Parliament proceedings live | Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, approved by Lok Sabha

The Lok Sabha will take up The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2021 and The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021 today.

On Thursday, The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha undertook discussion on various issues, including queries around roads and infrastructure, the new vehicle scrappage policy, and the Modi govt’s record in dealing with dissent. The Rajya Sabha passed the Insurance Amendment Bill 2021 that increases the maximum foreign investment allowed in an insurance company from 49% to 74%, amid criticism from the Opposition parties on the clause enabling “control and ownership” by foreign investors.

The first part of the Budget Session of Parliament, which commenced with the address of President Ram Nath Kovind on January 29, concluded on February 29. The second part of the Budget Session began March 7.

Here are the latest updates:

Lok Sabha | 12.15 pm

Mines and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill, 2021 moved

Pralhad Joshi moves the Mines and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

Mr. Joshi says India has the potential like South Africa and Australia, “but we are considerably lower.”

Mining sector is one of the biggest employment generators, he says. “This sector is under explored.”

Lok Sabha | 12.10 pm

Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 approved by Lok Sabha

Papers being laid on the floor of House.

Consideration of Rajya Sabha amendments to Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 taken up.

The Bill, as amended by the Rajya Sabha, is approved by the Lok Sabha.

Rajya Sabha | 12.05 pm

Question Hour begins in the Rajya Sabha.

Mallikarjun Kharge of the Congress says there was a proposal to merge three divisions of Gulbarga in Karnataka.

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, responding to Mr. Kharge, says, “Railway Board studies the proposals. Practical viewpoint is to be taken. We will discusss in detail with Leader of Opposition Kharge ji.”

Lok Sabha | 12 pm

Congress MP Ravneet Bittu asks if COVID-19 vaccines affect the DNA of our future generations and says there are a lot of apprehensions.

Dr. Vardhan talks about vaccine-preventable diseaes and how many viruses have been eliminated.

“When a vaccine is given the final go ahead, a lot of trials are done and data is analysed not just in the country but also at the level of the WHO. 0.000432% of side effects are seen for COVID-19 vaccine. The data needs to be believed. I want to tell the citizens, don’t have any apprehensions,” says the Health Minister.

Supriya Sule asks by when the government will allow universal vaccination.

The Minister responds that every vaccine doesn’t require universalisation. “The National Expert Group for Vaccination Administration decides, on scientific basis, whether it is necessary that each and every person should be given the vaccine.”

Rajya Sabha | 12 pm

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on an issue raised by Vivek Tankha of Congress earlier, says, “he raised an important issue regarding spinal muscular atrophy diseases suffered by children. He said there was only one medicine, which is imported and the tax component on it is Rs. 7 crore. It is not correct, all drugs imported for personal use are exempted from customs duty. Therefore, it is entitled to concession. They attact 5% GST, which in this case is Rs. 80 lakh. The GST council has granted powers to the Finance Minister to grant exemption on an ad-hoc basis. These suggestions are then placed in front of the council.”

Akhilesh Prasad Singh of Congress says the price of LPG cylinders has increased by Rs. 225 in past three months. “Gas subsidy has also not been received by people.”

Lok Sabha | 11.45 am

Ashok M. Nete, BJP MP, asks about health services in remote and tribal areas like Gadchiroli.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan replies with details of the steps taken to strengthen health infrastructure including medical colleges in aspirational districts. He informs the House that the Centre assists State governments to strengthen health infrastructure.

He says MPs should evaluate the shortcomings in primary health services under their constituencies and if there are shortcomings, they can ask for strengthening them by sending a proposal to the Centre through State governments.

Mr. Nete asks if there are plans to set up a medical college in Gadchiroli. The Minister informs the House that 157 medical colleges are at various stages of development in the past six years.

“The National Medical Commission is examining where new medical colleges should be set up. If future proposals come from State governments, they will be evaluated. But at this moment, we can’t make a comment about setting up new medical college,” he says.

BJP MP Maneka Gandhi says Thalassemia has been recognised as a disability and asks the Minister about specific steps taken in terms of free blood bank etc., for Thalassemic patients.

The Minister replies that screening of such patients, counseling at the stage of conception, and bone marrow transplants are ongoing. He says since bone marrow transplant is expensive, the Centre suggests that State governments should bear half the cost while the Centre will bear the other half.

Dr. Vardhan also speaks about corporates pitching in for bone marrow transplants.

Ms. Gandhi suggests bringing thalassemic patients under the Atal Amrit Abhiyan. She says there is no point in talking about corporates as “they do nothing”.

The Minister replies that thalassemic patients are provided free blood. He talks about corporates with regard to bone marrow transplants. He also seeks specific suggestions from Ms. Gandhi.

Rajya Sabha | 11.45 am

Subhash Chandra Singh of BJD speaks in Odiya.

Hardwar Dubey of BJP says, “lakhs of tourists come to see Taj Mahal in Agra, Mathura and Bharatpur.”

Priyanka Chaturvedi of Shiv Sena says, “the guidelines for comorbidities does not include asthma and obesity. To ensure more people over 45 years of age could be vaccinated, these should be included. Many sadhus, peers do not have papers, they should be prioritised for vaccines.”

Fauzia Khan of NCP says, “train routes in Marathawada should be expanded.”

Chaya Verma of Congress says, “Centre is delaying cold chain facilities for Chattisgarh.”

Jugalsingh Mathurji Lokhandwala of BJP says, “1,700 crore litre of milk produced in the country, and a large quantity is adulterated.”

Lok Sabha | 11.30 am

Mr. Javadekar talks about steps like efforts to move to BS VI emissions norms and the move to electric vehicles. “3,000 industries switched to piped natural gas; 3,000 brick kilns were fitted with Zig Zag technology,” he says.

The Minister says, “compared with previous years, the emission norms have come down.”

Some people in Delhi are giving ads in newspaper about reduced pollution when they had nothing to do with it, he says. “PM Modi had announced clean air technology plan for the next five years from the Red Fort last year.”

Earth Sciences Minister Harsh Vardhan, replying to a question on land slides, talks about mapping 4.25 lakh square kms of land. He says 50% of the job is done.

On the question of shifting people who are vulnerable to landslide, Dr. Harsh Vardhan said the information collected by Geological Survey of India is passed on to State governments.

Rajya Sabha | 11.30 am

Bhupender Yadav of BJP says, “Article 21 of the Constitution says no person should be deprived of personal liberty. Telegraph Act says phones cannot be tapped illegally. I want to raise the Rajasthan issue, where the phones of Ministers and BJP leaders were tapped.”

Chairman Naidu asks him not to blame anyone.

Mr. Yadav continues, “citizens phones are being tapped”.

The Chairman says any mention about any State government will not go on record.

Mr. Yadav says, “6 crore people of Rajasthan, the people, the disgruntled leaders of Congress, their rights were violated.”

Thumping of desks by the Treasury benches.

Mr. Yadav demands protection to such people.

No allegation against any government, State or Central, or party will go on record, Mr. Naidu says.

“Mr. Yadav was also mentioning an incident. Don’t show allegations and counter allegations on TV, don’t strain yourself,” the Chairman says.

Mamata Mohanta of BJD speaks in Odiya.

A.D Singh of RJD says there is immense pressure on the judiciary in Bihar due to unintended implication of prohibition. “5,600 cases are pending in the HC for bail, and all are related to prohibition,” he says. “Regular cases should not be delayed due to prohibition cases,” Mr. Singh says

Lok Sabha | 11.20 am

YSRCP MP P.V. Midhun Reddy asks if the government has a mechanism to control forest fires and flash floods.

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar says the government has very good mechanism that can send out a message. He cites the examples of controlling the fire in Manipur Nagaland border, Assam and Nagaland. “Even in Simplipal, it was contained early,” he says.

Mr. Reddy asks about carbon emissions to which the Minister replies that India is way below other countries like China.

Ajay Kumar Misra Teni of BJP asks the government’s plans on afforestation and whether help is being taken from different agencies. Mr. Javadekar responds that the Ministry is always working with different agencies.

Riteish Pandey of Bahujan Samaj Party asks about the lack of funds in fighting climate change.

Mr. Javadekar asserts that there is no shortage of funds. “The issue is not of funds but the general challenge of climate change,” he says.

Rajeev Pratap Rudy asks a question on air pollution. He says, “I am worried about people like Prakash Javadekar, Meenakshi Lekhi or Rajnath Singh as air quality in India is hazardous.”

Mr. Rudy asks the government for creative solutions to tackle the problem of air pollution, “that claim more lives than COVID-19”.

Since he speaks for a considerable time, Meenakshi Lekhi, who is on the chair, asks him to ask a question.

Rajya Sabha | 11.20 am

Zero Hour begins in the Upper House

Om Prakash Mathur of the BJP speaks about a dam built in 1957 in Rajasthan.

Rajeev Satav, of the Congress asks, “When government can conduct animal and tree Census, why not conduct Census of OBCs?”

GVL Narasimha Rao of the BJP says that 56 containers of chilli is stuck at the Colombo port.

Sujeet Kumar of BJD speaks about cancer affecting 6 lakh people annually. “It disproportionately affects lower income groups. There is an urgent need to lower the price of cancer saving drugs,” he says.

Seema Dwivedi of the BJP says many students and teachers affected due to COVID-19.

Lok Sabha | 11 am

Question Hour begins in the Lok Sabha.

B. Mahtab of Biju Janata Dal asks a question about duty imposed on Cotton and its impacts on farmers.

Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani informs the House about the steps taken by the government to help cotton farmers in terms of minimum support price and other measures. Specifically with regard to duty, she says the matter has been forwarded to the Finance Ministry after taking feedback from stakeholders.

Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla talks about how the textile industry mmoved out of Punjab after 1984 and the steps taken to revive it. Ms. Irani responds that textile industry didn’t get the support it needed in the 10 years of the UPA.

Rajeev Ranjan Singh (Lalan) of JD-U asks about the promotion of Bhagalpur silk. Ms. Irani lists the steps taken by the Centre along with the Handloom and Handicraft departments, and the State governments.

Rajya Sabha | 11 am

Rajya Sabha proceedings begin.

Parliamentary Standing Committee report on ministries of Health and Family Welfare, Energy, Food and Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Water Resources tabled in the House.

Minister V. Muraleedharan reads out the list of business for the next week. Working of various ministries will be discussed, demands for grants 2021-22 will be taken up, and there will be a discussion on the budget of Union Territory of J&K and Puducherry, 2020-21.

National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021 will also to be discussed.

Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu appeals to all the Members to be extra careful due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases. “Be careful while interacting with people,” he says.

Rajya Sabha

The Rajya Sabha will have the following discussions:

Discussion on the working of the Ministry of Tourism

Discussion on the working of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries

Discussion on the working of the ministries of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development

Discussion on the working of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs

Lok Sabha

Legislative Business

Consideration of Rajya Sabha Amendments

Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020

Bills for consideration and passing

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2021

The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021