Remove BPL ceiling for states: CPI(M)

New Delhi, Apr 23 (UNI) Dr K S Manoj (CPI-M) today demanded in the Lok Sabha that the government remove the Planning Commission's ceiling on the number of BPL families for each state as this deprived the poor of their right to get foodgrains at subsidised rates.

Raising the issue after the question hour, Dr Manoj said the Commission's guidelines for the BPL survey were not based on the socio-economic situation and as a result only 12 states could complete the survey.

Mr Braja Kishore Tripathy (BJD) sought the Centre's intervention for immediate finalisation of the BPL list for Orissa as the two meetings held recently with the Commission had failed to produce any result.

DELHI BUS SERVICE: Prof V K Malhotra (BJP) sought prosecution of those responsible for the introduction of the bus rapid transit system (BRTS) in the capital which instead of easing traffic congestion had added to the woes of the commuters. Hundreds of crores had gone down the drain, he said and wanted shelving of similar projects planned for other areas of the city.

PAY COMMISSION: Mr Santosh Gangwar (BJP) urged the Centre not to accept the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission for the abolition of the ITS cadre sending the officials of the Cadre of the Telegraph Department to the surplus pool.

BEEDI WORKERS: Ms Jaya Pradha (SP) demanded a health and life insurance scheme for beedi workers, offering a cover of Rs 25,000 for treatment and Rs one lakh for death.

US PRESSURE: Mr Rupchand Pal (CPI-M) said India should denounce the US pressure on India to follow a foreign policy according to the wishes of Washington, particularly in the case of Iran.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT: Ms Archana Naik (BJD) demanded a separate law to check sexual harassment of women employees in the unorganised sector.

NAVODAYA VIDYALAYA: Mr Ram Kirpal Yadav (RJD) wanted parity in the pay and pension for teachers and other employees of Navodaya Vidyalayas with those employed by Central Schools.

NORTHEAST: Mr Khiren Rijiju (BJP) wanted action against the forest officials of Assam who, in violation of the tribal rights and the Supreme Court order, raided the houses of tribals in Arunachal Pradesh on April 4.

MARITIME: Mr P C Thomas (IFDP) sought the setting up of Maritime Universities in Cochin, Kolkata and Chennai as recommended by the Parliamentary Committee.

ORISSA HEAT: Mr Bhartruhari Mahtab (BJD) wanted the Centre to declare heat wave as a natural calamity to ensure adequate compensation to the victims. Orissa was reeling under a heat wave for the past ten days and 28 people had succumbed to it, he said.

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