Parliament Monsoon Session Day 11- Centre tables bill to reserve seats for ST in Goa Assembly

The Parliament's Budget Session resumes today, featuring several important bills amid ongoing debates between the opposition and ruling parties. The third week of the session will address key draft legislation in both Houses. The second session of the 18th Lok Sabha began on July 22 and is expected to end on August 12.

Papers and Motions Laid in Parliament Today

Rajya Sabha

• CAG Report on Information Systems Audit

1. Presented by: Minister Suresh Gopi

2. Details: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report focused on the Information Systems Audit of selected Central Public Sector Enterprises. This document was submitted in the Rajya Sabha, reflecting the government's commitment to transparency and accountability in public sector operations.

Lok Sabha

• Election to National Jute Board

  • Presented by: Union Minister Giriraj Singh

  • Purpose: Moved a motion for the election of two members to the National Jute Board, underscoring the government’s focus on the jute industry and its stakeholders.

• Election to Employees' State Insurance Corporation

  • Presented by: Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya

  • Purpose: Proposed a motion for the election of two members to the Employees' State Insurance Corporation, highlighting the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen labor welfare mechanisms.

Additional Papers Laid

• Various Union Ministers: Several ministers laid papers relevant to their respective ministries in both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, contributing to the legislative documentation and transparency in government functions.

Bills Introduced in Parliament Today

Rajya Sabha

• Discussion on Ministry Functions
  Opposition members in the Rajya Sabha are scheduled to discuss the functioning of several ministries. The ministries under review include:

  • Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

  • New and Renewable Energy

  • Cooperation

• Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 2024

Presented by: Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri

Objective: This bill seeks to amend the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act of 1948. It aims to streamline regulations governing oilfields, enhancing operational efficiency within the petroleum sector.

• Comptroller and Auditor General's Report
  Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Suresh Gopi, tabled the CAG report titled "Information Systems Audit of Selected Central Public Sector Enterprises - Union Government (Commercial) - Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas No. 2 of 2024 (Compliance Audit Observations)." This report highlights audit findings related to specific public sector enterprises under the ministry.

Lok Sabha

• Appropriation Bill and Finance Bill

  • Presented by: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

  • Purpose: These bills are crucial for the allocation of funds and management of the national budget, emphasizing the government's fiscal policies.

• Readjustment of Scheduled Tribes Representation Bill

  • Presented by: Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal

  • Details: This bill aims to readjust the representation of Scheduled Tribes in the Assembly constituencies of Goa, reflecting the government’s commitment to social justice and representation.

• Waqf Amendment Bill

  • Purpose: The government is poised to introduce a bill to amend the Waqf Act of 1995. This amendment aims to ensure greater accountability and transparency in the functioning of Waqf boards while mandating the inclusion of women in these bodies.

  • Key Provisions:

    • Property Registration: Waqf boards will be required to register their properties with district collectors for accurate valuation.

    • Impact: With 30 Waqf boards in India generating an estimated ₹200 crore annually, this legislation seeks to enhance the management and utilization of Waqf properties, which have not been proportionate to the volume of properties held.

• Bills introduced today:

1. Lok Sabha Passes Demands for Grants for Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (2024-25)

The Lok Sabha has successfully passed the Demands for Grants concerning the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for the fiscal year 2024-25. This is a crucial step in the budgetary process, as it outlines the financial requirements and allocations for the ministry that plays a pivotal role in the healthcare system of the country.

Key Highlights:

1. Budgetary Allocation: The passed demands detail the financial resources needed to support various health initiatives, programs, and services for the coming year.

2. Focus on Healthcare Improvement: The emphasis is on enhancing healthcare infrastructure, accessibility, and quality of services across the nation.

3. Next Steps: Following the approval of the Health Ministry's demands, the Lok Sabha proceeded to deliberate on the Demands for Grants under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying for the same fiscal year.

2. Centre Introduces Bill to Reserve Seats for Scheduled Tribes in Goa Assembly

In a significant move aimed at promoting representation and addressing the demands of marginalized communities, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced a bill to reserve seats for Scheduled Tribes in the Legislative Assembly of Goa.

Key Provisions of the Bill:

1. Empowerment of Census Commissioner: The bill empowers the Census Commissioner to officially notify the population statistics of Scheduled Tribes in Goa. This data will serve as a foundation for subsequent legislative actions.

2. Amendment of Delimitation Order: Based on the census data, the Election Commission (EC) will be tasked with amending the Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order of 2008. This amendment is necessary to facilitate the reservation of ST seats in the 40-member Goa Assembly.

3. Current Representation Status: Presently, there are no reserved seats for the ST community in the Goa Assembly, while one seat is allocated for Scheduled Castes. The ST community has been advocating for the reservation of four out of the 40 seats to ensure adequate representation.

4. Estimated ST Population: Goa is home to an estimated Scheduled Tribe population of 150,000, highlighting the need for legislative measures to secure their representation in governance.

5. Cabinet Approval: The proposal for this bill received the green light from the Union Cabinet in March 2024, shortly before the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for March 16.

• BJP Leaders' Statements

1. PM Modi's Transparency Praised

BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a model of transparency. He noted that despite 11 years in power, the opposition has failed to make any allegations against BJP leaders. Jaiswal emphasized that only the corrupt would resist transparency in all areas.

2. Celebrating the Abrogation of Article 370

On the fifth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad called it a "sacred day." He highlighted the progress in Kashmir, noting improved peace and a reduced presence of stone pelters. Prasad challenged critics who had feared division and unrest, asserting that Kashmir is now a symbol of national pride and development.

3. Congress vs. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan contrasted the BJP's Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi with the Congress's previous efforts. He argued that while Congress had discussed farmer aid, they never implemented a scheme like the Kisan Samman Nidhi, which has empowered farmers and increased their respect in society.

4. Congress's Neglect of Farmers

Chouhan also criticized Congress for its historical neglect of farmers, citing incidents of violence against farmers during Congress rule, such as shootings in Bihar, Delhi, and Meerut. He contrasted this with Prime Minister Modi's focus on farmer welfare, as evidenced in his speeches.

5. Health Sector Budget Increase

Union Health Minister JP Nadda reported a 164% increase in the health sector budget since 2014. He praised Prime Minister Modi's prioritization of health infrastructure and welcomed suggestions from the Lok Sabha to further improve the sector.

6. SFIO Investigation into Sahara Group

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman updated the Lok Sabha on the Serious Fraud Investigation Office's ongoing probe into Sahara group companies. She addressed concerns about the lack of refund claims from all investors, noting that the SFIO is investigating and the Supreme Court is overseeing the process.

• Concerns Raised by MPs on Key Issues

1. Waterlogging in Gurugram

• Jaya Bachchan's Inquiry

MP Jaya Bachchan questioned the ongoing waterlogging issues in Gurugram, highlighting the poor conditions in the city's infrastructure.

• Minister's Response

Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal clarified that Gurugram is not among the 100 smart cities. He acknowledged the challenge, stating that cities are equipped to handle only 1.5-2 cm of rainfall, but recent events in Delhi NCR showed rainfall exceeding 8 cm. Lal committed to considering future suggestions for adapting urban infrastructure to climate change.

2. Inadequate EV Infrastructure

• Renuka Chowdhury's Concerns

Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury addressed the inadequacy of power grids for electric vehicles (EVs) and the scarcity of public charging stations. She criticized the belief that EVs can solve environmental issues, citing potential environmental concerns linked to battery production and power requirements.

• Government's Position

MoS Rao Inderjit Singh defended EVs as the future, although he admitted he is not qualified to debate their environmental impact.

3. GST on Medical Insurance

• Derek O'Brien's Demand

AITC MP Derek O’Brien called for a reduction of the 18% GST on medical and health insurance, emphasizing the financial burden on the middle class. He noted that insurance penetration in India is under 4%, compared to over 7% internationally.

• Support from Cabinet Minister

O’Brien referenced a letter from Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, who argued that taxing life insurance premiums equates to taxing life's uncertainties.

4. Press Freedom Issues

• V. Sivadasan on Journalist Safety

CPI(M) MP V. Sivadasan highlighted the plight of journalists in India, referencing the country's low rank of 159 out of 180 in the World Press Freedom Index. He pointed to the arrests of journalists and the overall exploitation of media professionals.

• Historical Context

Sivadasan noted that over 100 journalists have been killed in the past decade, including prominent editor Gauri Lankesh, stressing the need for better protections and wages for journalists.

5. Border and Trade Issues with China

• Manish Tewari's Adjournment Notice

Congress MP Manish Tewari submitted an adjournment notice in the Lok Sabha to discuss the border situation with China and the significant trade deficit. He cited ongoing border clashes and recent developments, including a new bridge constructed by China near Pangong Lake.

• Trade Deficit Statistics

Tewari highlighted the substantial trade deficit with China, which reached over USD 85 billion in 2023-24, with exports at USD 16.65 billion and imports at USD 101.75 billion.

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies

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