Registration Of Placement Agencies

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

RAJYA SABHA

QUESTION NO  1063

ANSWERED ON  30.11.2011

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to satate :-
1063. SHRI Y. S. CHOWDARY:
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the State-wise details of registered placement agencies engaged in providing domestic help across the country;
(b) whether it has come to the notice of Government that these placement agencies
are getting wages of domestic help directly from the employers and are paying only
meagre amounts to the domestic help;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether Government has received any complaints against these placement
agencies for non-payment of wages to the domestic help and if so, the action taken
thereof; and
(e) the steps/measures taken by Government to prevent exploitation of
these domestic help by the placement agencies?
   
ANSWER
     
MINISTER OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE)
(a) Data regarding private placement agencies is not maintained centrally. However, State Governments have been asked to take necessary steps for registration of placement agencies including those providing domestic workers.

(b) No such instance has come to the notice of Ministry of Labour & Employment.

(c) Does not arise.
(d) & (e) The domestic work falls under the state sphere. The State Governments have been requested to take necessary steps for inclusion of domestic work in scheduled employment and fix minimum rate of wages for domestic workers.

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Financial Assistance By APEDA

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

QUESTION NO  934

ANSWERED ON  30.11.2011

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY  be pleased to satate :-

a) the State-wise and year-wise details of financial assistance provided by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under schemes for market development of various products during the Eleventh Plan;

b) the year-wise targets fixed/achieved during the Eleventh Plan; and

c) the intended measures before Government for improving the results?
   
ANSWER
     
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA)

(a) Details of financial assistance provided by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the scheme of Market Development in Eleventh Plan Period upto 2010-11 are as under:
Rs. in crore
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
15.00 15.01 15.94 17.32
State wise details under this scheme are not maintained by APEDA.

(b) Details of year wise targets fixed/achieved during the 11th Plan Period are as under:
Rs. in crore
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12
Target Achieved Target Achieved Target Achieved Target Achieved Target
15.00 15.00 15.00 15.01 17.00 15.94 17.00 17.32 23

(c) The Market Development Scheme is being implemented by APEDA with the primary objective of increasing exports of agricultural & processed food products in the international markets. Secondly the scheme helps export of quality products in value added packaging so as to fetch higher export earnings for the entrepreneurs. In addition, the scheme, also provides a platform to exporters to showcase their products to international buyers under the banner of brand “INDIA”. To popularise Indian food products in international markets generic brand promotion is also carried out through release of Advertisement in International media.

Important trade related information, International import & quality regulations and market analysis reports are disseminated through website and quarterly journal of APEDA.

APEDA has undertaken various activities in the Market Development Scheme during last few years. Some of the major initiatives under the scheme are as below:
(a) Development and use of Standard packaging material for exports.
(b) Data compilation and Information dissemination through print media and Website.
(c) Participation in Exhibition and trade Fairs, Exchange of trade delegations
(d) Brand Promotion and Generic Market promotion.

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Village Energy Security Projects

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

RAJYA SABHA

QUESTION NO  96

ANSWERED ON  28.11.2011

Will the Minister of NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to satate :-
(a) whether Government has identified villages/ hamlets for test projects on village energy security throughout the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof, state-wise; and

(c) the details of the test projects undertaken in unelectrified remote villages and hamlets, during the last three years?
   
ANSWER
     
THE MINISTER OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
(DR. FAROOQ ABDULLAH)

(a), (b)&(c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

Statement
Statement in reply to parts (a), (b) & (c) of Rajya Sabha Starred Question No. 96 for 28.11.2011

(a)&(b): Yes Sir. The Ministry has identified 79 villages/ hamlets for implementation of test projects in 10 States of the country. The State-wise number of test projects identified/ under implementation, are given at Annexure - I.

(c): During the last three years, 20 test projects, of which 17 test projects during 2008-09 and 03 test projects during 2009-10 were undertaken in un-electrified remote villages and hamlets by the Ministry. The location-wise list of test projects under taken in un-electrified remote villages and hamlets is given at Annexure – II. During 2010-11, no test projects have been undertaken, as in the Mid-Term Appraisal of the 11th Five Year Plan carried out by the Planning Commission in September, 2009, ‘it was decided to concentrate on consolidating the projects already taken up for implementation’. It was also decided that no new test projects will be supported.

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Central funds to States under SSA

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

QUESTION NO  555

ANSWERED ON  25.11.2011

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to satate :-
(a) the basis for allocation of Central funds to various States under SSA;
(b) the details of funds allocated to Andhra Pradesh under above schemes during Tenth Five
Year Plan and so far in Eleventh Five Year Plan and for the rest of the country during the
period, year-wise and scheme-wise;

(c) whether funds allocated to Andhra Pradesh have been spent for the specified purpose;

(d) if so, the results achieved year-wise and scheme-wise;

(e) whether any complaints of diversion/misuse of funds have come to the notice of Government;
and

(f) if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon?
   
ANSWER
     
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(Dr. D. PURANDESWARI)


(a) In the 10th Five Year Plan the funding pattern under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) between Central and States was in the ratio of 75:25 (90:10 for NE States). The funding pattern between the Centre and States for 11th Plan was on a sliding scale, viz. 65:35 during the first two years of 11th Five Year Plan, 60:40 in third year, 55:45 in the fourth year and 50:50 thereafter (90:10 for NE States). With the enactment of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, the funding pattern has been revised in the 65:35 ratio between the Central and State Governments, and is applicable from 2010-11 onwards. The existing funding pattern of 90:10 ratio for the States in the NER remains unchanged.




(b) Details of the funds released during 10th and 11th Five Year Plan is at Annexure –I

( c) & (d) The details of the achievement made by Andhra Pradesh are tabulated below:

(Rs. in Lakhs)

Year GoI Share State Share Total Expenditure % Expenditure
2002-03 8226.10         2547.00         10773.10 3952.10         36.68%
2003-04 9884.41         4383.57         14267.98 3952.10         27.69%
2004-05 28000.00 9076.36         37076.36 3952.10         10.66%
2005-06 37999.00 12605.15 63352.11 55816.48 88.11%
2006-07 46245.56 14415.18 75640.64 72236.73 95.50%
2007-08 28100.00 15107.61 45708.28 43699.91 95.61%
2008-09 71031.78 20995.66 122026.77 93526.52 76.64%
2009-10 38569.90 10885.05 74170.59 72257.36 97.42%
2010-11 81000.00 63508.72 148813.94 144004.80 96.77%

(e) & (f) Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) has an intensive Financial Management System which includes annual audit by Chartered Accountants empanelled with Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, concurrent financial review by Institute of Public Auditors of India (IPAI) as well as system for internal audit. SSA conducts Quarterly Review Meetings with Finance Controllers of all States/UTs for monitoring the utilization of funds. Whenever misappropriation of funds meant for SSA are reported through audit by CA firms, Accountant General (AG) of States, CAG of India and IPAI Reviews and action is taken thereon. Investigations have been made on the misappropriation of funds in West Bengal in 2004-05, Haryana in 2005-06, 2008-09 and 2009-10, Himachal Pradesh in 2005-06, Andhra Pradesh in 2006-07 and 2010-11, Karnataka and Rajasthan in 2007-08 and Gujarat in 2009-10. Besides initiating departmental proceedings against the persons found guilty, police complaints have been filed and investigation through State CID/Vigilance Department has been conducted. The persons concerned have either been transferred, suspended or terminated and recoveries affected. In Andhra Pradesh, orders attaching the properties of the two main accused parties have been issued.

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Decline in the availability of pulses

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE

QUESTION NO  466

ANSWERED ON  25.11.2011

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE be pleased to satate :-
(a) whether it is a fact that per capita availability of pulses in the country has declined to 34 grams from 66 grams during the last five decades;

(b) if so, the reasons for this sharp decline; and

(c) whether Government took any initiative to encourage cultivation of pulses, and if so, the details thereof and results achieved?
   
ANSWER
       
(a) & (b): The per capita availability of pulses since 1960 has been as follows:

Year Per capita net availability (Grams per day) Production (million tonnes)
1960 65.5 11.80
1970 51.9 11.69
1980 30.9 8.57
1990 41.1 12.86
2000 31.8 13.41
2010 31.6* 14.66
*Provisional

Despite the increase in production of pulses the per capita availability of pulses has declined due to higher increase in population compared to increase of production of pulses.

(c): In recent years a higher increase in the MSP for pulses, as compared to other crops, has been given in order to incentivise the production of pulses.

In addition, the Government implements schemes to increase the production and availability of pulses in the country namely National Food Security Mission – Pulses (NFSM-Pulses), Accelerated Pulses Production Programme, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) etc. Production of pulses has increased to 18.09 million tonnes in 2010-11.

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Hazardous waste by ships

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  SHIPPING

QUESTION NO  58

ANSWERED ON  24.11.2011

Will the Minister of SHIPPING be pleased to satate :-
(a) whether it is a fact that various countries are dumping hazardous waste in India by ships in the guise of sending them for ship-breaking;

(b) the details of such cases noticed during the last three years;

(c) whether the present legal system is sufficient to punish the offenders and seek compensation and details for the last three years in this regard; and

(d) in what manner Government proposes to tackle this menace and protect our shores?
   
ANSWER
       
MINISTER OF SHIPPING
(SHRI G.K. VASAN)

(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.





STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 58 BY SHRI Y.S. CHOWDARY M.P., TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.11.2011 REGARDING “HAZARDOUS WASTE BY SHIPS”
------------------------------------------------------------------------

(a): No, Sir. The ships sent for ship recycling contain less than 1% hazardous waste of its weight.

(b): As stated above, ships coming for dismantling contain less than 1% of hazardous waste of its weight as shown below:

Year No. of ships Light Displacement Tonnage (LDT) Hazardous waste in MT % of waste to the weight of the ship
2008-09 264 1944162 5027.84 0.25%
2009-10 348 2937802 5418.04 0.18%
2010-11 357 2816236 8215.31 0.29%
2011-12
(upto October-2011) 217 1886274 2660.37 0.36%

(c) & (d): State Maritime Boards are empowered to take action against the offenders. Rules relating to handling of hazardous waste are notified by the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Current legal mechanism provides for development and operation of hazardous waste management facility in ship recycling sector to treat and dispose of the hazardous waste generated from ships’ recycling. Thus, wastes are not allowed to be dumped along the shore & hence, shores are protected.

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Skill Development Mission

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

QUESTION NO  26

ANSWERED ON  23.11.2011

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to satate :-

a) whether Government undertook ‘Skill Development Mission’ during the Eleventh Plan (2007-12) with an outlay of Rs. 22,800/- crores;
b) if so, the year-wise and State wise details of amount spent on this Mission so far;
c) whether any regional imbalances surfaced during this period and, if so, the reasons therefor and the corrective action taken;
d) whether the present public infrastructure is sufficient to achieve the desired results of the Mission or the involvement of private enterprise is necessary;
e) if so, the plans of Government; and
f) what is the present State-wise status of skill requirement and availability in major sectors?

   
ANSWER
       
MINISTER OF LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE)

(a to f) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a to f) OF RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *26 BY SHRI Y. S. CHOWDARY REGARDING SKILL DEVELOPMENT MISSION DUE FOR REPLY ON 23.11.2011.


(a) & (b) Under Co-ordinate Action Plan for Skill Development , the following three institutions have been set up:

i. Prime Minister’s National Council on Skill Development-under the chairmanship of Hon’ble Prime Minister, for policy direction and review of spectrum of skill development efforts in country.
ii. National Skill Development Coordination Board-under the chairmanship of Dy. Chairman Planning Commission to enumerate strategies to implement the decisions of PM’s council and to coordinate with Union and State Governments as well as National Skill Development Corporation.
iii. National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), a non-profit company under the Companies Act, 1956. The corporation is being funded by trust “National Skill Development Fund” to which the Government has contributed a sum of Rs.1,500 crore. The Corporation is expected to mobilize about Rs.15,000 crore from other government, public sector, private sector, bilateral and multilateral sources.


Contd..

.2.

No specific budget allocation has been made for Skill Development Mission. However, different Ministries and Departments are carrying out skill development activities as part of their regular budget allocations.

(c) to (f) There are regional imbalances in different parts of the country. Skill development infrastructure is not evenly distributed and some regions viz hilly, border, difficult and desert areas are deficient in skill development infrastructure. Government has formulated scheme to set up1500 more Industrial Training Institutes and 5000 Skill Development Centers with active participation of private sector in these areas to reduce regional imbalance. State Skill Development Mission under the Chairmanship of Chief Ministers have also been set up to prepare state specific plan to address the skill deficit

State Governments have also been requested to carry out skill gap analysis in their states. However, National Skill Development Corporation has carried out study on requirement of skilled man power in twenty one high growth sectors, by 2022.

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Agreements with foreign countries to get details of black money

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  FINANCE

QUESTION NO  46

ANSWERED ON  22.11.2011

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to satate :-
(a) the details of the countries with which Government has agreements for getting details of black money stashed abroad;

(b) the reasons for not entering into agreements with all the sensitive countries so far;

(c) whether Government intends to be more proactive in this regard and the details of action plan, if any; and

(d) how do Government intends to bring back the country's money illegally stashed abroad?
   
ANSWER
       
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(SHRI S.S. PALANIMANICKAM)

(a) The Government of India has Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAAs) with 81 countries, namely Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordon, Kazakstan, Kenya, Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Libya, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portuguese Republic, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Swiss Confederation, Syria, Tajikistan, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, UAE, Uganda, UK, Ukraine, USA, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zambia.

Further, Government of India has Tax Information Exchange Agreements with 5 jurisdictions viz. Bermuda, Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Isle of Man and Cayman Islands. All these agreements contain article concerning exchange of information for tax purposes which allow for exchange of tax information. 75 of the 81 DTAAs do not have specific paragraph for exchange of banking information. All these 75 DTAAs have been picked up for renegotiation. The renegotiations have been completed in 22 cases.

(b) Does not arise

(c) & (d) Yes Sir. The Government of India has framed a comprehensive five pronged strategy in order to bring back the country's money illegally stashed abroad. The strategy comprises of:

(i) Joining the global crusade against ‘black money’ (for example our action in G-20, Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes, Task Force on Financial Integrity and Economic Development, Financial Action Task Force, UN, OECD etc.);

(ii) Creating an appropriate legislative framework (Various anti-tax evasion measures legislated in existing Act and proposed in the DTC, New DTAAs and TIEAs, amending existing DTAAs);

(iii) Setting up institutions for dealing with Illicit Funds (10 Income-tax Overseas Units, dedicated computerized Exchange of Information [EOI] Unit);

(iv) Developing systems for implementation (new manpower policy); and

(v) Imparting skills to the manpower for effective action (constant training for skill development).

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Allocation of funds under PMGSY and IAY

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  RURAL DEVELOPMENT

QUESTION NO  14

ANSWERED ON  22.11.2011

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) the basis for allocation of Central funds to various States under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY);
(b) the details of funds allocated to Andhra Pradesh under these schemes during the Tenth Five Year Plan and in Eleventh Plan so far, year-wise and scheme-wise and also in the country during the period;
(c) whether the allocated funds in Andhra Pradesh have been spent for the specified purpose and, if so, the results achieved thereof, year-wise and scheme-wise; and
(d) whether any complaints of diversion/misuse of funds came to the notice of Government and, if so, the details thereof and action taken thereon?
   
     
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)

(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

Statement referred to in reply to Parts (a) to (d) of the Rajya Sabha Starred Question No. 14 due for answer on 22.11.2011
….

(a): The funds under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) are released to the States on the basis of PMGSY Guidelines keeping in view the pace of implementation, level of spending and the unspent balance available with the States.

Funds under IAY are allocated to States/UTs on the basis of pre-determined criteria giving 75% weightage to housing shortage and 25% weightage to poverty ratio.

(b)&(c): A statement showing the year-wise total funds released under PMGSY and IAY programme, funds released to Andhra Pradesh, funds utilized and the achievement made by Andhra Pradesh under PMGSY and IAY during the 10th Five Year Plan and 11th Plan so far, is at Annexure.

(d): The responsibility for implementation of both the PMGSY and IAY schemes and ensuring proper use of funds lies with the States/UTs. Accordingly, whenever, any complaint in respect of irregularities in the implementation of the scheme is brought to the notice of the Ministry, the matter is immediately taken up with the concerned State Government/UT for remedial measures. In respect of PMGSY, National Quality Monitors are also deputed in some cases to investigate into the complaints and their reports are shared with the States for taking corrective measures. 
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