Members of CPI(M) in Rajya Sabha on 11-03-2015 on
(1) DEMAND FOR ECONOMIC REVIVAL OF HINDUSTAN SHIPYARD LIMITED TAPAN KUMAR SEN:
Sir, while associating myself with my colleague’s demand to revive the Hindustan Shipyard, I would just like to mention, very briefly, that because of the policy dilemma Hindustan Shipyard is running into problems. Before it was taken over by the Ministry of Defence,HSY was having handful of orders. It was asked not to accept those orders, because huge orders are waiting for it from the Defence sector. But, unfortunately, they did not come. And, gradually, due to keeping it idle, the Shipyard is becoming sick. Ihave also approached the Ministry of Defence. Hon. Defence Minister assured that it will be fed with sufficient orders on the same lines of other Defence Shipyards. So, it should be expedited, because time is the essence for revival of any industrial unit. So, I request, through you, the hon. Defence Minister that he should take steps to expedite it with sufficient orders. Thank you. (ends)
2. On DEMAND FOR SANCTION FOR SETTING UP A NATIONAL CANCER RESEARCH CENTRE AT KOCHI IN KERALA
P. RAJEEVE : Sir, the number of cancer patients has drastically increased in Kerala. The State is demanding an International Cancer Research Centre at Kochi. Earlier, the Government had given sanction for a National Cancer Research Centre in northern India. The demand for a cancer research institute in Kerala is a genuine one. I urge the Government to sanction the setting up of a new National Cancer Research Centre in the State of Kerala. (Ends)
3() On DEMAND FOR INCREASING NUMBER OF FLIGHTS IN KOLKATA-AGARTALA SECTOR
SHRIMATI JHARNA DAS BAIDYA: Sir, in the recent months, eight airlines, including the Jet Airways, stopped their operations on the Agartala-Kolkata-Guwahati route causing enormous problems for the Kolkata, Guwahati and Agartala-bound passengers. Several hundred passengers, including patients and jobseekers, have been stranded in Agartala, Kolkata and Guwahati in view of the crisis of air tickets. Currently, IndiGo and Air India have been operating their flights on the Agartala-Kolkata-Guwahati route.The Tripura Government last month reduced VAT (Value Added Tax) on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) by four per cent to encourage the airlines to operate their flights on the Agartala- Kolkata-Guwahati route. Though black on air tickets including of Air India had become rampant in the State, the administration is silent and only blaming the Centre. Every day, the flights are either delayed or cancelled without any intimation. And the passengers are not getting any compensation, rather eleventh hour booking of new tickets is done at high price.
I demand increase of at least three more flights on the Kolkata-Agartala sector, two in the morning and another one in the evening so that the passengers from Agartala could easily avail the flights and trains to other destinations from Kolkata. I also request the Government to introduce an Air India flight on Agartala-Kolkata- Delhi route or in Agartala-Kolkata sector and time it in such a way that the passengers can avail the Delhi-bound Air India flights, without wasting time at Kolkata Airport. (Ends)
4. On DEMAND FOR IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION OF HIKE IN STIPEND OF RESEARCH SCHOLARS IN IITs, NITs and CSIR
DR. T. N. SEEMA: Sir, thousands of research students of IITs, NIITs and JNU are on agitation demanding justice.Their main demand is parity and clarity in the scholarship programmes. After a one year long agitation a stipend hike was announced by funding agencies like MHRD and UGC. Though these announcements brought some relief to researchers, they were disappointed that they are getting only a few months’ arrears and that also in different patterns. But there are only announcements. It is not clear when they will get the revised scholarship. Adding to the miseries of the students, many anomalies are there in the notification of MHRD, such as lack of clarity regarding the discrimination faced by M.Tech students compared to B.Tech students in duration of research period. CSIR is not yet ready to announce the hike. Why is there a disparity in the scholarship programmes? There is no coordination between the funding agencies because they are under different Ministries. There must be some mechanism for the coordination between the funding agencies. Government should ensure the disbursal of revised fellowship by the end of March, 2015 with arrears by all funding agencies. There must be a provision for periodic revision of fellowship on the basis of the increasing living costs. The scholarships were last increased in 2010. The cost of living and inflation have gone up multi-fold in the last five years. These ground realities are never considered by the authorities. I would urge upon the Government to respond to the demands of the research scholars immediately. (Ends)
5. On STATUTORY RESOLUTION DISSAPPROVING THE MOTOR VEHICLE (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 2015 (NO. 2 OF 2015) AND THE MOTOR VEHICLES (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2015
K.N. BALAGOPAL: Mr. Deputy Chairman, Sir, I rise to support the Bill. I am supporting this even though this is a piecemeal legislation. A comprehensive Bill is pending for finalisation before the Standing Committee for recommendations for the last two years. That comprehensive Bill is related to the entire motor vehicles, licensing and road transport system. So, a comprehensive system is needed. But this is a step by the Government to regularise the e-rickshaws, that is, bringing unorganised people to the organised sector. So, giving licence to them is a very welcome move. Sir, I am supporting the Government’s move to reduce the existing condition to give licence to drive transport vehicles only to those who are having one-year experience. Now, it is being reduced to zero level. That means, a person who is getting a licence can drive these vehicles. But, Sir, one thing has to be ensured. There should be proper rules and regulations for driving these vehicles. I am saying this because the e-rickshaws were banned in Delhi after a tragic incident. A small girl, who was walking with her mother on a footpath in Delhi, was hit by an e-rickshaw which drove through that footpath. The girl was hit and she fell into a big frying pan full of oil. It happened two years back. It was a very tragic incident. So, e-rickshaws used to travel anywhere. No rule of keeping left or no other rule was there for them. So, after giving this licence, we have to ensure that they are properly educated about the traffic laws. That is what Nareshji has said here. I am supporting his point that proper education should be there for these drivers.
Sir, another thing is that there should be some subsidy given to the rickshaw pullers for transferring to the e-rickshaws. Now the price of an e-rickshaw is around Rs.40,000 to Rs.50,000. So, if the Government has some provision to give some subsidy for erickshaw industry, it will be helpful for the poor people. Sir, the next point is that a lot of auto-rickshaws are also there. In that area also, this green initiative should be promoted. It is not coming as part of this Bill, but even then some green initiative has to be there to support and help the environment. That is also needed.
Lastly, Sir, with the existing roads, we cannot solve the issue of traffic, whatever kind of licence we may give. The Minister is also in charge of the highways and roads. So, some serious care should be taken to develop the roads also. I am supporting this Bill. Thank you, Sir.
(Ends)