Parliament roundup: On day 10, RS functions smoothly for second day; Opp questions PM's 'NetZero' target

New Delhi, Dec 10: The ongoing Winter Session entered the 10th day on Friday. The proceedings in Lok Sabha started with the discussion on Covid-19 booster shots and topics such as climate change and compensation were also discussed. Whereas Rajya Sabha functioned smoothly for the second consecutive day as it completed almost all listed business without any ruckus, unlike previous days.

The Opposition on Thursday suspended all protests to pay tribute to those who died in the chopper crash in Tamil Nadu on December 8 that claimed the lives of 13 people including CDS General Bipin Rawat. However, the suspended MPs continued to protest outside the House.

It was the first time on Thursday since November 29, the day the Winter Session of Parliament started, that the Opposition parties completely stopped their protests inside and outside Rajya Sabha over the suspension of the MPs.

Here is the round-up of the 10th day of the ongoing Winter Session in Parliament.

Explain PM's surprise 'NetZero' announcement at Glasgow: Opposition in LS

Opposition members on Friday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did a ''volte-face'' by setting a 'Net Zero' target of 2070 at the climate summit in Glasgow and questioned the rationale behind it.

"Even a week before the COP 26, the government of India did not show any inclination to announce Net Zero target. Actually, the Environment Secretary had ruled it out in the media," Trinamool member Saugata Roy said, continuing the discussion on climate change in Lok Sabha. The discussion on climate change was initiated by DMK member Kanimozhi on Wednesday.

"What prompted and under what pressure the prime minister did a volte-face in Glasgow and announced Net Zero target in 2070? Is there any credible research available to vindicate the 2070 Net Zero target? Was any discussion carried out on the Net Zero target," Roy asked.

No farmer died due to police action during farmers' protests: Govt

The Union government on Friday said that no farmer died due to police action during the year-long protests by farmers. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Friday said, "The subject of compensation, etc. to the families of the deceased farmers in the farmers movement is with the concerned state governments."

"No farmer died as a result of police action during the farmers' agitation," he said. Tomar was responding to a joint question by Congress leader Dhiraj Prasad Sahu and AAP leader Sanjay Singh.

The members had asked whether the government is planning to provide or made any provision towards livelihood monetary compensation to the families of the farmers who died during farmers' protests.

PM Modi Holds Meeting with Top Ministers in Parliament

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held a meeting with senior ministers in Parliament to discuss strategy for the ongoing winter session. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Piyush Goyal were among the attendees.

The winter session of Parliament began on November 29 and is scheduled to conclude on December 23. Meanwhile, both Houses of Parliament have witnessed repeated adjournments over the Opposition's demand for revocation of suspension of 12 MPs from the Rajya Sabha. The MPs were suspended over alleged unruly conduct towards the end of the monsoon session in August.

108 countries recognise Indian COVID-19 vaccination certificate for travel purpose: Govt

A total of 108 countries recognise the Indian COVID-19 vaccination certificate for travel purpose, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar informed Lok Sabha on Friday, sharing data available as on December 6.

The WHO's Emergency Use Listing (EUL) assists interested UN procurement agencies, member states and countries in determining the acceptability of using specific vaccines, based on an essential set of available data on quality, safety, efficacy and performance, Pawar said in a written reply.

The aim is to expedite the availability of these products to people affected by a public health emergency, and it allows countries to expedite their own regulatory approval to import and administer COVID-19 vaccines, she said.

Persons inoculated with such vaccines, which are listed under the WHO- EUL, are deemed to be protected by authorities of many countries and allowed to travel internationally, Pawar said.

"However, not all countries require COVID-19 vaccination for travel. India also does not, at present, require COVID-19 vaccination for travel. Among the countries, which do have such requirements, as on 6th December 2021, a total of 108 countries recognise the Indian vaccination certificate for travel purpose," she said in the written reply.

18 cases of Delta sub-variant AY.4.2 detected in India: Govt

There are 18 cases of COVID-19 Delta sub-variant AY.4.2 that have been detected in India, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar informed the Lok Sabha on Friday.

Such mutated variants of coronavirus are likely to evolve as like all viruses, SARS-CoV-2 also evolves over time, Pawar said in a written reply.

Of the 18 cases of AY.4.2 detected so far in the country (as on December 3, 2021), 10 cases are from Gujarat, four from Tamil Nadu, two from Assam, and one each from Maharashtra and Telangana, she said in response to a question on whether the central government is aware that amid worries about a potential third wave of COVID-19, as many as 17 cases of the Delta variant AY.4.2 strain, which is spreading rapidly in the United Kingdom, has emerged in India.No proposal under MHA consideration to scrap sedition law: Govt

Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday said in Lok Sabha that the Ministry of Home Affairs has no proposal under consideration to scrap Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) dealing with sedition.

He also said that "the question of law" regarding Section 124 A is pending for adjudication before the Supreme Court.

"The Ministry of Home Affairs has informed that there is no proposal under consideration to scrap Sec 124A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. Further, the question of law regarding Section 124A is pending for adjudication before the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India," he said in a written reply.

For every 10 lakh people, India has 21.03 judges: Centre to Parliament

India has 21.03 judges per 10 lakh people in the country, Centre informed Lok Sabha on Friday. "The judge to population ratio (judge per million population) with respect to sanctioned strength of judges is 21.03 as on October 31, 2021," Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said in a written reply.

In order to calculate the judge-population ratio per million population in a particular year, the Department of Justice uses the criterion of using the population as per Census 2011 and as per available information regarding sanctioned strength of judges in Supreme Court, the high courts and district and subordinate courts in the particular year, he explained as per PTI.

However, he stated that the state-wise data in this regard is not being maintained. According to him, the Law Commission does njot consider the judge-population ratio to be a scientific criterion for determining the adequacy of the judge strength in the country.

"The Law Commission found that in the absence of complete and scientific approach to data collection across various high courts in the country, the 'rate of disposal' method, to calculate the number of additional judges required to clear the backlog of cases as well as to ensure that new backlog is not created, is more pragmatic and useful," he said. PTI

Over 7 lakh workers returned from six Gulf countries under 'Vande Bharat Mission': Govt

More than seven lakh workers came back from six Gulf countries under the Vande Bharat Mission, the Centre said on Friday, asserting that the Indian missions are pursuing with these nations the return of Indian workers, the realisation of payments due to them and new recruitment in the light of economic recovery.

To a question in Lok Sabha on whether a large number of emigrants employed in Gulf countries were forced to return to India in the aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that while a large number of Indian workers in the Gulf returned to India as a result of the impact of COVID-19, the economic recovery in that region and their increasing openness to travel from India has now seen a return by many of them.

"As per government's estimates, about 7,16,662 workers returned from the six Gulf countries under the Vande Bharat Mission," Jaishankar said in a written reply.

A total of 3,30,058 Indian workers returned from the UAE, 1,37,900 from Saudi Arabia, 97,802 from Kuwait, 72,259 from Oman, 51,190 from Qatar and 27,453 from Bahrain, he said.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Indian missions and posts proactively extended support to Indians both directly using the Indian Community Welfare Fund and by coordinating with community associations, Jaishankar said. This included expenses on a needs basis pertaining to boarding and lodging, air passages, emergency medical care, etc., he said.

During 2020-21, the government has received many representations from different quarters, including the state of Kerala, regarding the welfare and livelihood of Indian workers in the Gulf, he said. "These issues have been taken up by the government with its Gulf counterparts at the highest levels. Since March 2020, Prime Minister has had telephonic conversations with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi (March, May 2020 & January 2021), King of Saudi Arabia (twice in September 2020) and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia (March 2020 & March 2021), Amir of Qatar (March, May, December 2020 & April 2021), Sultan of Oman (April 2020 & February 2021), King of Bahrain (April 2020) and Amir of Kuwait (April 2020)," he pointed out. The government convened meetings of Gulf regional Heads of Missions of India on this specific subject physically in Kuwait in June 2021 and virtually in July 2021.

3258 children orphaned during pandemic approved for support under 'PM-CARES' scheme: Govt

The government Friday said it has approved 3,258 applications out of the total 5,714 it received under the 'PM-CARES for Children' scheme for supporting children orphaned during the coronavirus pandemic. Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani told Lok Sabha the applications for such children are uploaded on the portal by respective state and union territory governments.

As on December 8, 5,714 applications have been uploaded on the portal out of which 3,258 have been approved by district magistrates after due process and 542 are pending approval, she said in a written reply. As informed by the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), 11,331 adoptions have been reported through the Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System (CARINGS) portal between 2018-19 to 2020-21, Irani said.

Under the scheme, Rs 2000 per child per month is made available for non-institutional care of children in the need of care and protection and Rs 2,160 per child per month for children living in Child Care Institutions. During the last three years, an amount of Rs. 2189.76 crore has been released under the scheme with a total 2,30,063 beneficiaries, the minister added. Responding to another question, she said the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has received 438 complaints through POCSO e-Box during the last three years and the current year 2021-22.

97.25 Terabytes/month data being consumed at 6,071 railway stations that have free Wifi: Govt

Approximately 97.25 Terabytes per month of data is being consumed at 6,071 railway stations that have free WiFi services, the government told the Parliament on Friday. The WiFi service is available to the general public free of cost for the first half-an-hour of any day and on chargeable basis subsequently.

"WiFi services have been provided at 6,071 Railway Stations across India so far," Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated in his written response to a question in Rajya Sabha. "The total data usage on these stations is of the order of 97.25 Terabytes per month approximately," he noted. The minister said no separate funds have been sanctioned by Ministry of Railways for the free WiFi scheme.

"Funds amounting to Rs 27.22 crores have been sanctioned by Department of Telecom (DoT) under the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) for provision of WiFi services at 193 railway stations in rural areas," he noted.

WiFi services at 1,287 railway stations -- mostly A1 and A category stations -- are being provided by RailTel Corporation of India Limited, which is a PSU working under the Ministry of Railways, he mentioned. "In the remaining stations, WiFi services have been provided under corporate social responsibility (CSR)/charity projects of various firms for which no capital expenditure is incurred," Vaishnaw said.

Amid Omicron Scare, Railways would do due diligence before resuming providing bedrolls: Vaishnaw

Amid the scare of the Omicron variant of coronavirus, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told the Rajya Sabha on Friday that the national transporter would do due diligence before resuming providing bedrolls to passengers in trains.

The railways had last month restored some of its services that it had suspended in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. This included the removal of the ''special'' tag from trains which brought down the prices of tickets and restarted the service of serving hot cooked meals.

However, the decision on restoring concessions and providing bedrolls is still pending. ''We were to start providing bedrolls. But after the threat of Omicron, we have decided to take the step after doing due diligence. ''This is not something on which we should take step in a haste. It is about the security of the nation. It is a question about the safety of everybody's health,'' Vaishnaw said in reply to a starred question in the Rajya Sabha.

The minister informed the House that mail and express trains are running on normal fair. He said the price of platform ticket has also been normalised.