LOK SABHA

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SYNOPSIS OF DEBATES

(Proceedings other than Questions & Answers)

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Thursday, February 8, 2018/Magha 19, 1939 (Saka)

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OBITUARY REFERENCES

HON'BLE SPEAKER: Hon'ble Members, I have to inform the House

about the sad demise of two former Members, namely, Shri Narsingh Narain

Pandey and Shri Raghunath Jha.

Shri Narsingh Narain Pandey was a Member of the 5th Lok Sabha

representing the Gorakhpur Parliamentary Constituency of Uttar Pradesh. He was

also a Member of the Rajya Sabha from 1980 to 1982. He was a Member of the

Committee on Absence of Members from Sittings of the House. Earlier, Shri

Pandey was a Member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly from 1962 to

1967.

Shri Narsingh Narain Pandey passed away on 8 January, 2018 in Gorakhpur,

Uttar Pradesh at the age of 88.

Shri Raghunath Jha was a Member of the 13th and 14

th Lok Sabhas

representing the Gopalganj and Bettiah Parliamentary Constituencies of Bihar.

Shri Jha was Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises

from April, 2008 to May, 2009. He was a Member of the Committee on

Agriculture; Committee on Ethics; Committee on Home Affairs Railway

Convention Committee; House Committee and also the Public Accounts

Committee. Shri Jha was a Member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly from 1972

to 1998. He also served as Minister in the Government of Bihar.

Shri Raghunath Jha passed away on 15 January, 2018 in New Delhi at the

age of 78.

We deeply mourn the loss of our two former colleagues. I am sure the

House would join me in conveying our condolences to the bereaved families.

The Members then stood in silence for a short while.

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*MATTERS UNDER RULE 377

1. SHRI AJAY MISRA TENI laid a statement regarding need to exempt

handicraft and handloom industry from Goods and Services Tax.

2. SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS laid a statement regarding need to ensure

setting up of assistance cell and office by Insurance companies under

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in every Tehsil headquarters in the

country.

* Laid on the Table as directed by the Speaker.

3. SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL laid a statement regarding

need to introduce Mobile Soil Testing Centres in the country.

4. SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR laid a statement regarding need to

release prisoners who have served their prison terms and still languishing

in jails in the country.

5. SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL laid a statement regarding need to

renovate heritage buildings of Chaudhary Charan Singh University in

Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.

6. SHRI BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA laid a statement regarding need

to set up shelter homes for 'Anna Pratha' cattle in Banda and Chitrakoot

districts, Uttar Pradesh.

7. SHRI OM BIRLA laid a statement regarding need to set up IIT, IIIT and

AIIMS in Kota city, Rajasthan.

8. SHRI JUGAL KISHORE laid a statement regarding need to provide

residential plots to residents of border districts of Jammu & Kashmir

forced to vacate their houses due to shelling from across the border.

9. SHRI B. N. CHANDRAPPA laid a statement regarding need to provide

financial assistance to drought affected Karnataka under NDRF.

10. PROF. K.V. THOMAS laid a statement regarding need to provide

financial assistance to people affected by cyclone 'Ockhi' in Kerala.

11. SHRI M.I. SHANAVAS laid a statement regarding problems faced by

people of north Kerala due to laying of pipeline by Gas Authority of

India Limited.

12. SHRI C. MAHENDRAN laid a statement regarding need to expedite

release of fund for various Centrally sponsored schemes in Tamil Nadu.

13. SHRI RABINDRA KUMAR JENA laid a statement regarding

installation of Doppler Weather Radars in Odisha.

14. SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE laid a statement regarding need to

improve promotion avenues for Store - Khalasi in Railways and permit

them to appear in departmental examination for the purpose.

15. SHRI KESINENI SRINIVAS laid a statement regarding need to

provide stoppage of certain trains at Kondapalli Railway Station in

Andhra Pradesh.

16. SHRI RADHESHYAM BISWAS laid a statement regarding

discrepancies in NRC Part Draft published in Assam.

17. SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR laid a statement regarding need to

formulate a comprehensive policy to improve the condition of farmers in

the country.

18. SHRI RAJU SHETTY laid a statement regarding need to provide

financial assistance to cotton growers in Maharashtra.

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THE UNION BUDGET - 2018-2019 - GENERAL DISCUSSION - CONTD.

SHRI GANESH SINGH resuming said: Our Prime Minister has set a time

limit for increasing farmers’ income. The Government relaxed the crop insurance

rules and set a minimum limit of 33 per cent crop damage for its insurance.

Swaminathan Commission had recommended to set the Minimum Support Price at

1.5 times of the crop cost. Our Madhya Pradesh government has decided that if

food-grains, for which MSP are declared, are sold at lower rates in the markets, the

difference amount will be paid by our government. Farmers of our country are now

getting the Neem coated urea on time. Farmers have been granted the right to get

done soil health test of their land and sowing of crop will be done on the basis of

the said test. The government has decided to construct cold storages. Farming of

herbs, flowers, vegetables, milk production, pisciculture, poultry, animal

husbandry, etc. have been kept under the loan purview. Farmers who don’t have

land-lease, take land on share-cropping basis. The Government will work towards

giving loans to such farmers through credit cards for farming. The Government

has decided to ensure that every poor person of this country has a house by the

year 2022. Medical treatment guarantee of ten crore families has been ensured.

They can have treatment to the tune of Rs. 5 lakh in any hospital. Today, poor

people have electricity connections in their homes, children of poor people are

getting free education, they are getting health treatment, arrangements are being

taken care of to make available two time meals for the poor people, roads and

sewers are being constructed today in poor people’s habitation areas. Skill

development centres are being established everywhere to train youth. The

government has provided four lakh crore rupees in Mudra Bank and ten crore and

fifty lakh rupees have been given as loans to young people for carrying out

business activities and for self-employment purpose.

SHRIMATI RANJANBEN BHATT: Firstly, I thank Hon. Prime

Minister and Minister of Finance for announcing establishment of Railway

University in my parliamentary constituency. This Budget has a number of

announcements for farmers which will go a long way in ensuring remunerative

prices for their produce. A scheme has been has been envisaged for irrigation for

converting three crore electric or diesel pumps into solar energy pumps. Poor

people have been given benefit of Health insurance in this budget. There is a

proposal of giving health insurance cover of five lakh rupees annually to each

family, it will benefit 50 crore people of the country. Indian women have been

gifted expansion of UJJWALA Yojna. The target of gas connections under

UJJWALA Yojna has been revised from 5 crore to 8 crore. Women employees

have been given big relief in this budget. They will get more salary in hand as their

PF deduction will be eight percent. This time special attention has been given to

industry sector. The Government has tried to pay more attention to domestic

production by investing 3794 crore rupees. The budget has announced standard

deduction of 40,000 rupees for salaried class. The Government has promised to

train 50 lakh youth and to give employment to 70 lakh youth.The budget has

emphasized on education. The shortage of doctors will be overcome by opening 24

new medical colleges. Simillary we will get quality teachers by implementing

integrated B.ed programmes. Tribal people will get good quality education

through residential Eklavya school scheme.

SHRI HARIOM SINGH RATHORE: This Budget is pro-developmental

and it will strengthen the new India vision. Now the country is aggressively

moving towards achieving economic growth rate beyond 8 percent. The steps to

increase institutional loan to agricultural sector from Rs. 8.5 lakh crore to Rs. 11

lakh crore in 2018-19, will be a milestone in the progress of farmers. It is

significant to develop and uplift 22,000 Rural Haats. The launching of ‘Operation

Greens’ will bring relief to the producers. Bamboo has the potential to form an

important base for farmer’s income. New avenues have been provided for bamboo

growers by making a provision of Rs. 1,290 crore under Restructured National

Bamboo Mission. World’s largest Health security scheme has been introduced

through NAMO Care with a limit of Rs. 5 lacs per family. In this Budget Rs. 5.97

lakh crore has been allocated for basic infrastructure sector. A National programme

will be started for Artificial Intelligence (AI) by NITI Ayog. A standard deduction

of Rs. 40,000 has been announced in this Budget. It will be beneficial for 2.5 crore

salaried class persons and pensioners. It is proposed to increase the period of

Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojna upto March, 2020.

SHRIMATI DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH: A large number of poor

and marginalized population which remained deprived of health services earlier

due to lack of money now will get quality medical facilities. Government is

promising to give Rs. 500 per month to TB patients in the country. 24 Medical

Colleges will be opened in the country. In education sector also a lot of

commendable initiatives have been taken. One lakh crore rupees have been allotted

in four years for Education. Lot of efforts were made to mislead the people about

GST. Government has provided for construction of toilets under Swacch Bharat

Mission, 8 crore free gas connections under Ujjawala Yojana and share of EPF

subscription paid by women employees has been reduced would help in enhancing

participation of women in organized sector and also in taking home at least some

more money every month. Women entrepreneurs have also been benefitted from

Mudra Yojana.

SHRIMATI JAYSHREEBEN PATEL: This time the budget of Rs. 24.42

crore has been presented. This budget focuses the mission of strengthening of

agriculture, rural development, health, education, employment, MSME and

infrastructure sector. Agriculture is the backbone of the economy of our country.

The Government is making efforts to increase the income of farmers. The

Government will develop and upgrade 22000 Rural haat in the form of rural

agriculture markets in order to secure the interest of 86 per cent small and marginal

farmers. There has been an unprecedented increase in the procurement of pulses,

oilseeds, and crops during the last 4 years. Operation Greens has been launched to

deal with the problem of fluctuation in the prices of potatoes, tomatoes, and onions

–TOP in the interest of farmers and consumers. Apart from this, ultra modern

testing facilities will be provided in 42 mega food parks. In this budget the benefit

of income tax rebate has been extended to Farmer Producer Company. For the

accurate weather forecasting Mihir Super Computer will update the farmers about

weather conditions by July 2018. Two new funds of Rs. 10,000 crore have been

announced for the pisciculture and animal husbandry. While precisely focusing on

women, the amount of loan provided to women self help groups has been increased

from Rs. 42,500 crore during last year to Rs. 75,000 crore in 2019. In addition to

this, infrastructure related to rail, metro, highway-iway, port-airport, power grid,

gas grid, Sagarmala-Bharatmala – Digital India has been substantially emphasized.

Eklavya Schools will be set up for tribal students in all tribal blocks by 2022.

Welfare fund meant for Scheduled Castes has been enriched. Setting up of 24 new

medical colleges in the country will not only provide treatment facilities to people

but also facilitate medical education for students. A target of Rs. 520.9 crore has

been fixed for sports under Khelo India. Status of industry has been awarded to

Tourism and policy has been framed to increase employment in this sector through

Skill Development. Existing rebate in transport allowance and miscellaneous

medical expenditures is replaced with standard deduction of Rs. 40,000. It will

provide benefit to 2.5 crore employees and pensioners. For senior citizens, limit of

income tax rebate on the income from bank interest has been increased from Rs. 10

thousand to Rs. 50 thousand. Rebate on the interest from the deposits in banks and

post offices has been increased from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 50,000. In order to ensure

better efficiency and transparency in direct tax collection e-tax collection has been

proposed. Employment generation and participation of women in it has been

stressed. Railway which is the life line of the country is being developed. Above

all, ambitious smart city mission has been given utmost importance. The schemes

for affordable housing for urban and rural middle class people on low interest and

subsidy are in progress. With this, I would like to request the Government to

introduce a direct train between Mahesana in North Gurjarat and Surat, Mumbai

and provide halt to four trains like Garib Rath.

SHRI P. KUMAR: It is clear that we are in the midst of an agrarian crisis.

The enhancement of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops to cover at

least 1.5 times that of the production cost will prove to be a game changer for the

farmer community. But as far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, we need water for

irrigation. The farmers of the delta region are facing huge distress. I request the

Centre to constitute the Cauvery Management Board immediately. Chennai is

expanding faster and needs strengthening of its suburban train system. Universal

Health Insurance can improve the quality of life of poor families and help increase

productivity. The Union Budget has reduced the rate of corporate tax to 25 percent

to companies with turnover of less than Rs. 250 crores. However, the expectations

of the MS&ME are far greater and they need to be supported more as they are the

significant contributors to new employment generation. The country is going

through a difficult phase of economic development. It needs acceleration and

stabilisation of the growth momentum.

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE: This budget is called Farmer’s

budget in which decision of MSP for all crops has been taken and also details of

Agriculture production record have been given but there is no mention how to

double farmers income, check their suicides and to remove middlemen. Increase in

allotment for agriculture and allied sector, agriculture loan and increasing MSP 1.5

times, proposal of giving Rs 05 lac per family per year to 10 crore families under

Rashtriy Bima Yojana, allocation of 600 crore to riddance from TB, Rs 1200 crore

for health wellness are welcome steps. Government should pay heed to recovery of

money from poor women in the name of Ujjwala Yojana. The Proposal of

improving facilities of warehouse and developing Rural Hat Agriculture Market

has been made but there is need of storage of perishable crops. Stress has been

given on Bharatmala project and constructing roads on border areas but work of

Dehu road to Satara on NH 4 has been incomplete for years while pace of work on

Panvel - Goa NH is too slow. Steps should be taken for construction work in

Ekvira Devi temple surrounded by ancient Karla caves in Maval. Works should be

started in the cities picked for Smart City Mission. The burden of cess has been

increased on common man battling from inflation and decreasing interest rates on

savings in spite of giving them relief from Tax. There is no clarity about the

amount of black money and the people related to it. The allocation to Defence

budget has been increased but defence expenditure against percentage of GDP is

decreasing. While keeping in view the threats from neighbouring countries, there is

need of increase in it. Modernization of Armed Forces and salary expenditure is

made from capital and revenue expenditure respectively and separate arrangement

has been made for defence pension. The proposal of not increasing the Rail fare,

accelerating the freight, converting all narrow - gauge routes into broad – gauge

routes, closing all unmanned railway crossings, equipping trains with CCTV,

laying new railway tracks and doubling of it are appreciable steps but there is need

of clarity on the time - limit and strategy of it. The proposal of doubling rail track

for Mumbai, expansion of suburban rail line, Elevated corridor, Escalator on

platforms are good steps. The old rail line between Pune and Mumbai is crucial but

there is need of constructing a tunnel in Lonavala-Khandala-Khopoli Ghat. There

is also a need of taking steps in the interest of Para Military Forces. There is no

mention of financial condition of railway, progress made in work regarding new

rail lines, so more transparency in this respect is required.

SHRI A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN: The new India budget is aims for an

enhanced ease of Living. Two crore toilets to be constructed under Swachh Bharat

is the need of the hour. But I wish to emphasize that adequate supply of water is

very crucial and it is the duty of the Union Government to provide financial

component for adequate water supply for the better maintenance of toilets. The

target for Ujjwala Yojana raised to 8 crore beneficiaries in this budget but there is

need to maintain an equitable share on the population of the states. In the letter

written to the honourable Prime Minister Purachi Thalaivi Amma had prioritised

three projects for implementation through SPV with the joint participation of the

Railways. It is heartening to see that the government will partner with Tamil Nadu

for developing sub-urban systems in Chennai. Similarly for the fast developing

Tier-2 cities deserve more attention as far as the railway projects are concerned.

Apart from fulfilling important demands made by our leader Puratchi Thalaivi

Amma pertaining to Railways, it is also requested to the government to allocate

sufficient funds for early completion of these projects.

SHRI C. MAHENDRAN: Coconut farming is an important occupation of

people of Pollachi Parliamentary Constituency. There is a growing demand for

supply of coconuts and coconut oil through Public Distribution System. By

providing a good Minimum support price (MSP) for coconuts, indigenous

production of coconuts will increase. Tamil Nadu stands first in the production of

coconuts (6917.25 Million Nuts) and productivity (14872 nuts/Hac). Government

of Tamil Nadu has proposed a special package with a total outlay of Rs. 3397.80

crores as this scheme would raise yield and increase edible oil production. The

Government of India may kindly consider early sanction of scheme for the

Rejuvenation and Replanting of Coconut Palms in Tamil Nadu. Farmers in my

Pollachi Parliamentary Constituency depend mainly on a reasonable Minimum

Support Price of Copra to ensure good income. I have urged the Union

Government to provide a support price of Rs. 140 per Kilogram for Milling Copra.

The repeated requests of the Coconut farmers in the country for fixing the adequate

MSP for Milling and Ball copra has left unaddressed by the Union Government.

Sufficient funds may be allocated to increase the pace of ongoing railway projects

in Tamil Nadu. The gauge conversion work between Pollachi and Pothanur,

Pollachi and Palakkad needs speedy completion. I would request the Hon’ble

Minister for Railways to introduce two new express trains. The section like

Coimbatore – Pollachi – Udumalpet and other such sections that presently come

under the Palaghat Division may kindly be transferred to Salem division to

enhance operational efficiency. A new railway station at Malumachampatti is

required with loading and unloading facility.

SHRI T. G. VENKATESH BABU: This budget concentrates on areas

hitherto neglected. Now the Central Government has also a focus on agricultural

and allied growths as the Indian economy depends mainly on the agricultural

sector without which even the manufacturing sector and the services sector cannot

sustain and grow. This budget is focused in uplifting the underprivileged, which

constitute 60% of our population, mostly, living in rural areas, depending more on

agriculture. This budget has rightly focused on these areas of distress concerning

farmers. This budget seems to have addressed the canons of taxing which spells

that the strata of society who has the capacity to pay has to be taxed. The long

pending demand of the farmers for a reasonable price for their produce is

addressed in this budget, where almost all the 23 produces will get 1½ times of

their cost of production as MSP (Minimum Support Price). Kisan Credit Cards to

be given to Dairy and fisheries, the non-agriculture sector, by which the persons

engaged in these sectors, will attain more credibility. The creation of Gramin-Agri

Markets, electronically linked e-NAM (National Agri Market) and exempting them

from APMC regulation are forward looking. As this budget addresses the problems

of the farmers. This will boost agricultural production and ensure food security.

The National Health Protection scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme under

which 40% of the expenditure has to be borne by the States. The fund allocated in

this budget to this scheme is meager and grossly insufficient apart from the

modalities not spelt out. In this scheme resources may be moved away to the

territory health sector, where the private players will be benefitted enormously.

The massive investment of Rs. 14.34 lakh crore proposed for the development of

rural infrastructure is another welcome scheme for road connectivity between

urban and rural areas that will boost up employment potentialities in rural area.

Free gas connection to 3 crore households, free electricity connection to 4 crore

houses, 2 crore new toilets, higher micro-irrigation coverage will enable the poor

to lead a decent life. But out of the net worth of Rs. 14.34 lakh crore to be allotted

to this scheme, it is stated in the budget that 11.95 lakh crore is to be mobilized

from the extra-budgetary resources. This casts a shadow on this project. The

investment towards overall infra development is slated to be Rs. 5.97 lakh crores,

may boost up overall growth. But nearly Rs. 1 lakh crore of this investment is to be

derived from the sale of public sector undertakings. The government is bound to

lose one of its assets when newly acquiring another asset. This is a malady. The

Centre’s allocation in education sector pales into insignificance. MSMES

(Medium, small and micro industry) is the worst hit due to demonetization and

GST. More care and help have to be extended to these industries. MSMEs are to

be extended more facilities. The Rs. 40,000 relief given to salaried class will be

offset by the increase in Education Cess by 1%. They have to pay Rs. 3000 crore

additionally from their pockets. No fund has been allotted to be ongoing railway

projects in Tamil Nadu. Kanniyakumari and Tuticorin doubling project

inaugurated by the Minister of State for Railways 10 days back is not funded. The

2nd

phase of Metro and the 4th

terminal at Tondiarpet proposed by the Southern

Railway Administration were also neglected. During 2018-19, Tamil Nadu has

been allotted a mere Rs. 2.548 crore for various works of railways. The major

omission is the long pending demand of converting the Tondiarpet Railway Station

into Chennai’s fourth railway terminal. Southern Railway plan to convert

Tondiarpet railway station, 7 km. north of Chennai Central into fourth railway

terminal which will drastically ease the congestion and burden on the Chennai

Central and Egmore stations. I urge upon the Union Government to expedite the

proposal to allocate adequate funds during this fiscal year. The construction of

AIIMS hospitals proposed and sanctioned to Tamil Nadu has also not been funded.

None of the schemes in TN, viz., the Athikadavu-Avinashi Water Project to which

the Centre has given approval has been allotted with funds. Tamil Nadu’s

persistent demand for linking peninsular rivers and for linking intra-state rivers did

not find favour with the Centre. The Centre could allot funds for Mumbai and

Bangalore suburban but is grossly neglecting the Chennai suburban rail traffic. No

Smart City project in TN is funded so far. The performance of this Government in

generating employment opportunities is dismal.

SHRI S.P. MUDDAHANUME GOWDA: The Budget does not address

any concerns of the country. Unemployment affecting the economy, society and

the country. This Budget does not provide any immediate relief to farmers. There

is meager increase in the budgetary allocation for MGNREGA. The Minister has

not made any provision for underprivileged, dalit, minority and poor classes of the

people. The Budget allocation for Railways is not up to the expected lines. There is

no relief to the middle-class and salaried class people. I request the hon. Finance

Minister to increase the MPLADS funds to Rs. 15 crore.

SHRI R. DHRUVANARAYANA: I would like to call this budget of false

promises and unfaithful commitments on development and employment. The

Government has failed to meet the goals, which it had set for itself. As for Health

Insurance to poor people, Government doesn’t have clear vision on how required

money will be generated. There is no clarity on how government is going to

achieve the goal of doubling farmer’s income by 2022. The most affected class in

the society due to the adverse actions of union government is common man,

middle class salaried people. Budgetary allocation for Pradhan mantra Awas

Yojana (PMAY) has reduction of 5.3%. Agriculture sector is facing a greater threat

due to climate change. Government has done nothing to establish early warning

system of monsoon rainfall to avoid crop loss.

SHRI RAJKUMAR SAINI: There is a provision for new lines in the

Budget. There is a long pending demand for new railway line from Patiala to

Guhla, Pehova, Kurukshetra, Ladwa, Yamuna Nagar so that Kurukshetra and

Haridwar can be linked directly and tourism can be promoted.

SHRI G. HARI: The new India Budget aims for an enhanced ease of

Living. The Ayushman Bharat, envisaged to give health insurance cover of Rs. 5

Lakhs to around 10 crore families is laudable. The target for Ujwalla Yojana is

raised to 8 crore beneficiaries. In this budget, aims to create a New India where

agriculture and farmers welfare is given top priority and lion’s share. Tindivanam-

Nagari New line was sanctioned long back, but due to non-allocation of sufficient

funds, it has remained incomplete. There is an urgent need for Railway Over

Bridge at katpadi and the Marudalam and Itchiputhur Railway Station need to be

upgraded. There is a Demand for extending Arakkonam Velachery EMU fast train

(Train No. 43936) up to Tiruttani Station. I request the Hon’ble Minister to provide

stoppage for the Train No 12624- Trivandrum Mail at Arakkonam Junction.

SHRI LADU KISHORE SWAIN: Union Budget 2018-19 is the fifth and

the final full Budget of the incumbent Government. It was expected a number of

welfare measures would be announced by the Finance Minister in his Budget

speech 2018-19 with adequate Budget support. The Union Budget 2018-19 could

have been clearly marked with higher budget allocations for education, health,

social welfare measures for women, children, SCs and STs. However, the Union

Budget 2018-19 only offers a lofty of promises for the farmers in this country

without having a clear roadmap for doubling the farmers' income by 2022. The

MNREGA allocations maintain a status quo at 55,000 crores. The emphasis on

MSMEs to generate entrepreneurship opportunities and create employment in the

economy has not been adequately budgeted for. Budgetary allocation to Pradhan

Mantri Grameen Aawas Yojana decreased by 9% in the current budget from the

previous year. The budget for education has increased from Rs. 79686 crore in

2017-18 (BE) to Rs. 85010 crore in 2018-19 (BE); a 6.7 percent increase. The

Government has still not come up with a revised framework for earmarking under

Scheduled Caste Sub Plan. Revised framework has not been formulated for

earmarking under Tribal Sub Plan (TSP). To promote best quality education to the

tribal children in their own environment, Government of India has decided that by

the year 2022, every block with more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000

tribal persons, will have an Ekalavya Model Residential School.

SHRI ANTO ANTONY: The Budget 2018 was the last opportunity for the

present Government to revive Indian economy, however, the Government

miserably failed in this mission. The meager outlays to the ambitious schemes

reveal that the Government is aimed at only making publicity. For instance, the

Government claims that the income of farmers will be doubled by 2022. However,

the Government has nothing done to fulfil this promise. Hon'ble Minister in his

Budget Speech reiterated the Government's commitment to ensure farmers a return

of one-and-a-half times of the cost of their production. However, the fund is not

earmarked for the procurement of crops at this enhanced rate. Pradhan Mantri

Fasal Bima Yojna ensures crop insurance for the farmers in the country but it helps

only the insurance companies as they have already collected a large amount of

premium from the Government and poor farmers. Irrigation projects are vital for

the agricultural sector of the country and the Government has declared a meager

outlay of Rs. 4000 crore for the Financial Year 2018-19. Lack of funds is one of

the reasons for the delayed irrigation projects which is actually affecting the

growth of agriculture sector in the country. The Government failed to arrest

declining income of farmers, and prevent the farmer suicides. Demonetization and

GST have already affected MSMEs. The Budget Speech kept silence on the

inflation and steps to arrest it. If the Government could reduce the duty on

petroleum products, inflation in the country could be arrested to a great extent. The

Government may also take note of the declining foreign investment in the country.

The youth in the country is badly in need of skill training and the Government's

outlay for the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yjana (PMKVY) is only Rs. 1171

crore. While the Government claims that it is dedicated to empower, women its

allocation in this regard is minimal. The Budget ignored the welfare of the persons

with disabilities and senior citizens. The outlays for Start Up India, Digital India,

Skill India Programme, Stand Up India etc are minimal. The middle class

expected a revision in the income tax. However, the Budget brought them

disappointment. The Budget neglected the public health sector and the Defence

Sector as well. The Budget could bring only disappointment as it ignored and

neglected the key sectors of economic growth, human resource development,

social security and also requirements for domestic and external security.

SHRI IDRIS ALI: The United Nations has awarded the West Bengal

Government the first place for Public Service for its "Kanyashree" scheme,

launched in 2011 soon after Ms. Mamata Banerjee came to power. I demand upon

the Government to confer Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of the country

to Ms. Mamata Banerjee.

SHRI Y.S. CHOWDHARY: There is no doubt that we should respect the

Members and not the numbers and as we are running a cooperative federal

democratic system. In AP Reorganisation Bill, there are some pending issues,

namely, special category status, resource gap for the first year, Polavaram Project,

Steel Plant at Cuddapah, formation of a Railway Zone at Vizag, establishment of

greenfield oil refinery and petroleum complex, support to capital, Vizag- Chennai

Corridor and Bengaluru- Chennai Corridor. I would like to request that the

Finance Minister may ensure to resolve all these issues within 15 days. I would

like to request my colleague Members to see that the House functions smoothly. In

case within 15 days, these issues are not resolved, I would request to allot two

hours exclusively to discuss these issues in the next session.

SHRI DINESH TRIVEDI: In West Bengal we deliver with the slogan of

Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas. They can call the Hon. Chief Minister of West Bengal

or the Finance Minister of West Bengal and take ideas from them as to how they

have been able do all this. West Bengal today is Number one in Ease of Doing

Business. They can replicate that in India. Agriculture has been the focus of this

Budget. Again, I have to tell them that the average annual family income of the

farmer has more than doubled in West Bengal. We are talking about doubling it in

the next five years. More than 69 lakh of farmer families have been provided with

Kisan Credit Cards. State Government of West Bengal, during 2017-18, has

provided relief of Rs. 1,200 crore from the State coffers. Again health is a very

important issue in this Budget and I fully appreciate that it is just on paper.

Government has to take the example of Bengal. There are free treatment and

diagnostic centres. The State of West Bengal has already given a coverage of Rs. 5

lakh per person. I wonder when this Government talks about only giving Rs. 2,000

crore of budget which is also not directly connected to this scheme. I will talk

about the health scheme Swasthya Sathi. One of the wonderful schemes which

Bengal has done. The United Nations has great Scheme of Kanyashree. If the

Government wants to see 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao', Kanyashree should be taken

as a model for the entire country. We are grateful to our Hon. Chief Minister for

that. When we talk about digitalisation, we have to go to Bengal. For e-

governance and digitalisation also one has to learn from Bengal. Monetary Policy

Committee left the interest rates unchanged. Global crude oil prices are expected

to rise at 12 per cent. This year, according to the Economic Survey, which will

further put pressure on inflation. There is nothing common with this Budget and

Economic Survey. The basic health is primary health. If primary health is not

proper, then secondary health feel more burden. Water is the most important thing.

People have to take the impact of pollution. Water requires to be much more

potable. Budget has not taken climate change into effect. In Economic Survey it

has been warned that climate change was expected to decrease farm income by 25

per cent a year. Everyday, we are killing our next generation. Nothing has been

mentioned on this in this Budget. It has a very serious effect. The Railways have

gone totally out of the scrutiny of this Parliament. Without a robust railway system

the Government cannot control inflation of food either. We are talking about the

Railways as a commercial setup. The Railway always integrates. But this kind of

policy will only disintegrate. The entire world is changing. Those Indians who are

sitting in the Silicon Valley are redesigning the world. These are the Indians who

require to get into India. Give them some encouragement. I would like to request

this Government. Please listen to their ideas because India is the greatest country

and it will be remain great.

SHRI BALBHADRA MAJHI: The promise of working towards

strengthening social justice and economic democracy to usher ease of living for the

common man is far from reality. Many cases of atrocities towards dalits are still

reported from across the country. Banks are denying loans to tribals on the plea

that their land is not mortgagable. Their children are denied education loans. They

cannot afford education in private education institutes as they cannot afford the

exorbitant fees charged by them. There is no regular cadre of teachers in the

existing schools. The promise about equality and equal opportunities is far from

the reality. The demand for fund allotment proportionate to the population for SC,

ST and other weaker sections has not been addressed. There is a gap of about five

lakh doctors. Opening only 24 new medical colleges is not going to fill the gap.

New health policy is not going to help the common man. Government should

think about strengthening infrastructure and address malnutrition in rural areas.

Only Swachh Bharat scheme is successful to some extent. Under Ujjwala Yojana,

against the total beneficiaries of 3.3 crores, two crore beneficiaries were included

prior to 2014. The initiative taken to eradicate triple talaq is welcome step but

modify the provisions in the Bill so that the Act becomes effective without further

delay. 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' is more of a slogan than real result at the ground

level. Under Jan Dhan Yojana, banks are insisting for minimum balance of

Rs.5000. There is acute shortage of banks and ATMs in Narbarangpur.

Implement Swaminathan Commission's recommendations to enhance minimum

support price of all agricultural produces. Farmers' suicide has increase. Pradhan

Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana has benefited the insurance companies instead of

farmers. Government is not showing any interest in resolving Mahanadi dispute.

'Digital India' has not reached Nabarangpur Parliamentary Constituency in Odisha.

Allotment of funds on education is hardly 0.56% of GDP. National Educaiton

Policy with uniform and common syllabus across India should be adopted. There is

need to expand the scope of syllabus to include agriculture and skill development.

Fund allotment in innovation is required. Create world class infrastructure in

sports. There is a lot to be achieved in improving performance of Railway. The

issue of Diamond Quadrilateral Project and Agri Rail Network has not been

addressed. There is no mention of zero tolerance to terrorism, extremism and

crime. Set up special courts to stop hoarding and black marketing, set up price

stabilization fund and set up single National Agriculture Market. Definition of job

has to be defined. Bring black money from foreign banks. Improve centre-state

relations and involve states in foreign trade and commerce. East is lacking in

development, it should be brought at par with west. The Centre is directly

interfering in the working of the states. FDI has been opened to almost all fields.

Judicial reforms should be carried out. There is not clarity on 'simultaneous

election'.

SHRI RAJAN VICHARE: The Government has allocated Rs. 3,073 crore

for Digital India Programme in Budget which would bring digital revolution in the

country. The Government has mentioned about creating 70 lakh new employment

avenues that has raised hope in youth. The Government has decided to make a five

fold increase in the number of airports. They have fixed the fare of Rs. 2,500 for

one hour flight. The Government has mentioned about improving the potable

water system in 500 cities and spending Rs. 19,428 crore thereon under AMRUT

Yojana. I request the Government to include Thane, Navi Mumbai and Meer

Bhayander under AMRUT Yojana. The Government has announced to provide

Rs. 2,600 crore to the farmers and they would be directly benefitted by this. The

farmers have been committing suicide hence their loan should be waived off. The

Government has mentioned about giving home to every poor by 2022. The

Government has announced to create 100 new cities under Smart City Project. The

cost of construction at Gaumukh to Bhiwandi bypass is Rs. 1,000 crore. The

Government should provide for the said fund. The Minister of Railways has

mentioned about installing escalators at stations having foot-fall of over 25,000

and equipping the stations and trains with Wifi and CCTV. I request you that

escalators should be installed at Meera Road and Bhayander stations as well. They

have mentioned about extension of 90 km double rail line in Mumbai, Maharashtra

with the cost of Rs. 11,000 and extension of Mumbai local too. I request you that

attention should be given on two kilometer long Aroli-Kalwa link in Thane area

with the cost of Rs. 428 crore under Central Railway. Attention should be given on

the proposal of Bonkode railway station on Thane Vashi road by SIDCO and all

the stations constructed by SIDCO should be handed over. CCTV cameras and

escalators should be installed in all the stations of Navi Mumbai. The work of

parking plaza at Thane station complex should be completed at the earliest. The

work of proposed new Thane station between Thane and Mulund should be

commenced. The services of more local trains should be started at Navi Mumbai

and Meera Road and Bhayander and Thane Panvel harbour road and number of

toilets and rest rooms for females should be increased in all the stations. A

stoppage of a long distance train should be provided either at Meera Road or

Bhayander and the frequency of trains should be increased. Train No. 110019

Konark Express from Mumbai CST to Bhuvaneshwar should have a stopover at

Thane.

DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN: It may be recalled that Government of India had

reduced its share in the Centrally sponsored schemes from 75 per cent to 60 per

cent. Consequently, Tamil Nadu had lost out badly due to reduction of horizontal

devolutionary share from 4.969 per cent to 4.023 per cent. I request the Union

Finance Minister to provide a special ad hoc grant to our State. The Comptroller

and Auditor General has reported a shortfall of Rs. 81,647.70 crore in the

aggregate amount of devolution to the States during the period 1996-97 to 2014-

15. The Central Government should allocate funds for these payments due to the

State of Tamil Nadu. The levy of surcharge of 2 per cent on the super- rich that

replaced the wealth tax, has shifted the fiscal resource from States to the Centre. I

urge the Central Government to include the surcharge on the super- rich and other

surcharges in the divisible pool of resources to the States. Regarding CST

compensation, I request the Finance Ministry to provide Rs. 5,572 crore as CST

compensation claim due to the State of Tamil Nadu. The Central Government

should exempt the work contracts executed for State Governments from the

purview of GST. The decision of the Government of India is awaited in this

regard. Regarding Smart City Mission, it is imperative that in the Smart City

Mission guidelines, flexibility may be provided to the Smart City Special Purpose

Vehicle to implement basic infrastructure facility on a pan- city basis instead of an

area- based development. A dedicated mission or programme should be launched

by the Urban Development Ministry to develop small as well as medium towns and

for a comprehensive development of all urban local bodies. I also urge the Central

Government to increase the allocation of funds for the smart city projects in Tamil

Nadu. In regard to highways, there have been long pending demands which should

be fulfilled at the earliest. The budgetary allocation for metro projects has been

substantially reduced throughout the country. I request the hon. Finance to allocate

sufficient funds for phase II of the Chennai Metro Rail Project. Under the National

Social Assistance Programme, Rs. 200 per month is grossly inadequate for a

decent living and the pension has to be increased to Rs. 1000 per month.

Budgetary allocation for modernisation of police forces and the Coast Guard

organisation should be substantially increased. The Government of India should

finalise the location of AIIMS in Tamil Nadu without further delay and allocate

sufficient funds to expedite the progress. The Government of Tamil Nadu had

submitted a memorandum seeking financial assistance of Rs. 5255 crore for relief

and rehabilitation measures to be taken in the Ockhi cyclone hit areas of

Kanyakumari district. However, the Central Government has not provided any

financial assistance in this regard in the current Budget. So, I urge the Central

Government to release its due share of funds to the State.

SHRI RAM MOHAN NAIDU KINJARAPU: The Government's actions

have endured that women get their deserved maternity leave increased from 12 to

26 months. Under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, it is a delight to know that 4

lakh crore worth of loans have been disbursed to encourage self employment.

Agricultural markets have gone online and already 36000 crore worth of

agricultural produce has been traded on e-NAM. Under the Thirteenth Schedule as

per Section 93 of the Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Act of 2014 the promise of a

separate railway zone for the residual state of Andhra Pradesh was made. Nearly

four years down the lane the promise of a separate railway zone still remains

merely on paper without any formal announcement over its establishment. Andhra

Pradesh has a right over a new Railway Zone and the same should not be subject to

deliberations with other States. I strongly request the Government to first officially

announce the creation of new Railway Zone headquartered at Visakhapatnam.

SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL: I congratulate the hon. Minister for

allocation of Rs. 1 crore for Bengaluru suburban rail network project. But, an

allocation of around Rs. 50 crore needs to be allocated to expedite the project. For

poor families with large health costs that can knock families back into poverty, this

scheme can be a big boon to poor people. The Government has set aside Rs. 10

lakh crore for the scheme to be financed by a 1% income- tax cess. As far the

National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS), announced in the Budget, to provide

health cover up to Rs. 5 lakh per family for fifty thousand poor and economically

weak families. I would like to say that it is very good programme under UJALA

Scheme, 28.73 crore LED Bulbs have been distributed. More than Rs. 14,926

crore has been saved per year and 7,470 MW of peak demand has been reduced.

The budgetary allocation of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ministry was Rs.

51,576 crore for the year 2017-18 which has been increased to Rs. 58,080 crore for

this year. Rs. 10,000 crore allocated for Fisheries and Aquacultures Infrastructure

Development Fund and Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund.

This will help to speed up the pace of construction of fish landing centers, cold

storages, ice plants, transport facilities, processing units and hatcheries etc. In this

Budget, an announcement of Rs. 2000 crore for Agri Market Development Fund

has been made which shows the importance of retail market in the sector of

agriculture marketing. I would also like to mention that the NDA Government has

taken steps to increase the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of "Ball Copra" to Rs.

7750/- per quintal for 2018 season from Rs. 6785/- per quintal in 2017. The long

pending demand for a third coaching terminal at Baiyappanahalli station was given

Rs. 45 crore this financial year. Further Rs. 525 crore has been sanctioned for

developing stations across South Western Railways. Rs. 545 crore for new lines

between Baiyappanahalli and Hosur and Yeswantpur to Channasandra. Under the

Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Ghar Yojana, free connection is provided to four crore

people. It is because of the efforts of our NDA Government.

SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN: Hon'ble Finance Minister

has failed to make any fiscal consolidation through this Budget. To provide

employment to the tune of 2 crore per year was one of the main slogans raised by

the present Prime Minister at the time of the 2014 election. But in the Budget there

are no concrete steps to generate employment opportunities. Industrial Gross

Value Added Growth has declined from 8% in 2015-16 to 6.8% in 2016-17 to

2.7% in 2017-18. Manufacturing Gross Value Added Growth has also declined

from 12.7% to 7.9% to 3.1%. India is basically an agrarian economy and 85% of

the population directly or indirectly depends upon agriculture for their livelihood.

During the last four years of this Government the level of agriculture GDP and real

agriculture revenue has remained constantly low. The promise to increase the

Minimum Support Price by 1.5 times contains no details. There is no indication

whatsoever that the real income of the farmers will increase. Not even an attempt

has been made to assess the farmer's income from 2013 to 2018.

The proclamation of the Finance Minister in the Budget about health

insurance cover is another attempt to mislead and defraud the poor. The promise

of Rs. 5 lakh per family for 10 crore families is only a gimmick. The huge

financial implications involved in the Public Health Insurance Schemes have not

been spelt out by the Government. Nor is there any attempt to identify resources

required for the scheme.

There is absolutely no tax relief to the average tax payer. It is distressing to

know that allocation for major employment generation programs like MGNREGA

and social welfare programs like Prime Minister's Awas Yojana, safe drinking

water, Swacch Bharat etc have been drastically cut.

Development of Railways plays a prominent role in the overall development

of a large country like India. It is extremely sad to note that Railway has given a

raw deal to Kerala in the Budget. State of Kerala as well as MPs from Kerala

placed important and vital proposals before the Government. Not even a single

proposal has been considered in the budget. It has been the long cherished dream

to have a railway line between Thalassery and Mysore connecting Kerala and

Karnataka. Unfortunately no mention is seen made in the Budget. I earnestly

request the Government to take urgent necessary steps to include the proposal in

the scheme of things.

SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR: Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar had said that

without social and economic democracy, political democracy cannot be stable.

This Government under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi began the work of

bringing social and economic equality in the country. Congress has put the people

from Scheduled class on heavy loss.

Sir Syed Ahmed Khan established Aligarh Muslim University in the year

1875. Later on this House gave it the status of a Central University through its

Act. But since 1950 candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes did not get

reservation so far in teaching and non teaching staff.

Shrimati Indira Gandhi did nationalization of banks and at the time of

nationalization it was the plea that the people belonging to Scheduled Castes would

get the maximum share in the wealth of the country but even after seventy years of

independence or after forty years of nationalization of banks, they remained unable

to open even account of 30 crore of people of the country.

The issue of demonetisation had surfaced in the House during the

governance of Shrimati Indira Gandhi but her advisors advised her that if it done,

her political career may fall in danger and Congress would not come to power in

the country again. I can say that today we have such a leadership that does not

care for the party and even his personal political life. The country should stay

whether or not party remains.

The biggest benefit of GST is that earlier the traders used to discuss as to

which items should be stored and which items should not be stored. Through you,

I would like to demand that the widow pension, old age pension and disabled

persons pension which are different in the States should be equal in the whole

country and it should not be less than Rs. 3000/-. Asha Bahuen, the backbone of

the country should be given minimum honorarium. A number of vacant posts of

scheduled classes are lying in the Centre as well as the States for the last 70 years

and they are lying as backlog posts. These should be filled up to give employment

to them. The Bill for reservation in promotion for the persons from Scheduled

Class is pending. Nobody except the Hon'ble Prime Minister can do this job

because he has taken the historical decision to institute the Commission for the

backward classes. Accident Insurance of rupees twelve for all MNREGA labourers

should be made compulsory so that their families could get relief in the event of

any casualty. Allahabad University, Oxford of the East needs an urgent extension.

SHRIMATI JYOTI DHURVE: The Budget is favourable for the farmers

and trade. The Government's entire focus is on the poor and the villages. Hon.

Jaitley ji needs to be congratulated for providing relief to the salaried employees.

Attention has also been paid to provide several benefits to senior citizens in the

budget. This Budget will be quite helpful for the working women. The youth will

get employment opportunities by setting up new medical colleges. The benefits of

Ayushman Scheme will accrue to 125 crore countrymen. The budget will improve

the life of the middle class. The budget will boost the income of farmers. The

railway land lying in disuse will be used and emphasis has been laid on equipping

the railway stations with Wifi, installing CCTV camera. 3600km new railway

tracks will be laid. More than 4000 manned crossings will be closed. All the

railway lines will be converted into broadgauge. Electrification of railways has

also been emphasized. The Government has also put emphasis on the education of

Adivasi children and Eklavya School Scheme for them has been launched. Target

has been fixed for sending 20 lakh children to school. 37 lakh new houses will be

constructed in the urban areas and 2 crore toilets will be constructed in the next

financial year. Decision has been taken to promote the production of potatoes and

vegetables and increase the minimum support price one and a half times. The

Government is working on its assurance of doubling the income of farmers. It is

on Government's priority to develop the rural areas.

SHRI RAGHU SHARMA: This Budget presented by the Hon. Finance

Minister for the year 2018-19 is disappointing for the people of the country. The

Government has disappointed the unemployed youth by not taking any measure in

this Budget to eradicate unemployment. Coming to the power with the promise of

controlling inflation in the country, the BJP Government has not made any effort to

control it. The items on which custom duty has been enhanced are likely to be

taking on the common people. During the tenure of BJP Government, the prices of

petrol, diesel and cooking gas are continuously increasing. The Government had

made the promise to fix the MSP 50 per cent more than the input cost. No

concrete decision has been taken by the Government in this Budget regarding it

which is symbol of anti- farmer tendency. No serious effort has been made to

provide better facilities to the railway passengers. The talents in the sports field of

the country are disappointed with this Budget as the allocation to the SAI has been

cut down. The Government has made minimal increase in allocation for the

education sector which has disappointed the youth of the country. The schemes

mentioned in the Budget for the farmers are populist but no focus has been given

as to how the Government will implement these schemes. The said Budget is

jugglery of words. This Budget is not going to give any relief to the middle class,

farmers, the youth and the poor of the country. This Budget of the Government is

a road map of economic destruction of the country. The Government should have

made efforts to expedite the work of laying railway line from Ajmer- Kota and

Ajmer- Sawai Madhopur rail line announced by the previous Congress

Government for my Parliamentary Constituency Ajmer but the Government does

not seem serious about it. In my Parliamentary Constituency, Kishangarh Airport

has been constructed but the Government does not seem serious about the time by

which this Airport is likely to be made operational.

ADV. JOICE GEORGE: Though there are big announcement for rural

development, universal healthcare, Minimum Support Price for Agricultural

produces but on a detail analysis of the budget document I feel disappointed. It

was the promise of the Government to ensure 50% profit above the cost of

production of all agricultural crops through Minimum Support Price (MSP) but

nothing happened on the ground to alleviate the miseries and hardship of the poor

farmers of the Nation. In present year's announcement of MSP, the Hon'ble

Finance Minister has not divulged the formula and other details for fixing the

MSP. I urge upon the Government to fix the MSP of 50% profit above the cost of

production of all cash crops like Rubber, Cardamom, Coffee and Tea. It is

desperate to see that the allocation to the Commodity Boards especially the Rubber

Board and Spices Board is being reduced year by year during the last 3 years.

Though the Finance Minister was vociferous in ensuring rural development but

there was no sufficient allocation for implementing the schemes like MGNREG,

schemes for the development of SC/ST and Minorities and other vulnerable

groups. The core schemes have also been hit by the lesser allocation. For the

PMGSY, the Government could not utilize the funds year marked for the year

2017-18. If the Government is really committed to ensure the development of the

rural populai, there should be sufficient allocations and a mechanism to implement

the project in a time bound manner. There is regional and State wise disparity in

utilizing the funds provided for establishing the rural infrastructure. The State of

Kerala has been allotted less 350 km of roads under the PMGSY scheme since its

introduction. I urge upon the Government to allocate more roads under the

PMGSY schemes to the State of Kerala. I am aggrieved of the lesser allocations for

the development of Railways in Kerala. I am representing a constituency where no

railway facility is available. Though the Angamaly Sabari Railway Rail Project

was sanctioned but even after 19 years the railway could complete only 7

kilometers of railway line out of 116 kilometers length. Hence the intervention of

the Government is requested. Most of the flagship programs of the Government

meant for women and children are been implemented through the Asha workers

and Anganwadi teachers. These poor Asha workers and Anganwady teachers are

being paid meager amount as remuneration. Hence I urge upon the Government to

increase the remuneration to them. Human wildlife conflict (HWC) has a greater

attention in recent days in Kerala due to the straying of wild animals in the crop

fields and cause human casualties due to carnivores. Places like Chinnakkanal,

Bisonvalley, Marayoor, Kuttampuzha, Mankulam etc in my constituency are

gripped by elephant attacks with human casualties too. Hence I urge upon the

Government to conduct carrying capacity studies and contain wildlife below

carrying capacity and excess must be culled out. The legal protection of wildlife

should be strictly restricted to forest only. The crops as well as the human life

should be insured and adequate compensation should be given to the victims on

time. I also urge upon the Government to sanction a New Kendriya Vidyalaya at

Thodupuzha in Idukki district. The Government may establish a new Medical

College at Muvattupuzha.

SHRI JANARDHAN MISHRA: Due to infrastructural reforms in the

system, the GDP rate of the country has shown the change. With the decision of

purchasing all agricultural produce on MSP , the income of the farmers will be

doubled by 2022. The existing 22000 rural market will be developed as agriculture

market due to which all compulsions of the small and marginal farmers will be

solved. Agriculture Market Infrastructural Fund of 2000 crore rupees will be

created. In the rural areas 51 lakh poor people will be given 'pucca' house. 37 lakh

homes will be given to the poor in the urban areas. For the formation of new rural

India , provision of 14.34 lakh crore rupees has been made. The medical coverage

of Rs 5 lakh under Ayushmaan Bharat Yojana will give new life to the poor.

Under the Swachchta Abhiyaan, every poor will be provided toilet. By making

the provision of Rs 3 lakh crore rupees under Mudra Yojana , the employment

opportunities for the women, deprived and the poor have been created. Through

the 'Operation Green' vegetables will be saved from getting rotten. Food

Processing will help in conservation and commercial use of vegetables. Under the

'Saubhagya Yojana' , every household will be given electricity connection. Rewa

will be covered under 'Udaan Scheme'. Under the 'Amrit Scheme' , pure water will

be supplied and the problem of sewerage will be solved in city, Rewa. The

demands for introducing the train from Rewa to Mumbai and providing a stoppage

of Shipra train at Dabhora are very old. The survey for new rail line from Rewa

to Mirzapur via Hanumana has been conducted but financial approval is pending

for it. There is a need of a modern educational institute in Rewa.

SHRI KRISHAN PRATAP: This Budget is in the interest of common

people. Hon. Prime Minister and Finance Minister must be applauded for this

progressive Budget. Several schemes have been announced in this Budget for all

round development of the poor, farmers and all classes of the country.

Transparency and honesty are observed in the allocation of natural resources. The

emphasis has been given to the concept of minimum Government, maximum

Governance. Several effective schemes have been implemented for the poor.

Electricity and gas connection have been provided to crores of the families.

Medicines are being sold at affordable prices in Jan Aushadhi Kendras. Several

schemes have been effectively implemented to provide remunerative prices to

farmers for their produce. Large amount of fund has been allocated in this Budget

for the welfare of farmers. The Right to Education has been amended to provide

district wise training to the teachers to improve the quality of education. The roles

of middleman have been abolished to make the country corruption free. The

schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Skill Development Scheme have been

implemented to provide employment to the unemployed in the country. Lok Sabha

has passed a Bill regarding 'Talaq' to give dignity to Muslim women. 'Beti Bachao,

Beti Padhao' scheme has been launched to end the discrimination with female

children. The facility provided under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana to poor

women has given them the opportunity to be at par with the affluent women in the

society. The resolution to make new India has been taken under Ayushman Bharat

through which all classes especially the poor will be able to live a happy life.

Several initiatives have been taken for ease of doing business. The provisions

should be made for setting up Kendriya Vidyalayas to improve the quality of

education, connecting all villages with link roads, setting up a hospital on the lines

of All India Institute of Medical Science, construction of an over- bridge and all

proposals related to Railways in my Parliamentary Constituency Jaunpur.

SHRI PREM SINGH CHANDUMAJRA: I feel that the hon. Minister of

Finance has taken seriously the challenges which are being faced by the country.

The most surprising challenge which the country is facing is that 1% of people

have accumulated as much as 73% of the total wealth generated in the country due

to which the rich become richer and the poor become poorer. The Government has

paid attention to challenges like employment, housing, education to all etc.

Priority has been given to those sectors which have been neglected for the last 65

years. In the Budget, the issue of farmers, villages and poor have been mentioned.

The farmers are the backbone of the economy of the country. When India got

independence, at that time, the contribution of agriculture in GDP was 52% which

has now declined to 12%. The Government has taken it seriously. I would like to

congratulate the Minister of Finance as he has assured in his Budget speech that

minimum support price will be one-and-a-half times of the cost involved. The

Government has announced MSP for 22 crops however, basmati, potato, onion

etc. should also be included. Today, the farmers of the country are facing crisis.

The Comprehensive Agriculture Policy should be formulated by convening a

special session. The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana which the Government

has launched, in that villages have been considered as a unit. We want that instead

of villages, farmers should be considered as an unit only then the aim of the crop

insurance scheme would be fulfilled. The factory of NFL is located in Nangal. It's

expansion should be done. The roads constructed under PMGSY are not of 32

feet. It should be made of 22 feet. GST should be exempted on agriculture

machinery. An enquiry should be conducted regarding CSR fund as to how much

and where this fund has been utilized. Funds have been provided for border area

of Punjab, however, there is a need to allocate more funds. In Punjab, export is

done more through sea route than road route. My demand is that there should be

integrated checkpost in Hussainiwala and Cargo Center should be in Mohali. In

our Gurudwaras, free meal i.e. 'Langar' is served to all the visitors. However, the

Government imposes GST on all items used therein. The Minister of Finance is

saying that GST cannot be exempted, however, it can be reimbursed.

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE: It is being mentioned that this

Budget is meant to provide relief to the farmers, rural areas and the poor.

However, on a closer look the authenticity of these claims can be verified. The

Hon. Minister of Finance has mentioned credit to farmers in the Budget. Last year

the provision of Rs. 10 lakh crore was made for it which has been increased to Rs.

11 lakh crore. The outcome of Budget tells that only 67 per cent loan has been

disbursed in comparison to the last year's target. Even today, approximately 25 per

cent agricultural credit is flowing in through the private moneylenders. To

increase the institutional credit, the Government must see to it that the target of

loan disbursement in the Budget is completely achieved. The Government is

repeatedly talking of doubling the income of the farmers by 2022 and the Hon.

Minister of Finance has announced to fix MSP at 50% more than the cost price for

Kharif crops. Besides, the Government agrees that the assurance of MSP at 50%

more than the cost price for Rabi crops has already been fulfilled by it. I wonder,

if the farmers are actually being given MSP at more than 50% of their cost price,

then why they are committing suicide. If the Government is really serious in

giving MSP at 50% more than the cost price then would the Swaminathan

Commission Formula be adopted? Hon. Finance Minister has referred neither to it

in the Budget document nor made any provision. For Pradhan Mantri Crop

Insurance Scheme only Rs. 13 thousand crore have been provided. The reducing

investment on health sector is a cause of concern. I have been making the

incessant demand of increasing public investment in the health sector in this

House. Hon. Finance Minister has announced Rs. 5 lakh insurance cover under the

National Health Insurance Scheme. This assurance is also not new. Hon. Finance

Minister had announced Rs. 1 lakh insurance cover in the Budget 2016-17 which

never saw the light of the day. When the Government could not provide

mediclaim cover upto Rs. 1 lakh then how will it provide the mediclaim cover upto

Rs. 5 lakh. Is the Government promoting privatisation of health care system in the

name of this scheme? I feel that the Government must invest in the public sector

under the National Health Policy. We need to double the strength of doctors.

Time bound programme should be prepared for it. But is has been colossally

ignored in the Budget. The provision under National Health Mission has also been

reduced this year.

Injustice has been done to approximately 80 lakh passengers travelling by

suburban local trains of Mumbai in the railways. The estimate of the proposals of

new F.O.Bs in Mumbai in the Budget is Rs. 850 crore while the provision of only

Rs. 82 crore has been made. Communication based train control system would

double the frequency of local trains. This project needs to be taken up on war

footing. The Hon. Minister of Finance has made a provision for Rs. 900 crore for

passenger amenities on paper while merely Rs. 200 crore have been allocated for

it. The jugglery of figures is the chief characteristic of this year's Budget. Demand

for increasing the slab was being made which is currently only Rs. Two and a half

lakh. Hon. Minister of Finance would be remembering that he did not allow the

slab to be increased when he was in Opposition. This Budget does not contain any

infrastructural change as far as farmers, middle class, train passengers or health

sector is concerned.

SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH: This Budget is not a pro- poor rather the

one which is beneficial to the corporate houses. According to the Census 2011,

there are 16.6% SC's, ST's in India. Allocation under Scheduled Caste Component

and Scheduled Tribe Component should be in proportion to the population. As a

step towards addressing the increasing inequalities between SC/ ST and other

dominant class, the policy of Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) and Special Component Plan

(SCP) were introduced during 5th Five Year Plan and 6th Five Year Plan

respectively. Allocations under these plans were mandated to be in proportion to

the population. In the FY 2017-18, the Government merged the Plan and Non-

Plan components of the Budget. Annual Budget 2018-19 allocated 6.55% towards

Welfare of SCs which is short of approximately 16.6% of SC population in the

country, to maintain proportionate allocation. Union Budget 2018-19 allocated

4.53% towards Welfare of STs which is 4.07% short of approximately 8.6% in

terms of ST population. 8 of the important schemes for SC/STs are severely

under- funded. The total gap in schemes for SC is Rs. 1,14,717 crore and for ST is

Rs. 54676 crore. This amounts to a sizeable proportion, for which schemes have to

be innovated that is relevant for bridging the gap between SC/ST and others. The

Official data shows that SCs are landless or marginal landholders and the trend

continues even today. Unfortunately, the Budget fails to mention and acknowledge

the realities of SC-ST women agricultural labourers and landowners. Rs. 20 crore

have been allocated in the Union Budget 2018-19 towards the rehabilitation of

manual scavengers. This is hardly sufficient to achieve the objective of abolition

of Manual Scavenging in this country. Many Departments and Ministries should

revise their guidelines for creating special provisions and tailor- made projects for

the development of SCs and STs. An independent authority/ commission chaired

by the Cabinet Secretary/ Chief Secretary should be created for the progression of

SC and STs. Otherwise, the funds will not reach the beneficiary. Education is the

key to the progress of the Dalits and Adivasis. It is possible only through Budget

support from Union Government. There is huge deficit of funds for Post Matric

Scholarship for SC' s and ST's. I urge upon Government to take action to set up

Special Courts for speedy trial of cases related to Dalit and Adivasi community.

DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT: With India now featuring amongst

the eight economies worldwide that have a $2 trillion plus nominal GDP, its

budget has implications for the global economy as well. This budget’s tone was

reasonably populist and for good reason too! India’s Finance Minister

recommended better minimum support-prices (MSP) for certain agri-produce,

apart from strengthening crop insurance. A mass-scale health insurance scheme

was announced for the poor, covering up to Rs. 0.5 million. Gas connections were

to be given to poor women. Socially-backward communities were allocated outlays

in education, etc. Most of these initiatives have impact on the poor as well as the

rural. This move was sorely needed, both economically and politically. India

needs more incentives to expand retail financial services and microfinance

networks across all rural districts that can mobilize this investment. While financial

inclusion has been a policy of the government, it should have received more

emphasis in the budget to complement its push towards rural incomes. The

budget’s continued focus to invest in infrastructure like roads and highways, as

well as irrigation, should help in job-creation to some extent. The budget also gave

a corporate tax incentive for smaller companies.

SHRI ABHISHEK SINGH: This budget is about fulfilling the dreams of

bright future of 125 crore people of this country. This is about providing social and

financial security to the poor of the country and relieving their anxiety. This will

be helpful in providing the women respect and strength. This will be helpful in

providing employment and self-employment opportunities to the youth, providing

due respect to the farmers for their hard work, getting 50 crore poor and middle

class people free from health concerns and taking India on the peak of supreme

glory. I would like to thank Hon. Prime Minister and Hon. Finance Minister for

formulating policies keeping in mind the hard work of the youth and the people of

poor families. Through various schemes like Mudra Loan, Stand-up India, Skill

India and others, the government has created such an atmosphere that even a poor

man could dream to improve his financial condition in future by doing hard work.

He can be a job provider rather than being a job seeker. I would like to mention

this point before the Members of the House that when we introduce the

government schemes among the people not merely as Government schemes but as

mass movement, it gives a pleasant outcome. For example, when the Hon. Prime

Minister invoked the country under ‘Clean India Campaign’ to construct toilets in

every house of the country in women’s honour; a women’s group in Rajnandgaon,

which consists of lakhs of women, have decided to construct toilets in their houses

instinctively and without any Government assistance and to utilize the assistance

being provided by the Government in the development of the village. I would like

to request the poor, the youth and the women of the country to play important role

in making a new India which is moving forward not only through the policies

made by the government but keeping in mind the expectations and aspirations of

125 crore people of the country. With these good wishes, I conclude.

SHRI TEJ PRATAP SINGH YADAV: The President’s Address and the

Budget Speech do not seem to raise any concrete hope in the hearts of the common

man of this country. GDP is continuously decreasing. Big claims of development

proved hollow. The government has failed to meet the target of fiscal deficit during

the last three years. The middle class is quite disappointed with the provisions of

income tax. The government is the well-wisher of the corporates only and farmers

and the middle class do not figure in its agenda. The decline in sensex also

indicates that the market has rejected this Budget of the Government. By

increasing import duty on 45 articles in the Budget, the government has changed

Make-in-India Programme into Protect-in-India Programme. Today the price of

petroleum is maximum in the last four years. The gap between the rich and the

poor has further increased. Even after four years the condition of farmers is getting

bad to worse. Continuous suicides by farmers even after record production and

throwing of their crops on roads indicate that the government has given only

hollow assurance to the farmers. It is my demand from government that the MSP

of potato is fixed at such price that the farmers get some relief. No special

provision has been made in this budget for irrigation. For health only 0.3 per cent

of GDP has been allocated. Medical treatment up to the amount of Rs. 5 lakh has

been promised for 50 crore people, assuming five persons per family. But only

two thousand crore rupees has been allocated under this scheme which is quite

meagre. The government has not disclosed how it would identify such families,

who will pay the premium. Regarding education far less budget allocation has

been made. ‘Persons with hawai chappal will travel in planes’, this claim of the

government has also proved hollow. The incidents of atrocities against the

minorities and dalits has increased, regarding discontinuing haj subsidy I had asked

the government how it proposes to utilize the amount accruing as a result of

discontinuation of subsidy, the government did not give a clear reply. The

government has reduced the amount proposed to be spent on the security of the

country. The incidents of the violation of ceasefire has increased recently and our

soldiers are getting martyred everyday. Pakistan and China are also continuously

trying to infiltrate into our territory. In such a scenario reduction in the budget

provisions for the Army will adversely affect the morale and preparation of our

Army. The country is grappling with jobless growth. The government talks about

skill development but has been unable to spend the total amount allocated for this

purpose. The government has also reduced the grandiosity of the Rail Budget.

Today there are 2 lakh 20 thousand vacancies in the Railways and 1 lakh 40

thousand vacancies out of this are in the safety department of railways. Before

bullet train our priority should have been to improve the present condition of the

railways. This government has failed to meet the expectations of the people.

SHRI P.C. GADDIGOUDAR: The budget is very good for the over-all

development of the nation with focus on fulfilling the dreams of every section

including the poor, the farmers, rural workers, women, dalits, small business and

the under privileged. It has focused on income security of farmers. The farmers

should get full benefit of the MSP announced by the Government. The Finance

Minister has announced to launch a flagship National Health Protection Scheme to

cover over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families providing coverage up to 5 lakh

rupees per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. It has

been announced to increase the loans for Self Help Groups of Women. The

allocation to National Rural Livelihood Mission has also been increased

substantially. Prominent tourist sites in my Constituency namely Badami,

Pattadakal and Aihole are historical places. Tourists amenities should be enhanced

there. I request the Government to provide more funds for completing the works of

National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) and

Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT). A provision

of Rs. 1.48 crore has been made for capital expenditure for Railways with a view

to improving and modernizing the basic infrastructure. This will go on a long way

to enhance railway safety and reduce train accidents. I welcome the decision to

expand the suburban network, particularly in Bengaluru. I urge the Railway

Minister for the new rail line of Almatti-Koppal. Another new rail line of

Bagalkot-Kudachi was sanctioned long back, but only 30 kms. work from Bagalkot

to Khajjidoni has been completed. I request the Hon'ble Railway Minister to

expedite the remaining work.

SHRI SHARAD TRIPATHI: For the first time such a budget has been

presented in which tireless and zestful efforts have been initiated for attaining the

mission of a poverty-free, , illiteracy-free, squalor-free, unemployment free India.

Under 'Khelo India' a provision of 200 crore rupees for one district each in rural

areas has been made. Three to four stadiums will be constructed in each district

which will also contain a swimming pool and all types of courts. If we look at the

railway schemes implemented from 1947 to 2014 then we will find that it is the

first government that has managed to do such an amazing amount of work in this

period of three and a half years. Today the government has taken a revolutionary

decision. 800 medicines are being sold through Jan Aushadhi Kendras. More than

3000 such kendras have been opened so far. Health insurance cover amounting

from five lakh rupees to ten lakh rupees has been made available in the current

budget. Budget provision for opening 24 new medical colleges has been made.

Three hundred and fifty para-medical centres are being opened. Wherever para-

medical centres are opened there would be a rush to open new hospitals in those

rural areas also. This government has doubled the budget provision for farmers,

villages, the poor and the food processing sector. Cottage industries are being set-

up in rural areas. The government has made budget provision for small units

through the MSME Ministry. If any unit connected to farmers sets-up its plant in

rural areas and if it is totally dependent on farmers for its inputs then it has been

given 100 percent rebate. The government has taken this historical step. The

government is also focusing on strengthening the foreign policy. My parliamentary

constituency has vast potential for tourism. I urge that Kopian and Govind Sahab

should be given a place in the tourist map of India so that tourists from all over the

world visit these places and thus create avenues of employment.

SHRIMATI K. MARAGATHAM: The extremely heavy rains during the

North East Monsoon in December 2015 have caused enormous devastation to

standing crops, property and public infrastructure besides loss of livelihood, loss of

life and cattle. But even a year after the central team had inspected and given its

report, the Government has not provided adequate funds to Tamil Nadu. With

regard to Cyclone Vardah in December 2016 which caused severe damages to the

coastal regions of Northern Tamil Nadu, no relief fund was provided. The recent

Ockhi Cyclone has devastated the Southern parts of Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari

and Tirunelveli Districts. But not enough relief funds were provided from Centre to

Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu was severely affected by drought and scarcity of water

for irrigation. I urge the Union Government to release a special package and funds

to address the plight of farmers in Tamil Nadu at the earliest. I request the Hon'ble

Finance Minister to release Rs. 3000 Crores for the development of fisheries in

Tamil Nadu. I would like the Government of the day will create a separate

Ministry for Fisheries and Development of Fishermen Community. I urge the

Union Government to release Rs. 17,000 crores to enhance power infrastructure. I

urge the Government to take up the redevelopment and modernization of railway

stations at Chennai Central and Egmore in one go and also to provide much needed

fillip to all the railway stations. I would urge upon the Government to provide

adequate funds for the establishment of necessary infrastructure facilities as the

Power projects at Kalpakkam and Cheyyur and also several Industries are situated

in Kanchipuram District of Tamil Nadu. Several pending demands in Railways

need to be executed immediately for the benefit of millions of people in and

around Kanchipuram. Kanchipuram town being the most ancient and having

historically important heritage sites requires funding for renovation and restoration

thereof. Melmaruvathur is another very important pilgrim site which requires a

new train service from Melmaruvathur to Yeshwanthpur via Kanchipuram,

Chengalpattu and Melmaruvathur.

SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK: A term Modicare has been generated in

the media for its policies such as expanding the abmit of Ujjwala Scheme,

announcing the Ayushman Bharat Programme. Senior Citizens have also gained

from this budget. The salaried class, undoubtedly, have been imposed with more

tax. Budget also promises lesser income tax and better credit flow for smaller

businessmen. Highly criticized is the LTCG tax which has caused turmoil in stock

markets and robbed off pockets of middle class section of the society. Fiscal deficit

of 3.3% of GDP for next year is much higher than the ideal 2.5% for the Central

Government as per the recommendations by N K Singh committee. If the

Government is not able to maintain, it will lose its credibility. There is nothing in

the budget that can directly stimulate investment except for benefits to micro, small

and medium enterprises. With no new investments ventured in through budget

there is lesser possibility of required jobs creation. Higher expenditure on health

and education was required. The budget for 2018-19 was presented against the

background of "slowdown in growth, inadequate private investment and distress in

agriculture. Few of the issues were addressed but no fully. There are simply no

benefits for the middle class. The Government did follow a 'growth and

consumption -oriented' approach. However, there should have been greater

incentives and measures on the education front. Exports also did not get as good a

boost in the budget. A health cover will protect vulnerable families from falling

back below the poverty line in case of hospitalisation. The private sector has been

on the losing end by the levy of surcharge and cess.

SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL: Such provisions have been made in

the budget which will redress those problems of the weaker and middle class of the

society which has shattered all of sudden the financial and social position of these

sections. Health guarantee scheme of rupees five lakh has been introduced for ten

crore poor families. This will pave the way for opening of new hospitals and

augmentation of facilities in the existing hospitals. Besides this will help in

reducing the crowd in the Government hospitals as healthcare facilities will

become less expensive. Now the Government has decided to open one medical

college for every three Lok Sabha Constituencies. The Government has decided to

introduce ' Ujjwala Yojana' to provide free of cost gas connections to women in

remote rural areas. Initially a target was set to provide five crore connection but

now this target has been revised to eight crores. The 'Amrut Yojana' to provide safe

drinking water in urban areas and cluster based hundreds of villages is a

revolutionary scheme. Under an ambitious scheme to provide houses to every

citizen by the year 2022 fifty one lakh houses have been constructed during the last

year and a target has been set to construct fifty one lakh houses this year as well.

Earmarking rupees sixteen thousand crore under 'Saubhagya Yojana' to provide

electricity connection to every household is a welcome move. The Prime Minister

has set the target to double the agricultural production by the year 2022. The

Government has taken an initiative to make the farmers self-reliant by framing a

policy to give one and half time higher support price than the cost price. An

important decision has been taken in regard to food processing and development of

mega food parks. The decision to give hundred percent tax exemption to the agro

based companies with turnover of rupees hundred crores is yet another landmark

decision. In this budget every section of the society has been taken care of. Modi

Government is marching on the way of development with the motto of 'Sab Ka

Saath, Sab Ka Vikas'.

SHRI BADRUDDIN AJMAL: The message of education is not reaching

to the poor inhabited areas. Money is not reaching to the people. Today, agriculture

science and farmers are in a pathetic condition. You have showed great concern for

Muslim women in the matter of Triple Talaq, but they are being harassed. Every

year floods and erosion cause great damage to life and property in Assam. It should

be declared as national calamity. Dhubri-Phulwadi bridge is in my Constituency. It

is crucially required. Rupasi airport should be reopened. The Assam-Bangladesh

border is a matter of safety and security, so, it should be fenced in order to

permanently solve the problem of intrusion from Bangladesh, Prior to expiring of

its term this Government will provide a branch of Aligarh Muslim University in

my Dhubri Constituency because this is a matter of education of minorities. There

is an urgent need for a Unani medical college or AYUSH medical college in

Dhubri. Similarly, there is an urgent need of engineering colleges in Karimganj,

Naugaon, Dhubri etc. I hope the Government will pay attention in this regard.

There are only two paper mill industries in Karimganj-Badarpur and Naugaon in

Assam which are lying closed since last one year. I request that both of these mills

should be revived as soon as possible.

SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA: A visionary budget has been given to

the people of the country in which it has been resolved that Indian economy will be

the fastest growing economy in the world and we will achieve more than 8 percent

GDP growth in future. 17 sustainable goals were set by India, the commitment to

achieve all of them has been shown in this budget. A revolutionary decision has

been taken in health sector, that health insurance upto Rs. 5 lakh will be given to

ten crore families within the budget. India can become the great Nation of the

world only when its education system and health system will improve. That's why

Finance Minister has given priority to health and education system. It is resolved in

the budget to double the farmer's income to raise the agriculture sector, and for this

a provision of loans of Rs. 11 lakh crore has also been made, which will prove to

be a game changer. Amount of Rupees 75000 crore has been provided for self help

groups. This will contribute for the empowerment of the women power of India.

Road connectivity, sea connectivity, air connectivity and rail connectivity will play

a vital role in making the nation great. The world is attracting to invest in India due

to its policies.

SHRI M. MURLI MOHAN: The people of Andhra Pradesh had a hope on

this NDA Government. The unscientific bifurcation of this State, we have lost all

revenue resources including all premier institutions. It was felt that the NDA

Government would render justice to the State of A.P. atleast this Budget and

extend his cooperation with regard to implementation of AP reorganization Act,

2014 including financial support for construction of new capital city, incentives for

setting up new industries, funds for Externally Aided projects etc. I would expect

the Government atleast to stop dilly-dally attitude and come out their stand on

implementation of AP reorganization Act. 2014.

SHRIMATI VEENA DEVI: The Budget 2018-19 is a historic Budget

dedicated to farmers and the rural India. Indian economy is ranked 7th in the world

which is all set to become the 5th largest economy in the world. This Budget has

special emphasis on rural economy. My parliamentary Constituency, Munger is a

backward area of Bihar therefore it requires special attention in this Budget.

Additional Budget allocation should be made for development of Mokama Taal

area. District hospitals in my Constituency should be upgraded to medical

colleges. One AIIMS is also required in this area. Efforts should be made for

improvement of Engineering, Medical and higher education. Rail and Air

connectivity to Munger will lead to increased number of tourists in the area. There

is a need to allocate more and more funds to preserve the heritage in Munger and

declare the temples built by the king Karna as major tourist destination and upkeep

them.

SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM: This Budget provides that small village

haats and markets will be elevated as mandis to provide fair price of the produce of

small and medium farmers. It is announced that irrigation to every field will be

made available and 1.5 times of the total cost of the crop will be the MSP which

will improve the financial condition of the farmers. Introduction of National

Health Protection scheme is a welcome step. Besides, the Hon. Finance Minister

has proposed an alloction of Rs.1.38 lakh crore for all the schemes related to the

development of education and social sector. Revitalizing Infrastructure and

System in Education (RISE) and Prime Minister Research Fellowship are welcome

steps. 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padao', 'Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana', 'MUDRA

Yojana' and 'SAUBHAGY Yojana' are very important schemes. Small and

medium enterprises have expanded after demonetization and introduction of GST.

In all, this Budget gives pace to the concept of 'New India' and development of

India.

SHRI NISHIKANT DUBEY: The world economic output has rebounded

in 2017 as compared to an eight-year low growth. Both IMF and World Bank

estimate that India's economy will grow by 6.7 per cent in FY 2017-18. However,

notably, India is still one of the best performing economies in the world. Retail

inflation has fallen sharply. The Government aims to bring down fiscal deficit to

3.3 per cent of GDP in FY 2018-19. The Government has proposed to bring down

the centre's debt-to-to GDP ratio to 40 percent. Demonetization and GST has

increased tax base, and in the long run, this may increase revenue of the

Government. In the current fiscal year, the Government continued with its reform

agenda. The Government launched the GST. The Finance Ministry announced

recapitalization plan for PSU banks. The Government also approved listing of 14

CPSEs on the stock exchanges. Dynamic fuel pricing has been rolled out. FDI

policy has been further liberalized. From a macro perspective, India will need to

deal with two vulnerabilities; fiscal and current accounts. Both of these tend to

deteriorate when oil prices pick up rapidly. The Make-in-India programme is

expected to boost exports.

SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR: I would propose to grant the special

state status to Bihar. All the families living in district Nalanda should be provided

gas connection under Ujjwala Scheme. The ultra power project sanctioned in

Banka should be commissioned as soon as possible. Out of the proposed 24

medical colleges, at least 4 medical colleges should be set up in Bihar. An AIIMS

had been set up in Bihar in the last year. I would request to expedite the

construction of this hospital and the AIIMS which is already working there should

be commissioned completely. Patna University should be declared a Central

University. A fund of Rs.7200 crore announced for Bihar for flood relief should

be released. I would also propose to allocate 1 lakh 65 thousand crore economic

package as announced by the Prime Minister for Bihar. A Central University

should be set up in Bihar Sharif. GST system should be upgraded. Millions of

families are affected in Bihar due to the floods which ravage the state every year.

The main reason for this is the flow of excess quantity of water from Nepal in

rainy season. I, therefore, would request the Government to hold discussion with

the Government of Nepal to find a permanent solution of the problem. The

problem of silt in river Ganga should be solved. A relief fund should be set up to

deal with the problem of drought. The regional airports at Nalanda, Purnia,

Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur should be developed. The prices of petrol and

diesel should be rationalized to ease the burden of the consumers. A five star hotel

and an international library should be set at Rajgir in Nalanda. I would also

propose to include at least five more cities of Bihar in the Smart City Scheme. A

metro rail is going to be set up in Patna. I would request to extend this train to

Nalanda, Hajipur and Bodhgaya.

DR. KARAN SINGH YADAV: This Government's last budget is nothing

but a bunch of announcements. Increasing the income of farmers by 1.5 times was

promised in the BJP manifesto itself. But it has remained on paper for the last four

years. The farmers' movements and suicides are clear indication that the condition

of farmers has deteriorated during the last four years. There was a hope from the

budget that some kind of loan waiver would be announced but Finance Minister

has disappointed us. This government favours the corporate sector and not the

poor farmers. MSP has been announced but there are no government agencies in

the market to procure the produce of the farmers due to which they resort to

distress sale. In my own Lok Sabha Constituency, Alwar farmers are

compelled to sell their mustard at the rate of Rs.3300-3400 per quintal instead of

its declared MSP of Rs.3700. Until a scheme is brought to fill the gap between the

MSP and the market rate the farmers would not be benefited. Salaried class and

pensioners are utterly disappointed from this budget as the citizens were expecting

change in tax slab and other rebates. So far as the standard deduction of Rs.

40,000 is concerned, it is sham as their transport and medical reimbursements

amounting to Rs.34200 have been taken back. Government has claimed that it is

launching the biggest health schemes in the world and 50 crore people of ten crore

households will be provided health insurance cover of upto Rs.5 lakhs. But it has

not been made clear that as to where from the resources would be mobilized. In

my parliamentary constituency Alwar a hospital and Medical college set up at a

cost of Rs. 800 crore is lying unused since its completion in 2016. I would request

the Labour Minister to take over this medical college and hospital and provide

health facility in it. The previously sanctioned projects in railways are required to

be completed on priority. In order to facilitate the daily commuters to and from the

NCR and also to reduce the pressure of the increased population, rail operation on

a 180 km route from Delhi to Alwar under RRTS was sanctioned but it has been

kept on hold. I would request the Minister of Railway to take up this project at the

earliest. My Lok Sabha Constituency is facing shortage of drinking water for

years. The Ministry of Water Resources had prepared a scheme to bring Chambal

water to Alwar. I would request that this project should be started on priority.

Demonetization and GST have resulted in unprecedented increase in the number of

unemployed . Providing jobs to the youths should be our top priority.

SHRI JANAK RAM: There should be proper arrangement for street light in

Gopalganj Sadar and sub-division. A medical college should be set up in

Gopalganj Sadar. The hospitals of the Gopalganj division should be renovated.

The Thanve Junction in district Gopalganj should be provided rail link to New

Delhi and Howrah and the trains like Bihar Samprak Kranti, Superfast, Vaishali

Express, Gorakhpur-Asansole Express, Lichhavi Express should be given stoppage

at this junction. Technical school should be opened in both sub-divisions of

Gopalganj. The sugar mills located at Hathua and Sidhbalia should be

commissioned.

*SHRIMATI RAKSHATAI KHADSE: Special care has been taken of the

farmers in this budget as India is a agriculture dominated country. Government

has proposed to develop markets at tehsil levels. Government has also guaranteed

to fix 1.5 times of the production cost as MSP for the crop. I would like to request

the Government to promote group pattern agriculture in every tehsil and district.

Government should also undertake some kind of survey of the cultivation pattern

* Original in Marathi.

of crops. It would help the farmers for the selection of the crop. Farmers should

get an alternative to maximize their earnings through fishing and dairying. We

should try to form milk federations in every state by giving subsidy and linking the

farmers. Through a budgetary provision for skill development scheme. We are

trying employment generation. I suggest creation of agriculture related courses

which should be set up at tehsil level. We can construct farm side roads through

MGNREGA scheme which will benefit the farmers. We have been trying to

empower people and making them self reliant and independent. We should not be

dependent on Government and we should try to stand up on our own and our

Government is striving to realize this goal. Ujjwala scheme has extended gas

connections to the poorest of the poor. PMGYS is a very important scheme.

Budget allocations have been increased for this ambitious scheme in this year's

budget. The budget allocation has been made for the scholarship schemes for the

SC,ST and OBC students, so that they can get quality education to make their

career. Udan is also a very good scheme. It is very important for the overall

development of that district.

SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY: I would propose to make a

special endeavour to promote jute industry in India. Jute technology mission

should be given due attention. 2nd

green revolution needs to be revitalized.

Allocation of fund for the Railways has not been adequate given the number

sanctioned projects in West Bengal. All the flagship programmes in West Bengal

suffer from rampant corruption. DISHA Committee meeting is not held. SME

enterprises are suffering due to imposition of GST.

SHRI MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA: The Budget-2018-19

is dedicated to the villages, poor and the farmers. The hon. Finance Minister has

announced to give more than 50 per cent of the cost of production of crops to the

farmers. Credit amount to the farmers has been increased from Rs.10 lakh crore to

Rs.11 lakh crore. The Government has indicated its intention to provide Rs. 5 lakh

for free treatment to 50 crores of people. The TB patients will get Rs.500 every

month for nutritious diet. The Government should overcome the shortage of

doctors in civil hospitals and taluka level. The Government has allocated

Rs.56,619 crores for the development of the adivasi regions and Eklavya Schools

will be established where adivasi population is 50 per cent. The release of water

from gate of Sardar Sarovar project has been stopped due to which Narmada river

in my constituency is on the verge of drying up. The Budget will provide

employment to 70 lakh youths and 8 crore free LPG connection would be given to

poor women. Surat-Muzaffarpur Express 19053/54, Bandra-Jaipur 12979/80,

Bandra Jhansi Express 11103/11104, Indore-Pune Express 22944/22945,

Suryanagari Express 12479/80 trains be given stoppage at Bharuch railway station.

There is no local train between 10 in the morning to 05:30 in the evening from

Bharuch to Vadodara. Hence, a new passenger train be introduced during this

period. From mid-night to 6 in the morning no train stops at Karzan Railway

Station. One or two train services be provided during this period. Stoppage should

be provided for Ajmer Express train service 12989/90 at Palej. With this, I support

the Budget.

SHRI E.T. MOHAMMAD BASHEER: Government has no vision or

preparedness for addressing the adverse impact of GST and demonetization.

Economic Survey says that at the end of four years, there is a failure in three

sectors - employment, education and infrastructure. Agrarian crisis is also

mounting in a big way. According to the CEO, CMIE an assured 50 per cent

return on cost of production does not help agriculture. I would like to appeal to

you once again to ensure justice to the minorities.

SHRI MD. BADARUDDOZA KHAN: Hon'ble Finance Minister has

announced some attractive schemes specially in case of agriculture and health,

keeping in mind the forthcoming Lok Sabha Election. Throughout the country our

farmers are very much distressed. The Finance Minister has declared that 150% of

production cost will be given as MSP from the next kharif crops. But it is not clear

how this MSP will be settled. The Finance Minister has not mentioned anything

about the agricultural loan waiver. Another great declaration is health insurance

for fifty crore people of 10 crore families. But sorry to say that allotment in this

sector is only Rs. 2000 crore. Lakhs of people have lost their job due to the effect

of demonitisation. In this Budget also, there is no proposal of increase in direct

tax. Corporate tax has been decrease from 30% to 25%. The salaried persons have

got no relief from tax burden. Already they are affected due to reduction in

interest rate.

SHRI J.J.T. NATTERJEE: The Government's infrastructure development

projects and social welfare schemes can generate at least 50 lakh jobs every year.

About one lakh more workforce is estimated to be added in police departments.

About 30 lakh jobs are expected to be created under Pradhan Mantri Rojgar

Protsahan Yojana. In my Thoothukudi Constituency, salt producers are seeing a

decline in the market and industry workers I making no headway in getting better

life this year. The people of Tamil Nadu are sad because the Union Government

had failed in its responsibility to constitute the Cauvery management Board as per

the orders of the Supreme Court. I urge upon the Union Government to allocate

the requested funds for the implementation of Grand Anicut project. Linking of

the Rivers Cauvery-Vagai-Gundar needs to be approved and supported by the

Government. I request the hon. Finance Minister to release Rs.3000 crore for the

development of fisheries in Tamil Nadu. The proposed 2x660 MW coal-based

supercritical thermal power project will improve the power infrastructure in Tamil

Nadu. The Thoothukudi airport needs to be expanded. The East Cost Railway line

from Karaikudi, in Sivaganga District, to Kanyakumari via Tuticorin, Tiruchendur

and Kudankulam is a long pending demand of the people of Southern Tamil Nadu.

There is an urgent need to start a Kendriya Vidyalaya School in my Thoothukudi

constituency. Budget 2018 is short will not fulfil the hopes and expectations of

middle class majority in this country.

SHRI B. VINOD KUMAR: We support the Union Government's budget. I

would like to highlight some concerns regarding budgetary allocations made

towards the state of Telangana. The hon'ble Finance Minister proposed that

farmers will be given 1.5 times their cost of production but no basis indicated for

calculation of cost. The Hon'ble Finance Minister proposed National Health

Protection Scheme to cover 10 crores poor families raising the coverage up to Rs. 5

lakh per family per year. However, present coverage of Rs.30,000 under the

Rashtriya Swaasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) is also not being done properly. The

provision made in the Budget is only Rs.2000 crores. One Government Medical

College should be allocated for the state of Telangana. LTCG could have been

imposed only on corporates. The Government has failed to provide an impetus for

job creation and key investment in labour-intensive industries. There is no

increase in the allocation under MGNREGA. There is reduction in the allocation

under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Swatchh Bharat Mission, National

Health Mission and National Rural Water Drinking Mission for Telangana. The

Union Finance Minister has indicated in his post-budget meet on February 2 that

the States are flush with funds. There is far from the truth. There are also no

provisions for an AIIMS institution and other projects such as Railway Coach

Factory at Kazipet, as envisaged in the Reorganisation Act. There is a provision of

Rs.10 crore each in the Budget, for the establishment of Tribal Universities in the

State of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. This meager amount will not suffice.

With a growing dairy sector in Telangana, the need for funds for infrastructure

development is high. Considering Telangana is a new State with many ambitious

programmes launched across all sectors, sufficient funding is key to their effective

implementation.

SHRI RAJESH RANJAN: Hon. Prime Minister has talked about the

farmers on a very serious note. Loans of big farmers are waived off but the loans

of ordinary farmers are never waived off. There is a spurt in the suicides by the

farmers. The condition of farmers has been deteriorating and the demonstration by

the farmers of Tamil Nadu at the Jantar Mantar is the live example of it. We never

talk about giving industrial status to the farming and ensuring minimum prices of

the crops. Amul milk factory has been shut down in Madhepura alongwith the

closure of 22 sugar mills. Jute mill has also closed and there is no sugar mill in

that area. I strongly believe that representatives of Panchayat should be given

some basic salary. The Medical Council of India should be scrapped.

SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE: This Budget intends to fulfill the promise of a

clean, honest and transparent Government. This Budget endeavours to lessen

poverty, give impetus to the creation of basic infrastructure and build a new India

full of zeal and vigour. Providing 50 per cent more than the input cost i.e. one and

half times more Minimum Support Price to the farmers is a huge achievement.

This decision will directly benefit about 86 per cent of small and marginal farmers.

The Operation Greens programme will benefit both the consumers and the farmers.

Bringing about eight crore women under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana is a

concrete step. The healthcare insurance scheme to cover 10 crore families of the

poor section is going to be a unique scheme in the country. This is good to see that

the rail projects are being implemented in a time bound manner after the

amalgamation of the Rail Budget with the Union Budget.

SHRI PRASANNA KUMAR PATASANI: Union Budget 2018-19 is

Attacks on People's Livelihood. The budget does not seek to mobilize revenues by

increasing direct taxes applicable to the rich. On the contrary, governmental

expenditures increasingly rely on indirect taxes which are a burden on the common

people. The health care scheme is a mere repackaging of the existing one and no

additional allocations have been budgeted. Allocation as a percentage of GDP in

various sectors has fallen. The allocation for food subsidy and procurement of

crops is grossly inadequate. There is no mention of a loan waiver for the farmers.

The middle classes have seen no direct benefit, the employees see a reduction in

the earnings on their savings. In sum, this budget is a typical propaganda

packaging exercise. I pray to sanction Budget for Metro work in Bhubaneswar. In

my Constituency, Khorda-Balangir Railway line needs more budget to implement

the project. One direct train (Railway line) from Bhubanewsar to Konark may be

initiated to attract more foreign tourists in Odisha. Necessary fund may be

allocated to the regional language. We demanded Rs.200 crore to preserve the

heritage of 'PAIKA', but it has not been done yet.

DR. BANSHILAL MAHATO: This Budget aims to take care of the

ordinary people of the country. The Minimum Support Price of the rabi and kharif

crops has been increased to one and half times of the input agriculture cost. The

tax rate of the traders with 250 crore turn over has been reduced from 30 per cent

to 25 per cent. This will surely bolster our industries. The launch of National

Bamboo Mission will benefit the people at large. The credit capital to provide

loans to the Women Self Help Groups has been increased to Rs.75,000 crore. This

will strengthen Women Empowerment. A sum of Rs.6,000 will be deposited in the

accounts of each pregnant woman. Ten crore poor section families will be given

the health cover of Rs.5 lakh each. There is a proposal to open 24 new medical

colleges in the country. As many as 1.26 crore accounts have been opened under

the Sukanya Samridhi Yojana. Chhattisgarh is the only state in the country where

entire agri production of the farmers is purchased on the Minimum Support Price

and thereby farmers are immensely benefited. Chhattisgarh Government is also

the first Government in the country which provides interest-free loans to the

farmers. The Government has implemented several schemes in my parliamentary

Constituency Korba under the Bharatmala project. Setting up of a medical college

among the three parliamentary Constituencies is also a good scheme.

SHRI RAM KUMAR SHARMA: This Budget has raised hopes and

aspiration of the rural people after a long time that they can also lead a good and

dignified life. There is a proposal in this Budget to convert small village haats and

bazars into mandis to ensure remunerative price of the agricultural produce to the

small and marginal farmers. About 22000 such village markets have been

identified for this purpose in all the states. The scheme to ensure one and half

times more prices than the input agri cost to the farmers is going to benefit the

farmers. Job oriented higher education alone can create employment opportunity

for the youth. Allocation of one lakh rupees in next four years to strengthen the

higher education infrastructure is a welcome step. The Government has also taken

several steps to strengthen women empowerment. The Government is also taking

several steps to promote MSMEs and sufficient allocation has been provided in the

budget for this purpose. Setting up of skill development centers in each district is a

right step to enhance employability of our youths. I would like to invite the

attention of the Government to my parliamentary Constituency and request to set

up a new medical college in my Constituency out of the 19 new medical colleges

proposed to be set up in the country.

SHRI MOHANBHAI KALYANJIBHAI KUNDARIYA: All the sections

of the society such as farmers, the poor and the young entrepreneurs have been

take care of and provisions have also been made for the development of other

sectors in this budget. The people of Gujarat and Saurashtra have been demanding

that AIIMS hospital should be set up in Gujarat so that the people of Saurashtra

can be benefited. The Government is committed to double the income of farmers

by 2022. The agriculture markets of the country are being made online so that

farmers may get remunerative prices for their produce. The work on 99 irrigation

projects pending for decades also being expedited. An ambitious scheme has been

rolled out with the Dairy Processing and Infrastructure Development Fund of

Rs.11000 crore. Security cover has been provided to 5.75 crore farmers for their

rabi and kharif crops under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in 2017.

SHRI ARKA KESHARI DEO: The Union Budget 2018-19 is in my

opinion a 'Balanced Budget' in which the Finance Minister has given more

weightage to the rural economy for its development. There are many ancient

temples and natural habitat and waterfalls in my district which would attract a large

number of tourists if a 'Tourist Circuit' may be developed at par with other tourist

destinations in the country. As far as health sector is concerned, I suggest the

Government to open 'Satellite Health Service at Bhawanipatna' for the patients of

my districts when experts' opinion is needed by doctors for critical operation. For

all round development of my district i.e. Kalahandi, a special financial package

may be given to develop the infrastructure, hospitals, roads, buildings, colleges,

bridges, cold storage and godowns and expansion of railway lines and widening of

Highways, opening of nursing college and reviving of M/s Konark Ginning and

Spinning Cotton Mills at Kesinga may be taken up during the current financial

year.

SHRI Y. V. SUBBA REDDY: I congratulate the Government for

presenting predominantly a people centric budget focused on the agrarian and the

rural economy and even the sector like healthcare, agriculture, MSMEs, education

and skill have been given priority. But the Union Budget 2018 has poured water

on the assurances given to the Andhra Pradesh in the Reorganization Act by

showing empty hands to the people of the State. There has been no mention on

Polavaram Project and its finances. Backward Rayalaseema was to get about Rs.

1,200 crore from the centre which was not addressed till now. There was no

commitment on special status to AP. Even there was neither mention of setting up

of separate Visakhapatnam Railway Zone as agreed by the central Government

earlier nor any mention of allocation of funds to pending Railway projects like

construction of Rail over Bridges in various districts of the state. The demand of

setting up of Dugarajapatnam Port has also not been touched upon by the central

Government in its budget. Hence, I would urge upon the Government to fulfill the

aspiration of the people of Andhra Pradesh by implementing the assurances made

in the AP Reorganization Act.

SHRI KESINENI SRINIVAS: Our Hon'ble Finance Minister has willfully

ignored Andhra Pradesh in this Budget. I regret to see that we have come to a

point where an entire state has to resort to dharna, not to demand something new,

but to simply obtain what it was promised by the Parliament in the Andhra Pradesh

State Reorganization Act, 2014. In the said Act, 19 promises such as special

category status, bridging the resource gap, Plavaram project, establishment of a

Railway zone, financial assistance for Amaravati, Greenfield Crude refinery and

petrochemical complex etc were made but the Government failed to deliver on

these promises. This was the last complete budget by the Government and it too

like the previous ones failed to deliver. Not even our single demand finds a

mention in the budget.

SHRI K. ASHOK KUMAR: Tamil Nadu has been providing free supply of

20 kilogrammes of rice per month through the Public Distribution System to about

1.83 crore families in the State. Hence, I urge upon the Government to provide the

same level of supply food grains like Rice and Wheat, Sugar and Kerosene to

Tamil Nadu without reducing the Quantity and Subsidy. The Union Government

should support this good initiative. I urge the Union Government to provide a

special Package for developemnt of Pharma Park in Hosur. This will provide

revenue and job opportunities. I would also urge the Government to take steps to

Start Airport in Hosur soon. Another long pending Railway demand of the people

of Krishnagiri Parliamentary Constituency is the establishing a Railway link

between Jolarpettai and Krishnagiri. The work on National Highway 77 between

Krishnagiri and Tinidvanam is pending for a long time. This is very important

road connectivity and therefore need to be provided with adequate funds and

expedited.

DR. THOKCHOM MEINYA: While the Government of India is repealing

a number of obsolete laws, I would like to request the Union Government to repeal

the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958, because this is draconian

law. I also request the Government for the development of infrastructures for

Sports, Culture and Tourism in my state. Classical language status for Manipuri

language should be granted. More all-weather National Highways (NHs) - NH-2

& NH-37 should be given top priority. I also request early completion of National

Project - Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal Rail lines and dedicated in-built security

arrangement for all National projects in the Northeast and also make Imphal

International Airport fully functional at International norms.

SHRI BHOLA SINGH: This Budget will give a fillip to the development

of the country. A number of steps are proposed in the Budget to augment the

income of the farmers. Launching a revamped National Bamboo Mission with a

fund of Rs. 1290 crore with a view to promoting the bamboo sector is a welcome

step of the Government in the interest of the farmers. There is a commendable step

to provide free electricity connection to four crore poor families. The poor

families have got the benefits through the schemes of Pradhan Mantri Jivan

Suraksha Bima Yojana with just Rs. 12 and Pradhan Mantri Jivan Jyoti Bima with

just Rs. 330. It is my request that train as well as metro facility may be made

available to commute from Bulandshahr to Delhi.

SHRI SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH: The Government has taken many

praiseworthy steps for the development of the country, particularly for the welfare

of the poor and the common man in the Budget for 2018-19. Shortcomings in the

land records all over the country should be removed because crores of cases are

pending in the courts for years due to this problem. The amount of labour and

money which could be invested for the development of the country is lost in the

courts unnecessarily. Thousands of people in my parliamentary Constituency of

Aurangabad, Bihar remain deprived of the benefits of various public welfare

schemes as their names are not entered in the BPL list and the socio-economic-

caste census (SECC) list. I would request that the names of such people should be

added to the list on the recommendation of elected public representatives as a

temporary arrangement. The production cost, on which the farmers are provided

1.5 times MSP, is shown very less in the official figures while the actual

production cost of the farmers is much higher. Therefore, remunerative prices

should be paid to the farmers instead of MSP. A number of public welfare

schemes are not becoming popular among the majority of the people due to lack of

awareness in the country. These schemes should be publicized through ASHA,

Sahayika, Vikas Mitra etc. alongwith banks and insurance companies to achieve

100 per cent implementation. Accountability and transparency should be ensured

through regular monitoring of these schemes.

SHRI UDAY PRATAP SINGH: After a very long time, a budget helpful to

villages, poor and farmers has been presented. The most important point is that an

amount of Rs14 lakh crores have been allocated for the villages and the farm

sector, which proves that the government has focused it towards the farmers and

villages. More than 3 lakh km of road and more than 2 crore toilets are proposed

to be constructed which is directly going to benefit the downtrodden and the poor

people. Our government's target is to construct 50 lakh houses to provide a

permanent shelter to all the poor people by 2022, which is a big decision. Our

Government has provided for a tax rebate for five years to the FPO in the

agriculture sector. Ten crore poor people would get the benefit of the health

insurance scheme under the Aayushman Yojana. My request is that the hospitals

to be earmarked should be on the basis of the region and the states. Our

Government has provided for a medical college in every third parliamentary

constituency, which is a revolutionary decision. My constituency lies between

Jabalpur and Bhopal, which has no medical college. There is no medical college

within the radius of 300 kms. Hence, a medical college may be set up either in the

Narshingpur or Hoshangabad district. Providing digital board instead of black

board is a big step in the field of education. Rs. 63,836 crores have been allocated

for agriculture sector which proves that our government intends to help the farmers

but the APMC Act need to be reviewed. The Government has also taken a major

decision to provide 1.5 times of the cost as MSP as the current MSP is not

sufficient. In the field of sugarcane farming, there is a provision to set up a sugar

factory in the vicinity of 10 km which should be reduced to 5 km. The

Government has tried to reach up to the senior citizens, the widows, the orphans

and the deprived sections of the society. A provision of Rs. 10 thousand crore has

been made under the National Social Assistance Programme in this Budget. I

request that the old age pension should at least be Rs. 500 as Rs.300 is a very

paltry sum which does not help these poor people . The minimum honorarium to

the Anganwadi workers needs to be enhanced. The Narsingpur-Honsangabad NH

has been announced and I hope that some amount would soon be allocated for this

purpose. The roads are proposed to be interconnected with the institutions of

higher education and hospitals, which is a welcome step. So far as railway is

concerned, I suggest that wherever a train runs empty the tariff should be reduced

and people should be encouraged to use it. The stoppage policy in the Railway has

to be evaluated in respective zones with the help of people's representatives.

SHRI RABINDRA KUMAR JENA: All the States, including my State of

Odisha are going to be poorer together by Rs. 12,000 crore. The Government has

cut the Excise Duty on petrol and diesel by Rs. 2 per litre but has increased the

road cess. This has deprived the States of their right to have 42 per cent of

divisible pool of that Rs. 2. I would urge upon the hon. Finance Minister to

rollback this particular scheme. The Government of Odisha has evolved a

mechanism to increase the farmers' income by 104 per cent, whereas the

corresponding figure in the entire country is just 34 per cent. The Union

Government intends to increase farmers' income by 2022 by 100 per cent. It is a

good thing that they have learnt it from Odisha and they want to implement it

throughout the country. The Government has come up with the world's largest

public funded health scheme by providing a policy of Rs. 5 lakh per family per

year to cover 10 crore families. But there is no budgetary provision. It will require

nothing less than Rs. 60,000 crore to Rs. 1,00,000 crore. Health Sector has seen a

meagre increase of 2.5 per cent. I will urge upon the hon. Minister to take care of

ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and the National Health Mission workers. I

would urge upon the Government to set up all India Institute of Medical Sciences

in my Balasore Constituency which was approved five years back and the State

Government has already given land and other facilities.

SHRI LAKHAN LAL SAHU: This Budget stands for fulfilling the

resolution of a 'New India' for the country. Rice is the main crop of Chhattisgarh.

The State Government procures every single grain of paddy. Our Government has

given bonus to 13 lakh farmers at the rate of Rs.300 per quintal. 'Skill India' is a

flagship programme of the Central Government. Our State Government has made

efforts to promote youth through Livelihood College in each district in

Chhattisgarh. The people of Chhattisgarh desire that Chhattisgarhi should be

granted the status of official language. I demand to convert the airport situated in

the capital Raipur into an international airport. Railway Tribunal and a medical

college should be set up in Bilaspur. There is an urgent need to set up a Kendriya

Vidyalaya in district Mungeli in my Constituency.

DR. MAMTAZ SANGHAMITA: GDP growth rate is coming down year

by year with some wrong laws and policies. The Central Government is

weakening PSUs including Air India. Demonetisation has ruined small scale

business. Wrong policies on export import have also disrupted income from

exports. This budget is very meagre in case of major public services like health

and education. How can this budget fulfill the aim of free healthcare, new medical

colleges etc.? For employment generation, there are several programs like skill

development etc., but budget allocations for these are minimum or static. Foreign

investment is hampered and people are afraid in making business transaction in

India. For this reason leather industry and allied business is decreasing. Bengal

was No. 1 or 2 in leather business and this is coming down and creating further

unemployment. For village employment, there is no increased allocation for

MGNREGA. Bengal is totally deprived in this year's budget. This budget is more

for the corporates and big businessmen not for common man.

SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN: I would like to know from the hon.

Finance Minister whether the Budget proposals for the year 2018-19 are sufficient

to address the concerns expressed in the Economic Survey of 2018. Agricultural

production is coming down and it is in a declining trend. The Economic Survey

says that 20 to 25 per cent of farm income loss will be there because of climate

change. There is nothing to address the issue of climate change. Coming to

unemployment, it is increasing from 4.9 per cent to 5 per cent. There is only PF

contribution exemption. Another one is Mudra loans. There is nothing else other

than these two to address unemployment. My third point is about the crude oil

price. In the current financial year, there is a 14 per cent increase in the global

price of crude oil. That will be directly leading to inflation. Coming to education,

the quality of education has to be addressed. There is a marginal increase of 6.68

per cent in the budget. The Government has miserably failed in maintaining the

fiscal consolidation as envisaged in the Budget Estimates. Regarding the GDP, the

nature of development is jobless growth in all the four years of NDA Government.

Eight rupees has been imposed as the cess and an Excise Duty of rupees two has

been removed. There is no impact on the consumer. The impact is on the States.

My State is going to lose Rs. 252 crore. Lastly, regarding the cashew industry in

Kerala, 2.5 per cent was the customs duty on import of raw cashew nut. I urge

upon the Government to withdraw it. In my constituency, some medium

industrialists have committed suicide because the industry is facing crisis.

DR. KIRIT P. SOLANKI: I would like to thank the Finance Minister, Shri

Arun Jaitley ji, for this farmer-friendly, common-citizen friendly and business

environment-friendly Budget for the financial year 2018-19. This Government's

sound understanding of the needs of the Indian economy. With the introduction of

the Goods and Services Tax(GST), it has been seen that there has been a 50 per

cent increase in unique indirect taxpayers under the GST compared with the pre-

GST system. It has been acknowledged that only a Swasthya Bharat can lead to

the fulfillment of India's economic and social objectives. In realization of this fact,

the government has created the world's largest public health programme that is

expected to cover 40% of India's population. As a part of this, the allocation for

the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana has been increased by 325%. It is

understood that an improvement in the health sector must be linked to proper

sanitation and infrastructure development. To achieve this, the Government has

indentified 115 districts for improvement of quality of life as well as announced

the setting up of 1.5 lakh Health and Wellness Centres. Government's budget

allocation for the agriculture ministry has been increased by 13 per cent. Across

all agricultural schemes and programs, the government has increased allocations.

To achieve the objective of doubling farmers' income by 2022, the Government has

ensured a 1.5 times increase in the Minimum Support Price of Kharif crops. A Rs.

500 crore 'Operation Green' has been announced to address price volatility of

perishable commodities like potato, tomato and onion and benefit both producers

and consumers. The government has announced that Rs. 14.3 lakh crore will be

spent on livelihood and infrastructure in rural areas. This Government has

increased the budgetary allocation for the welfare of women by 4%, the welfare of

children by 10.1%, the welfare of scheduled castes by 7.4% and the welfare of

scheduled tribes by 20.4%.

SHRIMATI RITI PATHAK: I congratulate the Minister of Finance for

this Budget. This Budget will strengthen the foundation of New India. Focus has

been given to Agriculture and infrastructure of this country. This Budget is farmer

friendly, common man friendly, business environment friendly and development

friendly also. Focus has also been given to Ease of doing business and Ease of

living. Record allocation has been made for the villages and agricultural sector

which is about Rs. 14.5 lakh crores. "Operation Green" would be very effective

for farmers. Now village markets, higher education centres and hospitals will be

connected under Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana. Aayushman Bharat

Yojana will proved to be a boon for poor and middle class people in regard to

treatment during illness. It would be easy for youth to get admission in 24 Medical

colleges to be established in all over the country.

SHRI RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY: The Budget 2018-19 is the best

and quite different from other Governments. This Budget has presented a layout of

Ease of doing business and Ease of living with the help of last four years golden

financial journey. It is really a milestone by coverage of 8 crore families under

"Ujjwala Yojana" and by extending Health Insurance Scheme of Rs. 5 lakh to 10

crore families under Aayushman Bharat. This Budget has enthused a new energy

amongst the farmers by raising the MSP. Minister of Finance has given a new

high to the capital expenditure in sector of infrastructure. Long term Capital Gain

Tax has been raised upto 10 per cent.

SHRI DADDAN MISHRA: This Budget is the one which will strengthen

India and accelerate the development of the country. This Budget will fulfil the

aspirations of each class of the country. Villages, the poor and the farmers have

been the focal points of this Budget. The farmers are having fertile lands but due

to lack of knowledge about the soil of their land, they use fertilizers recklessly. As

such, the fertility of lands has been declining and production has been coming

down gradually. Therefore, the government has introduced an ambitious Soil

Health Card Scheme under which it has been provided that the soil health of every

land will be enquired into and soil health card will be made available to every

farmer. There are many areas in my Parliamentary constituency, where the

farmers are compelled to carry out cultivation, leaving everything on God's grace

despite having fertile lands. This Government has targeted to ensure water for

every land. I would like to express my gratitude to the Government for bringing

the Sarayu Canal Project under the Central Project with a target to carry out work

thereon expeditiously. The Government has decided to evolve 22 thousand rural

haats into rural agricultural markets. I think that the farmers will be relieved from

exploitation through this Scheme and the influence of intermediaries will end.

SHRI TARIQ ANWAR: This Budget is quite disappointing. The farmers

were hopeful that this government would relieve them from the burden of loans.

However, efforts have been made once again to give false assurance to the

farmers. No concrete measures has been mentioned in this Budget to ensure

employment to the unemployed youth. Lakhs of unemployed youth have become

all the more victims of unemployment due to demonetization. A large number of

small and medium industries have closed down. If the Government has in fact

sympathy with the women of the country, it should get the pending Bill for

reservation in Lok Sabha and State legislative assemblies passed in the Lok Sabha.

Communal and social harmony has been becoming a large challenge in the country

as of now. I would like to urge upon the government to get the RBHM jute mills,

Katihar restarted and to give required directions for ensuring the payment of the

outstanding dues of its workers. There is an urgent need to carry out renovation

and modernization of the Barsoi Railway Station. This work may be included in

the Railway Budget 2016-17 on a top priority basis. The construction work of

about 57 km long railway line from Kursela to Bihariganj may be started urgently.

A railway construction factory near Gaushala in Katihar city may be set up.

Doubling of railway line between Katihar-Kumedpur and Katihar-Mukuria may be

carried out. The 15227/15228 Muzaffarpur-Yashwantpur Express train may be run

thrice a week. DMU trains may be introduced from Katihar to Radhikapur via

Kumedpur and Katihar to New Jalpaigudi via Sonauli. 15483/15484 Mahananda

Express train be given stoppage at Pranpur Road and at Khurial Station. Stoppage

of 15609/15610 Awadh-Assam Express train may be given at Sudhani and Telta

Stations. Special Train No. 08631/08632 from Katihar to Ranchi may be run on

regular basis and it should be made to run thrice in a week. 15001/15002

Muzaffarpur-Dehradun Rapti Sagar Express train may be run from/upto Katihar.

15203/15204 Barauni-Lucknow and 12553/12554 Vaishali Express Train and

12551/12552 Barauni-Ernakulam Express Train may be run from/upto Katihar as

before. 12753/12754 New Jalpaigudi-Chennai Express Train may be run via

Katihar. 15712/15713 Katihar-Howrah Express train may be run daily. Train No.

15611/15612 Kamakhya-Mumbai Karmbhoomi Express be given stoppage at

Barsoi station. Stoppage of the train No. 15715/15716 (Garib Nawaz Express) be

given at Akbarpur which is the nearby station of Kachhauchha Sharif - A famous

pilgrimage of the minority community of Seemanchal. The Malda-Surat Express

13425/13426 and Malda-Digha Express 13417/13418 be run from/upto Katihar.

SHRI BHAGWANT MANN: Manifesto of every political party should be

recorded document. These documents should be monitored by the Election

Commission. Nothing has been mentioned in the budget about Chit Fund

Companies. Chit Fund companies are fleecing people in the country. A company

called Pearl collected crores of rupees from people in Punjab and vanished.

Nothing has been mentioned about the farmers in the budget. We were hopeful that

Punjab would get something, because it contributes maximum cereals in the

Central Pool. If 16 kilometer long stretch of railway line from Saneta to Rajpura is

constructed, then link from Ganganagar to Malwa railway link would get

connected with Chandigarh. Chandigarh and Amritsar airports should be made full

fledged international airports.

DR. YASHWANT SINGH: The present Government is following the path

of Antyodaya as suggested by Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay ji. The present budget as

well as all the schemes of the Government are poor centric. The Government has

allocated 9975 crore rupees under National Social Assistance Programme. The new

National Health Security Scheme will provide annual coverage of Rs. 5 lakh to10

crore families for treatment in secondary and tertiary hospitals. The monthly

assistance of Rs. 500 for nutritional support along with treatment is a big step. The

announcement by the Prime Minister to double the income of farmers by the year

2022 is big goal. The existing 22000 Gramin Hatts are to be developed into Rural

Agriculture Market and for this a provision of Rs. 2000 crore has been made. The

institutional loan amount for agriculture sector has been increased from Rs.10 lakh

crore to Rs.11 lakh crore. The present budget shows that the Government is

concerned about the livelihood and health of the poor, and education of their

children.

SHRI V. ELUMALAI: I express my hearty gratitude and indebtedness to

our beloved immortal Leader Puratchi Thalaivi AMMA. Tamil Nadu is one of the

most productive states in the country to utilize properly the rural employment

scheme. Tamil Nadu needs more financial support for this programme. The skill

training is successful in Tamil Nadu. Youth Power is the future poewr of the nation

and is our greatest strength. The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana to train one

crore youth is commendable. This need generous funding and institutional support

to generate employment opportunities for the educated youth of this country. The

Government aim to create an education, healthy and clean India. Our beloved

leader Puratchi Talaivi AMMA has focused exclusively for the development of

Education in the State and has been taking far sighted initiatives for the welfare of

students in state. Union Government to should replicate all over India, the schemes

implemented in Tamil Nadu. Puratchi Thalaivi AMMA has been a forerunner for

the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme, Sukanya Samridhi Yojana. The Pradhan

Mantri Surakshit Matritav Abhiyan. AMMA had ordered for pregnant women can

avail 9 months maternity leave with salary. I urge the Government to provide

substantial amount for the speedy completion of the new railway line between

Tindivanam-nagari, Tindivanam-Tiruvannamalai railway project. In NH-77

between Tindivanam to Krishnagiri via Tiruvannamalai, Tiruvannamalai-

Tindivanam section is in very bad condition. AMMA fought in and out of retrieve

Katchatheevu islands back. Government should take appropriate steps to get back

Katchatheevu island. Government should pay more attention to improve the airport

infrastructure in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu requires more financial support from

Government for the software exports project sector. There is not much substantial

for the productive States like Tamil Nadu or Maharashtra and will not fulfill the

hopes and expectations of Middle class.

SHRI AJAY MISRA TENI: This Government belongs to poor. We have

continuously worked for welfare of poor, empowerment of women, to increase the

income of farmers, to make available roads, schools, hospitals, electricity, water

etc. to provide employment to people, to provide money in the hands of people, to

preserve dignity and safety and our party has started working keeping in mind all

as we mentioned objectives. Our objective would not be fulfilled unless we provide

all the facilities like food, clothes, shelter, school and hospitals to the poorest of the

poor. The things have improved during last four years. Many schemes have been

included in the budget for the welfare of poor. Provisions have been included in

the budget for empowerment of women, to provide at 1.5 time price over and about

the cost of crop to farmers. Government has initiated big ticket reforms during last

four years, may it be GST, demonetization, finance bill 2017, bankruptcy code or

strengthening the banks by reducing NPS. We have kept the interest of poor at

priority. In my constituency, Lakhimpur Kheri work worth rupees several thousand

crores have been done during last three and half years. We have taken pledge to

build a new India.

SHRI RAKESH SINGH: We took the pledge for shaping new India under

the able-leadership of Prime Minister and the present Budget is a flying leap in this

direction. The announcement of ambitious schemes like Ayushman Bhav,

JanDhan, and Saubhagaya etc is a revolutionary step. The effectiveness of

demoentization can be judged by the fact that nearly three lakh dubious companies

were identified and the registration of 2 lakhs and 1000 thousands out of these

identified companies has already been cancelled. The subscribers who monthly pay

in Employees Provident Fund Organisation have increased upto 4 crore and 80

lakhs. The process of Aadhar card enrollment was accelerated and nearly 130 crore

people have got Aadhar. It helps the government to control the rampant

corruption. The government through the Aadhar has successfully identified fake

ration cards, fake LPG connections and ghost teachers. The government has saved

millions of rupees by eliminating this corruption. The government, in this budget,

has resolved to take benefits of the available financial and natural resources to the

last person of the society. Aadhar system seems proving to be a milestone in this

direction. Honourable Prime Minister is himself monitoring the major schemes

having important role in the development of the country thorough PRAGATI. The

government is laying special focus on the development of rural India and it is

evident from the fact that 76 thousand Panchayats were connected through optical

fiber during the tenure of this government. The government is committed to

connect all the villages with optical fiber by the year 2022- the year when country

is going to complete 75 years of independence. The government has successfully

mobilise financial resources with the implementation of demonetization and strict

anti-corruption moves. The number of taxpayers in the country has increased up to

6.3 crores from 3.7 crores in the preceding years..The common man as well as

many experts have began to accept that fundamentals of the Indian economy are

strong.

DR. KULMANI SAMAL: The Government though in late has realized the

pain and anguish of farmers all over the country. That's why the minimum support

price of all crops has been increased to atleast 1.5 times. But how far it would be

implemented the time will tell that. It is good to see increasing allocation of funds

for various schemes meant for welfare of farmers but real intention could be

fulfilled by way of implementation of such declared schemes. My suggestion is if

the government wants with heart to help the farmers, it should create the

infrastructure, reduce the role of middlemen and procure the produce directly from

them ensuring their economic development. Secondly, I would like to emphasise

upon the unrealistic health scheme of the Government as it has announced in the

Budget. It sounds musical to ears because there is no fund allocation mentioned in

the budget to support this huge plan. My request to the Government is to kindly

increase allocation of funds in respect of Railways in Odisha. I request the

Government to allot for setting up of one Medical College and Hospital in South

Western part of Odisha. Paradip is a major port city. Hence, it is pertinent to

consider for setting up of a Super Specialty Hospital in Paradip at par with the

level of its reputation as a major port city.

** ** ** **

SNEHLATA SHRIVASTAVA

Secretary General

**Second Supplement covering rest of the proceedings is being issued separately.

© 2018 BY LOK SABHA SECRETARIAT

NOTE: It is the verbatim Debates of the Lok Sabha and not the Synopsis that

should be considered authoritative.

English and Hindi versions of Synopsis of Debates are also available at

http://loksabha.nic.in.