Mr. Chairman Sir, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak on the Resolution moved by my hon. friend seeking special status to the State of Bihar. This is a genuine demand because the present system is like that. So, the system should be changed. The goals of democracy and sustainable socio-economic development can best be achieved through extensive decentralization of power. The concept of a strong Centre and weak States has resulted in inadequate devolution of resources, heavy dependence of the States on the Centre for finance thus increasing the debt of the State. As we know, the Constitution provides for granting aid to the States in need of assistance. But the grants given by the Centre are not governed by any guideline. This is the issue on which every State has difference of opinion with the Centre.140 The Centre arbitrarily distributes the grants to the States. This amounts to a political decision rather than a rational conclusion. 160 Hon. Members will agree with me that this style of giving grants to the States by the Centre for public purposes needs to be resolved. The Finance Commission which is appointed after every five years, does not have the mandate to look into the issue. I would like to make a suggestion for consideration of the Government. The scope of the Finance Commission should be enlarged to reduce interference of the Centre in the financial management of the States and also in framing guidelines to extend grants under Article 282 of the Constitution. I hope the hon. Members will also share my views in this regard. Let us come to the question of the Centre interfering in the powers280 of the States. Though law and order is a State subject, the Centre has not hesitated in interfering in this field through the establishment of paramilitary forces. Some time back, Education was in the State List. But, by an amendment320 to the Constitution, the Centre has transferred Education to the Concurrent List. By such processes, the powers of the Centre have become strong and the powers of the States have been eroded, making the States politically and economically weak.
A few days ago, the hon. Chief
Minister of Tamil Nadu had presented a memorandum to the hon. Prime
Minister seeking financial assistance for various welfare and
development programmes. Till date, the Centre has not responded to the State’s
demand. My hon. leader has also requested the Centre to allot 100 megawatts of additional
power from the Central pool to420
meet the emergency need. I regret to say that even on this
crucial issue the Centre is keeping silent. The State Government’s
expectation that the Centre will come to its rescue has been belied. The
image of the Centre is seriously getting eroded in the minds of the
people, not only in the State of Bihar but also in other480 States like Tamil Nadu. I would
request the Centre to take note of this fact and act judiciously. Let me say a
few words on the Centrally sponsored schemes. These schemes cover the
State subjects. The pity is that the Centre determines the schemes and then
asks the State Governments to implement them. The needs and aspirations
of the States are well known to the State Governments only. I would appeal to
the Centre to take the States into confidence560
and consult the State Governments before formulating the schemes and in the
process of execution of the schemes.
Mr. Chairman, Sir, in recent
months, prices of gold have increased in the domestic market. Our
Government is importing huge quantities of gold, but its prices are increasing.
One of the major reasons contributing to the steep hike in prices of gold is
the steep fall in global equity markets and the investors parking their
investments in gold. Another reason is that640
the corrupt elements are stacking their unaccounted money in gold which has
ultimately pushed up its demand and has resulted in the increase in its
prices. The gold metal has a special significance in our tradition and
culture, particularly in the southern States, where wearing of gold ornaments
is considered sacred in the religious functions. Even poor people used to700 purchase at least a few grams of gold for
marriages. However, due to this unprecedented hike in gold prices, they are
very much worried about getting their daughters married. The hike in gold
prices also leads to increase in crimes like theft, chain snatching, murder,
burglary, robbery, etc. in the country. Sir, keeping in view the above, I
humbly urge upon the Central Government to take necessary steps to
contain the increasing trend in the prices of gold and also crack down
on the people who are stashing their black money in gold and to reduce its
prices to a800 reasonable
level. We should also have to find out new gold mines because there is a trend
of diminishing returns in our gold mines. Another point is that some people are
buying gold from the Jewellery Mart and they are840 not being given bills for the purchase. So, the
Government should ensure that genuine bills are given against the purchase of
gold.
Madam Speaker, I am grateful to
you for giving me the opportunity to draw the attention of the Union
Government towards the problem of coastal erosion in Karnataka. Coastal Erosion
has been the burning problem of the districts of the coastal belt. In our
country, we have more than 2000 kilometres of coastal line out of which
Karnataka has about 280 kilometres. In recent years due to various
reasons like increasing population, global warming, climate change, mining
etc., rapid coastal erosion has taken place in the coastal belt. People living
in coastal region are very much distressed. 960
Lakhs of fishermen are dependent on sea to earn their livelihood. But coastal erosion
has been severely affecting not only980
their lives but also their livelihood. During rainy season these people are
asked to vacate their places and they are forced to go away from sea. These
people run from pillar to post to seek the assistance of the
Government. To prevent this problem, the Karnataka Government is making all
efforts and has entered into an agreement with the Asian Development Bank
to formulate a programme in this regard. This programme is being implemented in
three phases and will be completed by the year 2018. At this juncture I
would like to impress upon the Government of India to extend
necessary financial and technical support to the Government of Karnataka
to complete this project within the stipulated time. The Union Government
should prepare a national plan for tackling coastal erosion and extend all
possible support to the states located on the1120
coastal line of our country. This will enable people living in the costal belt,
particularly fishermen community, to lead a happy and comfortable life.
Mr. Chairman, Sir, I thank you
for giving me an opportunity to speak on the debate relating to the Juvenile
Justice Amendment Bill. First of all, I would like to appreciate the
concern of the Government over the plight of the children kept in juvenile
homes by bringing an amendment to the principal Act. This is a good initiative.
But we need to go into the detail as to why such things are
happening, especially to the juvenile prisoners. In this regard, I would like
to bring to the notice of the Government that many children have gone missing
from State-run children’s homes in various States, strengthening the
common belief that the Government homes do not1260
provide a child-friendly atmosphere and are fast turning unsafe for the
residents. Many cases of unnatural deaths of children have1280 also been reported from these
juvenile homes. The figures of children missing from the protection shelters
have raised serious doubts about their safety and security in these
homes. I am very much concerned about the missing children.
Shockingly, there is no information about them. Where are these
children? It is feared that the missing children are vulnerable to trafficking
and child labour. These children could have fallen prey to flesh trade or organ
transplant rackets that are so prevalent in our country.
Most
of the children’s homes are in a pathetic condition. They are severely short-staffed,
lack expert intervention and adequate extra-curricular activities. The
children’s homes are crowded and kids are forced to survive under inhuman
conditions. They are served1400
poor food, often undercooked. Children also have no access to medical aid
or formal education. We cannot have a situation where the State-run shelters
are losing a large number of children, year after year. It is
also alleged that the1440
officials of these homes are involved in massive corruption, siphoning off the
money meant for the care and protection of children in distress. There is an
urgent need to have an impartial investigation to look into these issues and to
improve the administration of juvenile homes across the country. Children
who stay in these shelter homes are runaway children, missing children,
abandoned children and child labourers. It is because of lack of proper care
and protection at juvenile homes that the resident children become vulnerable
to mental diseases. So, I must thank and congratulate the Government for
bringing this Bill at the right time. The children of our country are the
future leaders of our nation. But it is sad to note that 50 per cent of the
world's malnourished kids live in India. Preventable malnourishment is
still prevalent across the country despite schemes and plans implemented by
the Government. 1590
