According to an official order, the first leg of the Budget Session is scheduled to conclude today in an extended sitting of the Upper House till 3 p.m. The sitting for Saturday is cancelled. It was earlier decided that the Session would conclude on February 13 instead of on February 15.
The second leg of the Session will commence on March 8.
Here are the updates:
Abir Ranjan Biswas of TMC says there has been no explanation of sector-specific revival of the economy. "The Budget allows for unbridled growth of corporates. This government is for, by and of the capitalists," he says.
"They intend to privatise two more public sector banks, but haven't mentioned which ones."
"LIC has been sacrificed at the altar of crony capitalists," Mr. Biswas says.
"The Rs. 100 crore package announced for tea plantation workers in Assam and West Bengal has come down to Rs. 2,000 per worker for the entire year. There are 5 lakh such workers," Mr. Biswas says.
M.V. Shreyams Kumarof LJD says the Budget has shown anger and false sense of ego. "There has been a 34% reduction in Budget in comparison with the previous one," he says. He asks that MPLADS fund be reinstated.
Discussion on Union Budget continues
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will respond to Budget discussion at 2 p.m. in Rajya Sabha, says Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu.
MoS Finance Anurag Thakur speaks now.
"There has been a 34.4% increase in capital expenditure in this Budget. We have set a target to make India TB free by 2025," he says.
"Why did you privatise the six airports and gave it to two particular families?" the minister questions the Congress government's policies.
Referring to former PM Manmohan Singh, he says, "Doctor saab was an honest man but there was no department under him where there was no corruption."
"Why is the middle class aspiring to buy houses?" the Minister asks, adding, "because we exempted them from income tax returns for a year."
"The Budget allocation for PM-Kisan scheme was slashed by Rs. 10,000, said a TMC member. I will tell you why it was slashed. It was slashed because the West Bengal government did not provide names. Democracy has died in West Bengal."
"We are committed to doubling the farmers' income."
"Why did you not create agriculture infrastructure in past 65 years? How can agriculture cess increase the price of diesel and petrol? Where is it written in the farm laws that mandis will be shut and MSP will be withdrawn?" the Minister asks.
"You want negative news to run," he alleges, addressing the Opposition.
"India was among the five most fragile and worst economies in the world when we came to power, but under the Narendra Modi government, India is among the top six economies in the world," he says.
Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti says during COVID-19, migrant labourers would not have got work had it not been for MGNREGA. "There has been no proposal by the Centre to increase 100-work days under MGNREGA. The States can increase. Kerala and two other States have done it."
"In M.P's Morena, how many are eligible under MGNREGA," asks Ramgopal Yadav of SP. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, says 14 crore job cards have been issued under MGNREGA. "10 crore people are working, and women participation is 52%. I can provide district wise data later."
On being asked about the surge in demand in MGNREGA, Minister Tomar says, "whenever demand is created, efforts are on to meet the demands. The Budget has increased, Rs. 1,11,000 crore has been allocated and Rs. 90,000 crore has been disbursed to the States."
Responding to a suggestion of having systems in place for inspection of safety of railways bridges, Railways Minister Piyush Goyal says, "there are 34,665 bridges in the Indian Railways which are more than 100 years old. We have a scientific system of inspection."
Union Minister Rameshwar Teli says two mega food parks have been sanctioned in Gujarat.
Union Agriculture Minister Tomar, on being asked if the government intends to give subsidy on diesel to farmers, says, "We have given Rs. 80,000 crore subsidy on fertilisers and also on solar pumps ...our intention is to ensure that farmers' income increases."
"The three farm laws are a step in the direction to increase farmers income," says MoS Agriculture Kailash Chowdhury.
"There is no such category as COVID-19 vaccine and for the Commerce Ministry to come out with a code for only that type of vaccine is not our mandate. The export of COVID-19 vaccines started only in January. There has been no significant increase in the overall export. 15 million dollar increase only. Rupees 338 crore worth of export of COVID-19 vaccine," says Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.
Question Hour ends.
Question Hour begins
Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu presides over the sitting on February 12, 2021.
| Photo Credit: RSTV
Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu presides over the sitting on February 12, 2021. | Photo Credit: RSTV
Mansukh L. Mandaviya, MoS Chemicals and Fertilisers, says the share of generic medicines in India's market has increased from 2% (in 2014) to 8% now. "Government has directed doctors to only mention generic salt names of medicines not the brand names in prescriptions."
Many notified medicines are not available in Jan Ashudhi stores, says Ashok Vajpayee of BJP.
A Member's phone rings, Chairman says, "you should know how to switch off your phone. If not, seek help from your neighbour."
Zero Hour begins
Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba in the Rajya Sabha on February 12, 2021.
| Photo Credit: RSTV
Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba in the Rajya Sabha on February 12, 2021. | Photo Credit: RSTV
Rajmani Patel of Congress asks that a Buddhist temple in Madhya Pradesh's Rewa be developed as a national heritage site.
B. Lingaiah Yadav of TRS speaks in Telugu.
Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba of BJP asks that the Manipuri language in Manipuri script be included in the Indian currency notes.
Ashok Siddharth of BSP says 60 lakh Dalit children should get 100% scholarship. Thawar Chand Gehlot responds, "according to the ongoing scheme, the funds had to be shared by States and Centre. Many States were deprived of funds due to the ration, we changed that and said that 60% will be paid by Centre and remaining 40% by States. Centre continues to provide the funding."
Mujibullah Khan of BJD asks if the toilets built under Swaccha Bharat scheme are seen only on paper. "I want to know this from the Centre. There are anomalies in its implementation. Make a squad to go and check in States if toilets are indeed being constructed."
K. Ravindra Kumar of TDP speaks in Telugu.
Bikash Ranjan of CPI-M says the government is proposing to reduce nine institutes into four clusters. "It will impact disabled persons, I ask that it be decentralised."
Manoj Kumar Jha of RJD asks for a high level committee to be constituted to probe the "fudging in COVID-19 testing in Bihar".
Shamsher Singh Dullo of Congress says that SC Students suffering in Punjab as Centre has not released its share of funds. Union Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot says it is incorrect to say that Punjab has not received the funds. "Punjab has not submitted utilisation certificate, matter was examined by courts also."
Rajya Sabha
Reports to be presented:
Reports of the department related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence
Reports of the department related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development
Reports of the department related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment
Report of the Committee on Empowerment of Women
General Discussion on the Union Budget
Lok Sabha
Reports to be presented:
Reports of Committee on Petitions
Report of Committee on Empowerment of Women
Reports of Standing Committee on Defence
Reports of Standing Committee on Rural Development
Reports of Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment
General Discussion on the Union Budget
Legislative business:
The Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (for consideration and passing)
Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020 (consideration of Rajya Sabha amendments)
Private Members’ business discussion