medicines. So, we must provide free health insurance schemes to the BPL people.
I also urge upon the Finance Minister to find ways to provide permanent housing to the needy poor on mass scale. Sir, I am myself a Member of the Standing Committee on Rural Development. We were discussing that by providing merely Rs. 25,000, what sort of house can we construct? House is the basic need and we must provide some more money for mass scale permanent house building.
Today morning, I heard from the Minister of Human Resource Development during Question Hour that during the NDA regime, the allocation to education had gone down. It is really an alarming thing. We all know that education is the only instrument which will bring transformation in the lives of the poor who cannot afford costly private education. That is why, I urge upon the Finance Minister to allocate more funds to the poor.
In my State of Karnataka, coastal farmers were affected by the problem of sea erosion. They have only little pieces of land for their livelihood, which is disappearing in front of their own eyes. Within a day and a night, they were becoming orphans. That is why, I would request him to send a committee to study the damage suffered by those farmers, to allocate alternate land to them¸ to give them the money as compensation and to find remedy to their problem of sea erosion. Due to floods and droughts, they are suffering. We must solve the problem of soil erosion also.
I would like to say in this august House that unless we empower the rural India, there will be no future of this country. I would say that whether we belong to the Ruling Benches or the Opposition, as far as farmers of this country are concerned, we all must address this problem with one voice.
With great expectations from the Ministry, I would like to thank the Chair for giving me this opportunity.
PROF. K.M. KADER MOHIDEEN (VELLORE): Hon. Chairman, Sir, I thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to participate in the discussion on the Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2006-07. On behalf of DMK party, I have risen to support the Supplementary Demands for Grants.
At the outset, I have to congratulate the Finance Minister, an able and efficient economist, who is very much supported and assisted by an abler and more efficient economist, Dr. Manmohan Singh, in guiding the country on the right lines[S65] .
Sir, I hope and trust that the policies pursued by the UPA Government, in the field of economic development, will take this country to our dream of making this country an economic superpower in a very short time. I am very happy that the policies pursued by the UPA Government in removing all these obstacles and hurdles -- that have been the reason for stagnating the economy of this country -- is really very much appreciated, applauded and admired by fair-minded and candid people of this country.
I would not like to take much time of the august House. I only want to put certain viewpoints before this august House. First and foremost, the UPA Government has recognised Tamil, which is a classical language. I request the Finance Minister and the Government to open departments in all the universities in the country to develop Tamil, which is a classical language, and do its research. Tamil is the mother of all languages, and it is the most ancient language. It is a language that was born with the birth of humankind. Therefore, I would like the Government to open departments of research on Tamil language in all the universities of our country. The Government should also liberally and generously give funds for this purpose.
Our Government has given a new hope for this country by announcing the Bharat Nirman scheme. If it is implemented in its right earnest and implemented at the earliest, then Bharat, the great country of ours, will be a country of glory and greatness. I hope that the Bharat Nirman scheme will be put into practice, and implemented at the earliest. I feel that all the hurdles on the way to economic progress can be removed by implementing this great scheme of Bharat Nirman.
In Tamil Nadu, our great Chief Minister, Dr. Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi has announced the Annamarumalachi Scheme to improve every village economically. The village problems are sorted out, and the needs and necessities of the village are found out under this scheme. The Tamil Nadu Government extends help to remove all the difficulties in the field of sanitation; in the sphere of education; in the sphere of road transport; in the sphere of irrigation, etc. MR. CHAIRMAN: Mr. Mohideen, please conclude your speech.
PROF. K.M. KADER MOHIDEEN (VELLORE): Therefore, the Government of India should frame a new scheme like the Annamarumalachi Chittam Scheme for each and every constituency in this country, and each and every constituency should be taken as a unit for its improvement economically. Therefore, our Government should come forward with a system on the same basis.
18.00 hrs. In our country, people particularly from States like Tamil Nadu and Kerala get employment abroad and go outside the country for employment in large numbers[ak66] . Whenever they return to India, they find themselves in a lot of difficulties. For the removal of difficulties being faced by the people who are employed abroad, there should be a scheme for the protection of their families. Recently, in Bahrain, some 16 people belonging to Tamil Nadu died in a fire. They were village farmers, who have been sons of the soil. They have gone abroad after selling their lands, mortgaging their property and their jewels.
MR. CHAIRMAN : Please conclude.
PROF. K.M. KADER MOHIDEEN : I will conclude within two minutes, Sir.
All of a sudden, in an unexpected fire accident, they were burnt alive, their dead bodies were brought home, and their families are on the streets. The State Government has given Rs. 2.0 lakh for each family, and compensation from abroad may come after some time. My request is that Central Government should come forward with a suitable scheme to help such families, especially when they are facing unexpected difficulties. I would request the UPA Government to do that.
In my Constituency, Vellore, the road connecting Salem-Hosur-Tirupattur-Vaniambadi-Umrabad-Peranampet-Gudiyatham-Chittoor should be converted into a National Highway. At present, it is a State Highway, and it should be converted into a National Highway because it links three States. Therefore, I insist that it should be done.
Another thing is that in my Constituency, Vellore, there is a ridge known as “Aravatla”, and it is in the neighbourhood of Andhra Pradesh. My request is that by laying a road from there, it should be linked with Andhra Pradesh. I am saying that it should be linked with Andhra Pradesh because the farmers, merchants and the village people are facing certain difficulties at present, and if the road is laid, they can get the necessary help from the neighbourhood. Therefore, that road should be laid.
In addition to that, “Aravatla” should be declared as a Sanctuary for Elephants. It is a hilly region and the elephants are present in good numbers. Recently, our Government has declared Mudhumalai place as a Sanctuary. Similarly, “Aravatla” should be declared as a Sanctuary for Elephants. That is my humble demand.
In my Constituency, Vellore, there are more than 10,000 beedi workers, and they should be provided with group housing facilities. The Government of India should allot funds for that purpose. Recently, about 2,500 children of the beedi workers were to get the scholarships from the Government of India. Last year, they have submitted their applications, but no scholarship was given to the children of these beedi workers and as a result, they have not been able to proceed ahead with their education.
Moreover, in my Constituency, Vellore, in certain areas, Urdu teachers are not available. They are not at all found and, therefore, the Government of India should come forward to establish Urdu Teacher Training Institutes in Vellore Region. It will not only help Vellore, but also our entire country because trained teachers are not only available. It is not only in Tamil Nadu, but even in UP and in other places, trained Urdu teachers are in great demand. Therefore, I urge upon the Government to make arrangements for that also.
I wish to make one last point. Under the leadership of Dr. Manmohan Singh and Shrimati Sonia Gandhi, the UPA Government is extending a lot of help to the minorities[R67] . I appreciate the Government and congratulate it. I admire the Government for extending all sorts of help and welfare schemes to the minorities.
SHRI NAVEEN JINDAL (KURUKSHETRA): Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Sir, for giving me an opportunity to speak on this very important subject.
The UPA initiatives on rural employment, Health Mission, Urban Renewal Mission, Bharat Nirman, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the Mid-Day-Meal Scheme, are harbingers of social justice with rapid economic growth for the country. Rural credit has grown 42 per cent in a single year. That abodes well for the farmer, whose welfare our colleague Shrimati Tejaswini was speaking so much about.
Our economy is booming with our GDP growth rate between seven and eight per cent, and our Prime Minister and Finance Minister are talking about achieving double-digit GDP growth rate.
MR. CHAIRMAN : Hon. Member Shri Jindal, you will continue your speech day after tomorrow. You are on your legs.
The House now stands adjourned to meet again on Theusday, August 10, 2006.
18.07 hrs. The Lok Sabha then adjourned till Eleven of the Clock on[r68] Thursday, August 10, 2006/Sravana 19, 1928(Saka).
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