Shri Bangaru Laxman today took over charge as the Minister of State for Railways. He was elected to Rajya Sabha in April’96. He worked as the Union Minister of State for Planning, Programme Implementation and Statistics from october 13, 1999 to November 2, 1999. He was the Chairman, House Committee, Rajya Sabha from August 1998 to October 12, 1999.

RAILWAYS OBSERVE RAJ BHASHA SWARNA JAYANTI YEAR

    The Railway Ministry is organising a number of programmes to celebrate Golden Jubilee year of Official Language. The celebration was inaugurated yesterday by the noted legal luminary and scholar Dr. L.M. Singhvi in a function held at Rail Bhavan. The Minister of State for Railways, Shri Digvijay Singh presided over the function. On this occasion, Shri Singh presented awards, shields, trophies and prizes to the Railway Zones, Production Units and individuals who have taken special initiatives for the implementation and propagation of Official Language. Under the incentives scheme for helping the cause of Hindi, the Railways have instituted more than 100 awards and prizes. This year’s Kamalapathi Tripathi Rajbhasha Gold Medal has been bagged by Shri Somnath Pandey, General Manager (GM) North Eastern Railway, Gorakhpur while Rajbhasha Swarn Jayanti Gold Medal has been bagged by Shri P. Ramachandran,GM, Wheels and Axle Plant, Bangalore.

ADDITIONAL COURTS FOR DISPOSING OF PENDING CASES

    The sanctioned strength of Judges of High Courts is 590 Permanent and Additional Judges. It has been decided to create 28 new posts of Permanent and Additional Judges with effect from the dates these posts are actually filled up.

    As regards increase of courts and appointment of additional judges in the subordinate judiciary, it is the responsibility of the State Governments to create additional courts or appoint additional judges in consultation with the concerned High Courts.

    This information was given by the Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs Shri Ram Jethmalani in a written reply to a question from Shri D.P. Yadav in the Rajya Sabha today.

    There is no proposal under Government consideration for the delimitation of existing Parliamentary and State Assembly Constituencies.

    The Government is in agreement with the decision taken in the all party meeting on reform of electoral laws held on May 22,1998 that the existing position in respect of Delimitation of Parliamentary and State Assembly Constituencies, may continue till fresh delimitation becomes due as per existing constitutional provisions.

    This information was given by the Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs Shri Ram Jethmalani in a written reply to a question from Sardar Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Shri Sukhdev Singh Libra in the Rajya Sabha today.

    The number of sitting Judges in Supreme Court and High Courts, as on August 15,1999, was 25 and 464 respectively.

    Appointment of Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts is made under article 124 and 217 of the Constitution of India which do not provide for reservation for any caste or class of persons. Therefore, no information is maintained for caste or class . The Government have, however, addressed letters to the Chief Ministers of the States and the Chief Justices of the High Courts from time to time requesting them to locate persons from the bar belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, other Backward Classes, Minorities and Women who are suitable for appointment as High Court Judges.

    The number of sitting women Judges in the Supreme Court and High Courts as on August 15,1999, was 1 and 17 respectively.

    This information was given by the Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs Shri Ram Jethmalani in a written reply to a question from Shri V.N. Gadgil in the Rajya Sabha today.

    There is no proposal under Government’s consideration to debar Indian citizens of foreign origin from contesting for high offices in the country.

    Since no such proposal is under consideration of the Government, the question of its details does not arise, the idea has been mooted by some of the important functionaries of political parties and a public debate is going on the subject. When the idea crystalises and some consensus emerges, the Government will consider how to implement it.

    This information was given by the Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs Shri Ram Jethmalani in a written reply to a question from Shrimati Jayaprada Nahata and Shri Amar Singh in the Rajya Sabha today.

    According to the information furnished by the Election Commission of India, during elections, the Commission and the officers in charge of managing the election, like the Chief Electoral Officers, Observers, District Election Officers, Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers receive a large number of complaints from political parties, contesting candidates and other alleging unfair practices being committed by one or other parties or candidates. Some of these complaints are in writing and some are made over the telephone. It was, therefore, not possible to catalogue all the complaints received at different levels and from various sources. However, all complaints are looked into and the Commission endeavours to take corrective action wherever allegations of unfair practice appears to have some basis in facts.

    As for information regarding the total expenditure incurred on the 13^th Lok Sabha Elections including expenditure on para-military forces and officers, information is being compiled and will be laid on the Table of the House.

    This information was given by the Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs Shri Ram Jethmalani in a written reply to a question from Shri S. Agniraj in the Rajya Sabha today.

    Non-banking Financial Companies can apply for declaration as Nidhi under Section 620A of the Companies Act, 1956. As on October 31,1999, 122 applications are pending at various stages. On receipt of Reserve Bank of India’s report and Auditor’s certificate regarding compliance of directions issued by Reserve Bank of India and Department of Company Affairs from time to time, these applications are further processed and disposed of. Department of Company Affairs has revised the guidelines for Nidhi recently on November 1,1999 to improve their working. Applications complying with the revised guidelines also will be permitted to function as Nidhi.

    This information was given by the Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs Shri Ram Jethmalani in a written reply to a question from Shri S. Agniraj in the Rajya Sabha today.

    Minister of Environment and Forests Shri T.R. Baalu will lead the Indian delegation to the 11^th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol scheduled to be held in Beijing, China on 2^nd and 3^rd December, 1999. The Meeting of Parties is the highest policy making body of the Montreal Protocol system. During the Meeting, each participant from the developing and the developed countries will make a statement regarding their countries’ commitment to the Protocol and highlight the achievements of their respective country as per the Protocol’s phaseout schedule.

    In the Beijing Meeting, Shri Baalu will highlight the various fiscal and regulatory measures that India has taken to meet its commitments under the Montreal Protocol for phasing out ozone depleting substances. He will also express the concerns of India and other developing countries regarding need for an adequate replenishment of funds for meeting the obligations in certain sectors.

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SERVICE RATIO IN MAIL DELIVERY GOES UP TO SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT   

    As a result of various steps taken by the Department of Posts (DoP) the all India average of success ratio in delivery of mail with norms has gone up to 75% while in some circles the achievement is as high as 97%. Stating this in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today, the Minister of State for Telecommunications, Shri Tapan Sikdar informed the Members that the Department has made elaborate arrangements for timely delivery of letters from one destination to another, fixing norms of transit and also of delivery. He stated that for achieving these objectives mail sorting pattern has been segmented into various channels like, Green channel (Local), Metro Channel and Rajdhani Channel, business Channel, Bulk Mail Channel and Patrika Channel. Delivery system at post offices has been restructured and rationalised so that letters are delivered on the day of receipt. In cities some postmen have also been provided with mopeds to facilitate delivery. Monitoring of mail processing system and delivery work has been strengthened, he added.

    Earlier, the Minister had informed the Member that in the Audit Report on the Department for the year ending 31^st March 1998, while reviewing mail delivery system for the year 1995-96, 1996-97 and 1997-98 it was observed that operational performance in some of the metro cities had not been satisfactory.

    The Railway board Chairman, Shri V.K. Agarwal and the Chairman, Railway Scouts and Guides Board of the Railway Ministry, Shri A.S. Gupta have received the Silver Elephant Award, the most prestigious Award in India for services rendered in the field of Scouts and Guides. The awards were presented by the Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Shri Ananth Kumar in the Rashtrapati Scouts and Guides Rally held here yesterday. The President of India Shri K.R. Narayanan, the chief patron, Bharat Scouts and Guides who was to distribute the prizes could not attend as he was not well. Silver Elephant Awards are presented every year to 8 international leaders and 32 prominent persons from India.

    Shri V.K. Agarwal is associated with scouting/guiding activities since 1976 and has taken keen interest to spearhead the activities of the organisation. In his entire career in the Railways, he has been a source of great inspiration to Scouts and Guides. As the Chairman, Railway Board he continues to patronise activities and events of Scouts and Guides.

    Shri A.S. Gupta has been associated with the Scouts and Guides movement for over two decades in his tenures in different Railway Zones. He has been actively involved in planning and organising training camps, rallies and adventure camps at state level. The Scouts and Guides have been enriched by his commendable contribution throughout these years.

    The Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Suresh Prabhu informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply today that there is a mixed trend of growth in terms of fertilizer products and there is a consistent increase in fertilizer production in public sector in terms of nutrients, as per the information given below:

( In Lakh Tonnes )

    The Minister also gave product-wise target and production of fertilizers from 1996-97 to 1998-99 by Central Public Sector Undertakings as below:

(‘000 MT)

A/S : Ammonium Sulphate

CAN : Calcium Ammonium Nitrate

DAP : Di- Ammonium Phosphate

SSP : Single Superphosphate

    The Minister also informed the House that the fertilizer industry has adopted the following strategies to increase production :

1. Expansion/retrofitting/revamping of existing fertilizer plants;
2. Overcoming the constraints in the availability of natural gas by setting up naphtha-based fertilizer plants and installing dual fuel/feedstock facilities in the existing plants and projects under implementation; and
3. Setting up joint venture projects in countries having abundant and cheap raw material resources.

    Shri Prabhu also informed the Lok Sabha about incentives available for increasing production of urea in the country.

1. Normally, no industrial licence is required for setting up a fertilizer plant.
2. Nominal basic customs duty on import of capital goods for setting up of new plants/modernisation of existing units.
3. Deemed export benefits to indigenous suppliers of capital goods to fertilizer projects, provided such supplies are made under the procedure of international competitive bidding.
4. Nominal duty on import of fertilizer raw materials and intermediates.
5. Reasonable return on investment to the entrepreneurs under the Retention Price-cum-Subsidy Scheme, at present applicable to urea.

    Shri Ram Naik Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas has approved the allotment 116 Retail Outlets (RO) and LPG distributorships to the widows or the next kin of Defence personnel killed in defence operations in Kargil. These include 51 ROs and 65 LPG Distributorships.

    The allotment has been finalised under a scheme drawn up by the Petroleum Ministry in June, 1999 to allot a total number of 500 Retail Outlet dealerships/LPG distributorships to the widows/dependents of defence personnel killed in action. The details of the scheme were also submitted to the Prime Minister.

    The current allotments are being made directly by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas based on the recommendations of the Ministry of Defence. This methodology was devised to avoid procedural delay in providing relief to the widows/next of kins of the personnel of armed forces who have laid down their lives in the defence and security of the country.

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    Union Urban Development Minister, Shri Jagmohan today informed the Lok Sabha that most of the works of the CPWD has been carried out through the contractors. The Minister said that given the quantum of workforce required to execute a large number of works in different localities, it would not be effective to employ workers on a regular basis.

    The Minister further informed that contractors make jhuggies on the Government land for their labourers and stores in terms of the contract which remain there till completion of the works. After completion of the work, the contractors are required to remove the jhuggies. Since it was noticed that some of the contractors did not remove the jhuggies, instructions have been issued to ensure that the last bill of the contractor is not paid till the jhuggies put up during the construction work, are removed.

    This information was given by the Urban Development Minister in a written reply to a question by Shri Sheesh Ram Singh Ravi.

    Shri Balmukund Singh, Assistant Research Officer (Yoga) of the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, New Delhi, an Autonomous Institution under the Department of Indian Systems of Medicines and Homoeopathy, has won the championship in the recently held International Yoga event at Buenos Aires, Argentina, conducted by International Yoga Sports Federation. He has won the prestigious Intercontinental Cup for the 3^rd year in succession. He had won this event during the last two years.

    The number of employees in a bank directly affects operating costs, a voluntary retirement scheme is one option for reducing operating costs but it is not the only option.

    Non performing assets (NPAs) pertaining to the non-priority sector is only one of the factors affecting profitability of nationalised banks.

    There is no proposal under the consideration of the Government to publish the names of the defaulters. RBI/Government have been advising banks to take steps to recover the money. For this purpose the banks have laid down their loan policy, loan recovery policy, investment policy duly vetted by the Board of Directors. In order to improve recoveries in high value NPAs, settlement Advisory Committees headed by a retired judge have also been formed by eight Nationalized banks to scrutinize, evaluate and recommend compromise proposals to the appropriate authority for their consideration.

    This information was given by Minister of State for Finance, Shri Balasaheb Vikhe Patil in a written reply to a question by Shri E. Balanandan in Rajya Sabha today.

    With a view to bring about improvement in cash handling at the branches of all the banks, Reserve Bank of India has issued a circular to all nationalised banks including State Bank of India and private sector banks advising them to do away with stapling of fresh bank note packets supplied by the Note Presses and re-issuable packets so as to enable the public at large to handle notes in a convenient manner, prevent water mark getting damaged etc. These instructions have been reiterated from time to time.

    The condition of currency notes deteriorates with time. However, soiled and damaged notes may be exchanged for new ones. Following action has been taken to facilitate exchange of soiled notes:-

1. In January, 1999, RBI advised their Regional Offices to issue a Press Communique or as a paid advertisement (a text of which was sent to them) in all leading newspapers in English, Hindi and local languages, about the note-exchange facilities available with Public Sector Banks. These banks were also advised that they should keep a display board about the existence of such facilities, at a prominent place in their premises.
2. With a view to retrieving the soiled notes of Re.1, Rs.2 and Rs.5 denominations from circulation, as their printing had been stopped from 1995 due to Government Policy of coinisation of these denominations, a special drive has been launched by the Reserve Bank of India. For greater dissemination of information regarding availability of this facility, an advertisement was issued in various newspapers on 10^th February, 1999. This advertisement was released in leading newspapers and important national magazines on 7^th March, 1999.
3. In order to have a wider impact and increased awareness, one audio spot and one 60 second audio jingle on exchange of soiled notes were broadcast on All India Radio during April/May, 1999. Video spots of 15 second duration on exchange of soiled notes of Re.1, Rs.2 and Rs.5 denominations were also telecast in April/May, 1999.

 

4. In order to mop up the soiled notes of Re.1, Rs.2 and Rs.5 denominations from circulation, Regional Offices of RBI have opened separate counters for the exchange of notes. Regional Offices have also identified important currency chests for this purpose. After ensuring that adequate supplies are available in each of the denominations at these chests, they issued advertisements in the local newspapers and also used electronic media so that the facility was brought to the notice of the public. Some of public sector bank branches as also the Regional Offices of the RBI arranged mobile counters (vans) in City/Mandi/Market area etc. for distribution of coins in exchange of soiled notes.
5. RBI has published in October, 1999, a booklet titled 'Your Guide to Money matters' which contains, inter-alia, information on facilities for exchange of soiled notes. This information is also available on RBI website; and
6. Banks have been advised to sort out only very good quality notes for re-issuing to the public.

    This information was given by Minister of State for Finance, Shri Balasaheb Vikhe Patil in a written reply to a question by Shri Rama Shanker Kaushik in Rajya Sabha today.

    Government is not working on a bailout package of Rs. 1,500 crore for three public sector banks. It is to be mentioned that a working group constituted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) submitted a report to RBI recommending certain measures for rehabilitation of three week banks, namely Indian Bank, Uco Bank and United Bank of India.

    In furtherance of the ongoing liberalisation efforts, Government has taken initiatives to boost inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) like conveying decision on all FIPB proposals within 30 days, allowing 100% foreign equity in construction & maintenance of roads, highways, vehicular tunnels, ports & Harbour subject to certain minimum conditions. Prior approval of RBI for FDI proposals under the automatic as well as FIPB route have been dispensed with.

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TELEPHONE FACILITIES AT ONE-FOURTH OF THE NORMAL RATES TO JAWANS IN KARGIL REINTRODUCED TILL MARCH NEXT YEAR

    The Department of Telecom Services (DTS) has decided to reintroduce the facility of STD calls at one-fourth of the normal rates to Jawans in Kargil area till 31^st March 2000. The facility was available till 31^st October 1999. The decision was taken by the Minister of Communications, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan after taking into account the importance of communication facilities between brave soldiers at the Front and their families. The reduced rate is applicable to calls made from PCOs operated by the armed forces on INMARSAT terminals as well as on landlines.