Sir,
I rise to oppose the introduction of this Bill under the nomenclature
of the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2022. Sir, already,
the explicit reasons for opposing the legislative document have
been deliberated by our colleagues. I would like to bring it to your kind attention
that cooperative society is a state subject under the Seventh Schedule
via Entry 32 of the State List in the Indian Constitution. It has already
been inserted. So, it is, basically, a state subject. You are absolutely
raising a pertinent argument which also needs to be dealt with
but here in100 this issue
there is a clear indication that the Central Government has been encroaching
upon the territory of the State120
Government. That is why, furore and uproarious
protestation has been cropping up across the nation. Since this Government
has always140 been pleading
for cooperative federalism, this should have been reflected in the
preparation of this legislation. I do not know160 whether all the stakeholders have been
consulted before the preparation of this legislation. According
to this Bill, in the Cooperative Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Fund, which
is to be constituted, the profit-making multi-state cooperative has to pay
Rs. One crore or200 one per
cent of its profit. Strangely, the Government is not paying a single paisa.
This is an illogical way that one profit-making cooperative society shall pay
for the revival of another loss-making cooperative society. This does not
happen in240 the Companies Act
also. Sir, that is why we are opposing the Bill. The Central Government has
empowered itself with vast powers under the present Bill. This may lead
to concentration of power with the Central Government which280 may impact the autonomy and functioning
of the multi-sectoral cooperative societies, and may also create a
potential for misuse.300 For example, under the present Bill, the
cooperative ombudsman will be appointed directly by the Centre, without
any apparent monitoring320
system, to prevent corruption. An ombudsman is supposed to be unbiased.
An ombudsman is supposed to be unbiased and keep a check on the Government
by preventing it from abusing power. However, when an ombudsman is appointed
directly by the360
Government itself, it creates scope for undue influence over the decision
of the ombudsman. That is why, I have a submission before you and the
Government. Given the ramifications and encroachment upon the
States’ power, this Bill should be referred400
to the Standing Committee so that it could be further scrutinized,
and all the controversies could be wiped off before420 presentation of the Bill afresh. This is
my only submission before you.
Sir,
I rise to oppose the introduction of the Multi-State Co-operative Societies
(Amendment) Bill, 2022. Sir, originally, in 2002, when the Bill first came to
light, it was intended to facilitate the voluntary formation and democratic
functioning of cooperative societies480
as people’s institutes. But it seems that with this Amendment Bill, the Central
Government is planning to take away the500
powers of the State Governments with regard to cooperative societies. It
has four proposals. One is, setting up of cooperative election authority.
Earlier, cooperative elections were looked after by the State Governments. It
takes that authority away. It is not clear to me how the Act is related
to the Constitution amendment. The amendment came in 2011. This560 Government has been in power for eight
years. They have not amended it. Suddenly, the Home Minister
comes forward with the amendment to this Bill. This Bill impinges
on the rights of the States. It impinges on the right of600 people to form co-operative societies on
their own will. Basically, it will act in bringing more control over
multi-State co-operative societies by the Central Government. I am totally
opposed to this. It is undemocratic. It is anti-Constitutional, and640 it violates the spirit of the
co-operative societies and cooperation in the country. Sir, please send
it to the Standing Committee. You can do it. You have the power. If you
write one line, then everything will go to the Standing Committee.
Hon.
Chairman Sir, I thank the Committee for
examining the Bill in detail, and making700
very useful recommendations and observations. To suitably incorporate these
recommendations, the Ministry of External Affairs held several rounds of ministerial720 consultations with Ministries and
Departments concerned. The amendments have been drafted and finalized in
consultation with the Ministry of Law and Justice. Sir, I am happy to note that
out of the 18 recommendations of the Committee, 14 have been incorporated
suitably. Three recommendations were in the nature of observations which
have been noted. One recommendation is to define clear-cut roles of various
departments to be reflected in the rules for an effective coordination
mechanism. This recommendation also calls for800
SOP for deportation and extradition of pirates by the Ministry
of Home Affairs so that these could be implemented early, and that
has been noted and addressed suitably. Regarding the issues raised by the
Committee, the provision of840
trial in absentia has been dropped. Keeping in mind the observations of
the Committee regarding the Supreme Court of India’s ruling on awarding
mandatory death punishment, the provision regarding death punishment has been
amended in the Bill to also include imprisonment for life. Hon.
Speaker, Sir, India does not have a specific law or legal provision
in the Indian Penal Code or900
the Criminal Procedure Code on piracy. This Bill along with the
amendments would provide an effective legal instrument to combat piracy
not only in territorial waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone but also on the
high seas. India’s security and economic well-being is inextricably
linked to the sea, and maritime security is a pre-requisite with more
than 90 per cent960 of our
trade with the world taking place through sea routes and more than 80 per cent
of our hydrocarbon980
requirements being seaborne. The security of our sea lanes of communications is
critical to our national well-being.1000
Mr.
Chairman, Sir, the Union Government had announced more
than one hundred aspirational districts across the country. This special status
has been given for the overall development of the districts. Koraput district
in Odisha which belongs to my constituency is one of them. During the
first term of the present Government, hon. Prime Minister announced this
in pursuit of the Government’s effort to provide better healthcare. It had been
decided that each aspirational district across the country will get one1080 medical college. After the announcement
by the Prime Minister, in September 2018, the then Minister of State for1100 Health had also announced that a
medical college would be established in Koraput within a short time. Several
years have1120 passed, but there
is no progress. The aspiration of the people of the district is high on the
medical college. Quality and affordable healthcare is what we need the most
today. Therefore, I urge upon the hon. Minister of Health and Family Welfare
to specify the reason for the delay in establishing the medical college and
demand establishment of the hospital at the earliest. The people of Koraput are
waiting to see their aspiration fulfilled.
Sir,
I want to draw1200 the
attention of the Government towards the crippling crisis of DAP, NKP and
urea which are essential for ongoing Rabi crop season, particularly in Uttar
Pradesh and Bihar. Farmers are standing in long queues waiting for hours and
even days at Government-run fertilizer centres. Farmers are procuring fertilizers
at elevated prices in the black1260
market. The shortage is artificial because Government-run fertilizer centres
run short of the fertilizer supply, while they are available in1280 the open market in plenty. This is
leading to delayed sowing and is likely to hit the Rabi crop output.1300 There
exists a nexus of traders and Government officials for fertilizer shortage.
Many farmers are in huge debt and several farmers have committed suicide as
they could not get fertilizers in time. I would like to know the specific
details as to how the Government has acted against black marketing of fertilizers
and has taken action against dealers and officials, the number of licenses
cancelled, raids conducted and the plan of the Government to meet the
urea requirement during the Rabi season and specific plan to ensure that such
situation does not arise in future.
Hon.
Chairperson Sir, I thank1400 you very much for giving me this
opportunity. I wish to draw the kind attention of this House and the
Government towards injustice done to lakhs of students who were dependent
on their pre-matric scholarship for continuing their education.1440 This pre-matric scholarship Scheme has
now been withdrawn. The Government of India has not cited any specific reason
for withdrawal of this Scheme. The Scheme was run by the Ministry of
Social Justice and also by the Ministry of Tribal Welfare. So, it
can be well imagined how important this Scheme was. Lakhs of students were
dependent on this scholarship for1500
their education. This act of the Government is not just cruelty, but something
more than that. Everything was going on nicely. Applications were invited; they
were scrutinized and the applicants were waiting for the order. Unfortunately,
one fine morning, the Government of India decided to withdraw the
pre-matric scholarship for students from standard I to standard VIII. They all
belong to poor families and were completely dependent on this scholarship. This
scholarship was a very important motivation for these students. It was a great
relief for them. I would like to ask the Government what it will gain by1600 withdrawing this scholarship given to
the poor students.
