During the Question Hour today, issues ranging from the rising cost of drugs to the digital divide among students were raised by the members. The House also took up Special Mentions from Thursday as indicated by Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu in yesterday’s proceedings.
The House also discussed the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY). The house adjourned at 1 p.m. and reconvened at 2.30 p.m.
The members discussed The Population Regulation Bill, 2019. Several members, including Tiruchi Siva of the DMK, Congress’ Jairam Ramesh and CPI(M)‘s John Brittas, raised the issue of some states which have already successfully implemented family planning programmes being punished.
The Rajya Sabha had bid farewell yesterday to 72 members retiring between March and July this year, bringing in critical changes in the political arithmetic of the Upper House by the time it meets next for the monsoon session in July. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, quoting phrases used in Bangla and Gujarati for goodbye which translates into “come again”, said he would also say the same to the retiring members — “Come again”.
Here are the updates:
House adjourns till 11 a.m. on April 4
Rakesh Sinha says no mention of any religion on bill
Rakesh Sinha, speaking on The Population Regulation Bill, introduced by him in Rajya Sabha in 2019, says there is no mention of any religion in the bill.
Mansukh Mandaviya speaks on The Population Regulation Bill, 2019
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya speaks on the House. He says the government follows a “wholistic approach” towards healthcare and lists the various schemes introduced by the government aimed at providing affordable healthcare.
Mr. Mandaviya also mentions the National Health Policy introduced in 2017 and schemes such as Ayushman Bharat.
BJP opposes as AAP’s Sanjay Singh raises attack on Kejriwal’s residence
AAP MP Sanjay Singh raises the attack outside the residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the BJP opposes the remarks. The chair asks Mr. Singh to end his speech.
John Brittas opposes The Population Regulation Bill, 2019
CPI(M) MP John Brittas says that he opposes The Population Regulation Bill, 2019, and says, “The population growth among Muslims in Kerala is much lower than the population growth of Hindus in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan. What does it mean? If you give sufficient level of education and awareness to the people, population will subside.”
Mr. Brittas also says many states in India have achieved replacement level population without any coercion and without denigrating the minorities. He says a state like Kerala “which has made a stunning contribution” in population control, has continuously been “penalised” for its achievements.
He also says there were huge campaigns organised against polygamy but says, “Almost all studies said that polygamy is much more prevalent among upper castes in North India than among Muslims.”
‘India now facing problem of ageing’, says Jairam Ramesh
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, during the discussion on The Population Regulation Bill, 2019, says that the country is currently facing the problem of ageing. “In 2011, eight percent of India was over the age of 60. By the year 2040, 16% of India will be over the age of 60. 25% of Tamil Nadu will be over the age of 60. 28% of Kerala will be over age of 60,” he says.
He urges the Union health minister to address the issue of long term implications of an ageing population.
Population Regulation Bill under discussion
Jawhar Sircar, AITC MP from West Bengal opposed the Population Regulation Bill 2019 on the grounds that it was introducing a national population policy. He noted that he felt that it carried an agenda far beyond what was stated. He indicated that he hoped it was not community targeted and stressed that educating the girl child was the best way to further the cause of family planning.
He said that he does support concerted efforts to improve family planning but cited Sanjay Gandhi’s case to say that the state should not interfere too deeply in civil life.
Various bills introduced by private members
Private members asked for leave and were granted leave to introduce a number of bills including:
bills to amend various articles and the preamble of the Constitution, the Uniform Civil Code in India Bill, 2020, Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2021. The Epidemic Diseases (Prevention, Preparedness and Management) Bill, 2021, The National Right to Land and Shelter Bill, 2022, The High Court of Kerala (Establishment of a Permanent Bench at Thiruvananthapuram) Bill, 2022, The Kashmiri Pandits (Recourse, Restitution, Rehabilitation and Resettlement) Bill, 2022, The Kuresong Gorkha Institute of Fashion and Design Bill, 2022, The Kalimpong Films and Music Institution Bill, 2022, The Population Regulation Bill, 2019, The National Anthem (Modification) Bill, 2018.
While introducing the Kashmiri Pandits (Recourse, Restitution, Rehabilitation and Resettlement) Bill, 2022, MP Vivek K. Tankha said that it was the first of its kind in 32 years.
Proceedings resume in the house
House adjourned till 2:30 p.m.
Artisans and textile industry discussion brought up
Dr. V Sivadasan, CPI (M) MP from Kerala asked whether textile mills are functioning properly and whether artisans and textile-workers are getting proper wages. In her reply Darshana Vikram Jardosh, Minister of State for Textile, outlined measures being taken to promote artisans abroad and during festivals. (She did not directly answer the question.)
Industrial development and investment discussion under way
Andhra Pradesh MP Ayodhya Rami Reddy Alla, YSRCP, asked a question about measures being taken by the government to attract foreign investment, and what incentives are being offered to makes India internationally competitive.
Commerce and Industry minister Piyush Goyal said that development projects are stalled because of land procurement issues and said these projects are the joint project of Centre and State. While the Centre can only create the masterplan, it requires state co-operation, he said.
About foreign direct investment, he said that India had broken previous records over the past six years, including during the Covid period. He said that discussions are going on with many countries, including UK, USA, UAE, Israel and Australia.
House experiencing chaos as more questions being asked about industry and investment.
Questions raised about food procurement
GVL Narasimha Rao, BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh asked about the delay in the release of payment to farmers for procurement of paddy in Andhra Pradesh. He asked about the central government guidelines for the same.
Piyush Goyal, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, said that now payments go directly to the bank account of the farmer, with no middlemen. He said that in 90% of cases, they gave the money in advance to states, and that he would check discrepancies in payment if members or states provided details about the extent of the issue.
Questions about mismatch in procurement, surplus parboiled rice, and other food distribution issues were also asked.
Question hour under way
Assam MP raises issue of safe drinking water in Guwahati
Ajit Kumar Bhuyan, MP from Assam spoke about the chronic lack of safe drinking water in Assam. He said that people are suffering from lack of water, even though the river Brahmaputra flows through the state. Of the 30% of the city provided with water by pipelines, the majority of it is the government complex and government water supply touches a negligible portion of the city, he said. He strongly urged the government to create a white paper about this issue and take further measures.
Govt should take steps to tackle violence against Dalits, Adivasis: BSP MP
Ramji, BSP MP from Uttar Pradesh, raised the issue of Dalit and Adivasi people being harmed and killed in the country. He said that the perpetrators are not being brought to justice. He highlighted recent murders of Dalit and Adivasi people, and urged that the government take stronger steps to curb the violence.
Address digital divide to allow access to online education: CPI(M) MP
Dr. V Sivasadan, MP from CPI (M) Kerala, raised the issue of the digital divide, and how it was preventing access to online education during his special mention speech.
He pointed out that in rural and adivasi areas, there is no electricity. hobbling access to online education. He said that 74% of students in India don’t have access to smartphones. He urged the Union government to take steps to address this divide.
Increase Odisha road, rail connectivity: BJD MP
Prashanta Nanda, BJD, Odisha requested the government to increase the rail and road network in Odisha to ensure better connectivity with Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. He stressed that this would improve the socio-economic situation of the area and help tackle extreme left elements.
Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh wished the member and all Odisha residents a happy Odisha Divas at the end of the MP’s speech.
Declare Hindus minority in Meghalaya: Trinamool Congress MP
Shanta Chhetri, MP Trinamool Congress, asks Home Ministry to issue notification to declare Hindus a minority in Meghalaya. She also said that in states where Hindus are a minority, they should be allowed to administer educational institutions.
Zero hour issue about price rise
John Brittas, MP from CPI (M) Kerala raised the issue of rising prices, pointing out that there is an 11 percent hike on essential items. Brittas said that this was gross insensitivity towards the people, stating that price rises should have been avoided during a health crisis. He said the price of all essential drugs has gone up. Priyanka Chaturvedi, Shiv Sena MP, also continued the issue by talking about the rise of cost of living and the rise of cost of drugs.
Various papers laid on the table, Zero Hour commences
House proceedings commence, Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh presiding
List of Business
- Papers, reports of the parliamentary standing committee to be laid on the table.
- Statements by Krishan Pal, V Muraleedharan to make statements on their respective ministeries.
- Question Hour
- Various Bills including The Uniform Civil Code in India Bill, 2020, The Epidemic Diseases (Prevention, Preparedness and Management) Bill, 2021, The National Right to Land and Shelter Bill, 2022, The High Court of Kerala (Establishment of a Permanent Bench at Thiruvananthapuram) Bill, 2022, The Kashmiri Pandits (Recourse, Restitution, Rehabilitation and Resettlement) Bill, 2022, The Kuresong Gorkha Institute of Fashion and Design Bill, 2022, The Kalimpong Films and Music Institution Bill, 2022, The Population Regulation Bill, 2019, The National Anthem (Modification) Bill, 2018, among others to be introduced.
Day 13 recap
Members, including PM Narendra Modi, Mallikharjun Kharge, Harivansh Singh paid their respects as a farewell to retiring MPs. Several members made their parting speech in the House.
