DICTATION EXERCISE - 44

Hon. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I wish to raise a very serious issue pertaining to the demand for reinstatement of operation of wide-bodied aircraft and also for restoration of the Haj embarkation point at Calicut Airport. This is a burning issue and it has affected the people, especially of Malabar region. Till the closure of the airport for re-carpeting in May 2015, wide-bodied aircrafts were operating from this airport. With these types of aircraft, people were travelling to the Gulf at cheaper air fares. The ban has hit the 18-million strong Indian diaspora from Malabar region of the State, who use this gateway in all spheres, including air travel, commercial exports, health care, tourism, etc. Similarly, 85 per cent of Haj pilgrims use this airport for Haj pilgrimage. The Haj house constructed at exorbitant cost is now lying locked and idle.¹⁴⁰ The operations have been shifted to the Kochi International Airport which has affected the people of Malabar region very adversely.¹⁶⁰ What I understand is that many of the air operators are willing to operate these types of aircraft. The Airport Authority of India also has no objections. But unfortunately, the DGCA has put its foot down. So, my humble request and my humble submission to the hon. Minister, through you, is to direct the authorities to accept the demand immediately.

Sir, I am sorry to raise before this House the attack on my constituency office in Thiruvananthapuram and the death threats that I received from members of the ruling party in response to my criticism of far-right extremism. This is not just an attack on constitutionally-sanctioned MP’s office but also a larger attempt by incendiary elements and their digital equivalents²⁸⁰ to destroy the idea of India as a pluralistic and accepting democracy. Their victims, in recent months, have included intellectuals, minorities, and various citizens of the country. Yesterday, even Swami Agvinesh was attacked. These are people who have expressed dissent³²⁰ against rising intolerance in today’s India and they are being attacked physically. In doing so, they are disregarding the singular principle of our historic democratic consensus which is that in a diverse democracy like ours, you do not need to agree all the time, so long as you will agree on the ground rules of how you will disagree. That is what we have seen today with the No Confidence Motion. But it is not what we are seeing in the streets where the ground rules of our democracy are being betrayed by those who have been elected by the⁴²⁰ people of India as a ruling party and they are betraying this basic ground rule. I want to say, Mr. Deputy-Speaker, that we cannot and should not stand by as communal violence, mob-lynching and hooliganism replace rule of law and rights guaranteed by our Constitution. I strongly urge the Prime Minister to break his silence on the behaviour of his⁴⁸⁰ own party men and act against these anti-national elements and anti-Indian elements who seek to abridge the freedom of speech in our democracy.

Deputy Speaker, Sir, there are 10,000 Short Service Commissioned Officers in the Army, and they do not receive medical benefits from the Government. These Officers are commissioned to serve in the prime years of their life for 10 to 14 years and then released without medical benefits. In 2008, the Armed Forces Tribunal, Chandigarh had asked for⁵⁶⁰ the Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme to be extended to these Officers, and in 2009 the then Prime Minister had given an assurance in this very House that this Scheme will be extended to them. However, nine years later, there has been no constructive action in this regard, and in 2011 the Government of that day filed an appeal int he Supreme Court against giving these medical benefits. This reluctance to extend medical benefits is very demoralizing for our Officers who⁶⁴⁰ spend the prime years of their life in service to the nation. The most affected, as a result of this, are our women Officers, since the armed forces rarely make permanent recruitment of women, and 76 per cent of women in the Army are on Short Service Commission. The Expert Committee on Defence in 2015, and the Standing Committee on⁷⁰⁰ Defence in 2018 have both recommended that the Contributory Health Scheme should be extended to the Short Service Commissioned Officers. I would request the Government to take expedited cognizance of this matter and extend medical benefits to those Officers with immediate effect. This will go a long way in boosting their morale towards joining the service and staying in service for a longer number of years.

Sir, My State Kerala has been experiencing havoc due to the severe monsoon since May 29, 2018. All the 14 districts of the State of Kerala starting in the North from Kasargod to the⁸⁰⁰ South to my district Thiruvanathapuram have been affected since 29th of May, 2018. As per the latest information that we have received on this occasion when this august House has started this Monsoon Session today, more than 90 people have⁸⁴⁰ died due to the flood, severe rain and the havoc caused by the monsoon. More than 300 people have suffered injuries. Many of the injuries are of grievous nature. About 329 pucca built houses are fully destroyed in the floods and rains. More than 9000 houses have been partially destroyed during the havoc caused by the severe monsoon. You very well know the sad plight of our farmers. More than 12,000 hectares of the agricultural land have been submerged in the rain water and nothing could be done during the last two months. The Disaster Management Authority is trying its best to save the people and to protect the life and property of the people. It is estimated that there⁹⁶⁰ has been a loss of more than Rs. 2,000 crore. Buildings have been washed away; bridges have been washed away;⁹⁸⁰ roads have been washed away; and the pucca built dwelling houses have also been washed away. In many of the districts, schools have been closed; people cannot move out; and rail traffic has been affected. Many of the trains starting from Chennai cannot come to the southern districts of Kerala. Even some of the temples have been submerged in the rain water. This is a matter concerning the life and death of the people of all the 14 districts of Kerala. Our hon. Parliamentary Affairs Minister is here. I would request him to provide urgent help to the people who are affected. This is not a part of any political game. I am a representative of the people. I am speaking nothing but truth in this august House.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to urge upon the Government¹¹²⁰ to release various funds of Centrally aided schemes which are overdue to Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu Education Department has not received Rs.4,474 crore from the Centre under various schemes in the last few years. Many education schemes, including post-matric scholarship for SC/ST students had suffered as the State was denied Central funds on the ground of exhausting the budgetary allocations. A sum of Rs.1,547 crore has been pending towards the post-matric scholarship scheme for Scheduled Castes and Rs. 27 crore for Scheduled Tribes for over a year. The annual allocation is grossly inadequate. I would request that this amount may at least be doubled this year. The Union Government has to pay arrears of Rs. 1,312 crore for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan to Tamil Nadu. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan aims at providing basic education to children upto the age of 14¹²⁶⁰ and any delay in the release of funds will hit basic education in spite of Tamil Nadu Government’s best¹²⁸⁰ efforts. Under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan scheme, which is implemented to provide secondary education, an amount of Rs. 1,558 crore is due to be given to the State. Funds under SSA and RMSA schemes have not been allotted to the State though these projects have been approved by the Project Approval Board. As education is pivotal to the task of nation building, I appeal to the Government to release all the funds due for Tamil Nadu without further delay.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, Sir, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal are the largest producers of silk with Karnataka contributing about 60 per cent. Most of the silk is being exported. Because of the reduction in duty by the BJP¹⁴⁰⁰ Government, farmers and silk reelers are suffering. When the UPA Government was there, the duty was increased from 10 to 15 per cent. I urge upon the Government to come forward to protect the farmers and silk reelers by¹⁴⁴⁰ way of MSP and incentive. Farmers and silk reelers are committing suicide. They are facing serious problems, especially in south Karnataka. So, this is a very important issue. Only three days ago, some farmers committed suicide. So, I urge upon the Government to take necessary steps in this regard.¹⁴⁸⁸

DICTATION EXERCISE - 43

Madam Speaker, I thank you for giving me an opportunity to initiate this small piece of legislation so as to amend the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. I think, it is a small amendment but it has a significant impact on education sector. Actually, this Bill is a historic Bill in the area of education. In 2009, the UPA government had introduced this Bill in this House. It has created a historic intervention in the area of primary education. We know that in the area of our primary education, a lot of discrepancy is happening. Actually, children coming from rich families are getting better quality education. Children who are coming from poor family background are getting not much quality education. Actually, this Bill is a poor student friendly Bill. I am very much aware of¹⁴⁰ the fact that some of the State Governments are not doing much to implement the Right of Children to Free¹⁶⁰ and Compulsory Education Act in a smooth way. If they implement it in a good manner, definitely discrepancy among the rich and the poor would be decreased. Such provisions are there in this Bill.

This amendment is very clear about detention of the students. If children in the lower level fail in an examination, as per our present Bill, there is no detention. But the honourable Minister, through this Bill, is suggesting that if a student has failed in an examination, then there is a re-examination. If, in that re-examination also, he fails, then the State Government or the Centre has to decide. But, at that stage also, there is a need of clarity because people are debating on these things.²⁸⁰ I think the honourable Minister has already mentioned about the survey reports and everything. I do agree with the survey reports. But, there is difference of opinion in other ways. Therefore, failing in a class will cause fallout. That³²⁰ was the thinking earlier also. When a student is failing in an examination, there should be a severe fallout especially in rural areas. That is why, the Bill has been made in such a way. But, there is a lack of clarity nowadays also. Who will conduct the examination? I would like to know whether the State or the Centre will conduct the examination. That is not clear in this Bill. It should be clarified whether re-examination is conducted by the State or by the Centre.

Some of the State Governments are not at all implementing the Right to Education Act.⁴²⁰ They are pointing out that it is putting so much financial burden on the State Governments. Earlier, there was a provision to enhance the allocation to State Government for education sector. But, unfortunately, this Government has cut the allocation of entire Centrally-sponsored schemes and programmes including Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. It is because Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is a major scheme⁴⁸⁰ to look after the primary education sector. The day before yesterday also, I had a review meeting of SSA in my constituency. What has happened? Earlier, it was being given Rs. 120 crore; now you are giving Rs. 25 crore. There is no infrastructure development; nothing is there. There are only two or three programmes. The State Governments’ argument is that without giving much Central assistance, giving a legislation and asking them to implement that legislation is not at all possible⁵⁶⁰ from the point of view of the State Governments. Therefore, I think the Minister should clarify how much amount of money he is giving from the Centre to the States for improving the primary education sector.

I think next year onwards, you are changing SSA and RMSA and you are introducing a new scheme. Therefore, there should be a clarity on how much allocation you are giving. The Government institutions are entirely depending upon the Central assistance. Nowadays, allocations⁶⁴⁰ in the education sector is coming down. We need quality education especially in the Government schools. Madam Speaker, in my own constituency, a lot of poor people from the fishermen community and a lot of poor people from the agrarian communities have to depend upon these Government schools and some of the aided schools. But the quality of education and facilities⁷⁰⁰ which are being provided in urban areas are totally different from rural areas. Students from the marginalised communities and marginalised areas are in a difficult position to get quality education. That is why this Bill has been introduced in this House. But there has been not much progress reported because of the lack of funds.

The honourable Minister should also concentrate on the primary education. What is the Government doing for the enhancement of primary education? Some Government schemes are very good, like the one called Atal Tinkering Lab. You have already provided some funds to the schools including⁸⁰⁰ private aided schools. But they are also discriminating between schools. For example, in my district, only eighteen schools have been selected. I asked those officers what the guidelines are. They said that whosoever apply first, will get it. We have around⁸⁴⁰ one thousand schools in my constituency. We are getting financial assistance from the Central Government for only eighteen schools. It is not reasonable. I agree that it is a good programme. You have to enhance the allocation of funds for that programme and you have to provide financial assistance to a maximum number of schools. This is what I am asking. In that sense, no Member of Parliament is being consulted. These are bureaucratic interventions. In a democratic set-up, how can you do like that? I myself had called the officer concerned and asked various things about the scheme. There is no proper information.

In the case of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, we had a review committee under the⁹⁶⁰ chairmanship of a Member of Parliament. This type of an educational scheme should also have such facilities. I have already talked⁹⁸⁰ about the affordable education. Therefore, the Government should concentrate on these things. Otherwise, there will be a stress among the people who reside in the rural areas and also on the people who reside in the poor and economically backward areas. Madam Speaker, this Bill gives a provision to protect the student community especially the poor students. What should be attitude of the Government? Unfortunately, I have to say something about the present policies of the Government. The latest controversy is of giving special status to the Jio which has not yet been started and registered at all. How can the Government give status of eminence to the Jio University which is not even existing? The institutions which are pride of our nation are waiting in the queue. They are totally ignoring those institutions. You are providing the status¹¹²⁰ of eminence to an institution which is not even registered. What will be the message to the nation? I seek clarification from the honourable Minister. In the education sector, you are moving such a legislation. What will be the message to the entire nation? The institution which is not yet registered is getting status of eminence. We do not understand it at all.

       Regarding UGC also, the Government has already decided to dismantle the UGC. You had already dismantled the Planning Commission and formed NITI Aayog. The Government has already told us that creating NITI Aayog is for speedy implementation of projects. Madam Speaker, you are also a very experienced and senior-most parliamentarian. You know in your constituency what is happening. Everything is going to the NITI Aayog. The same thing is going to happen in this case also.¹²⁶⁰ The UGC is such an important organisation in the area of higher education. Without having done the homework and without having¹²⁸⁰ a proper discussion with the eminent educationists and the heads of educational institutions, how can the Government go for this sudden move to dismantle the UGC? What is the purpose? Therefore, I think it is also a serious area of concern.

To promote adult education, particularly in the 15-35 age group through voluntary sector, the MHRD is providing assistance to voluntary agencies in the field of higher education under two separate schemes. One is assistance to voluntary agencies in the field of higher education and another is Jan Shikshan Sansthan. Recently, the Government has decided to merge both the schemes, and renamed the modified scheme as Scheme for Support to Voluntary Agencies for Adult Education and Skill Development.¹⁴⁰⁰ There is also a complete fund deficiency in the implementation of the scheme. Then, in the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, the Member of Parliament is also the Chairman to oversee the implementation of the Mid-Day Meal scheme. Now, we are in the modern¹⁴⁴⁰ technological period. How are the students getting this? Now, the honourable Minister is telling that education is important and we have to take out the mid-day meal. I do not think it is like that. In our constituency, some students are coming from a very poor background. They have to depend upon this Mid-Day Meal scheme. They are totally depending upon it. In our State, we can proudly say that apart from the allocation given from the Central Government, they are contributing. The PTI is contributing. The local Self-Governments are contributing for a better Mid-Day Meal scheme.¹⁵⁴⁰ But there is not much provision for good kitchens. In the day before yesterday’s meeting on Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan I asked them about it. They told us that as per norms they cannot give funds to have kitchen. This is one of the most important things. If you are giving the mid-day meal, you need a healthy and clean atmosphere and a good¹⁶⁰⁰ kitchen for preparing the food. At least, a good dining hall is needed. Therefore, if you provide some money from the SSA, especially for these things in rural areas, it will be a very good thing. Therefore, I request the honourable Minister to amend the SSA guidelines in respect of the Mid-Day Meal scheme.¹⁶⁵⁴