Lok Sabha live updates | Ministers Anurag Thakur and Giriraj Singh respond to Sonia Gandhi’s remarks on MNREGA

On the 12th day of the second part of the Budget Session, the lower house passed the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022. This bill seeks to amend The Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957, to undo the earlier 2011 amendment to the Act by which the erstwhile Municipal Corporation of Delhi was trifurcated into separate North, South, and East Delhi Municipal Corporations.

Today, the House will undertake disccusion on climate change, which was first raised by member Kanimozhi Karunanidhi on the December 8, 2021.

Arjun Munda will move The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Second Amendment) Bill, 2022, for consideration and passing.

Here are the latest updates:

12:25 p.m.

Ministers Giriraj Singh and Anurag Thakur state there was incomplete utilisation of the allocated budget of the MNREGA during UPA rule

Union Minister Giriraj Singh told the house that MNREGA allocation rose from ₹ 33,000 crore in 2013-14 to ₹ 1 lakh crore and subsequently ₹ 1.12 lakh crore during the Prime Minister Modi’s regime.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting stated the erstwhile UPA Govt did not spend the entire allocated budget for MNREGA. He added that the Central Govt led by Prime Minister Modi allocated more than ₹ 1 lakh crore during the pandemic for the scheme. Mr Thakur told the house that workers under the scheme are now paid at the press of a button owing to the Jan Dhan Scheme.

12:20 p.m.

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi speaks on reduced budget allocation to MNREGA: Sonia Gandhi

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, during the Zero Hour, raised concerns with regards to the recurrent reduction in budget allocation to Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA). She stated this has resulted in lower work opportunities and deprivation of timely payments to the workers. Ms Gandhi informed the house that Supreme Court had referred to the scenario as ‘forced labour’.

“The budget allocation this year (to MNREGA) is 35% lower compared to the previous year even as unemployment is on the rise,” she told the house.

Ms Gandhi informed that as on March 26, several states have put forth negative balance in their MNREGA accounts. She added that records stated that ₹ 5,000 crore is due to workers under the scheme.

She asked the Govt to allocate adequate budget to the scheme, timely payment to workers within 15 days, provide compensation for late payment and immediate disbursal of amount to states for the annual development activities.

12:00 p.m.

Rama Devi in the chair. Zero Hour commences.

11:40 a.m.

House discusses Drone Technology and training

In response to a question by Kadapa MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia informed the house that, to date, there are 18 remote pilot training centres licensed by the DGCA. He added that 71 companies have resumed manufacturing in the country.

Mr Scindia stated that number of pilots for drone operations and training centres to facilitate the same would go up in the coming years.

11:25 a.m.

More than 10 lakh registered electric vehicles in India as of March 13, 2022: Minister for Road Transport & Highways: Nitin Gadkari

According to Mr Gadkari, as of March 13 this year, 10,95,746 electric vehicles were registered in India with 1,742 charging stations operable quoting figures from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency.

He added that on a year-over-year basis, overall electric vehicle sales had risen 162%. Category-wise, two-wheeler sales had increased more than five times (at 423%), three-wheelers by 75%, four-wheelers by 238% and Buses by 1,250%.

11:10 a.m.

House discusses flight operability in India

Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia informed the house that domestic players are operating 1,465 whilst international players are operating 1,733 flights per since the Govt opted to resume international flights at full strength.

In response to a question on transferring the capacity accorded to now shut Kingfisher Airlines and Jet Airways for operating international flights from Mumbai, the Civil Aviation Minister stated the operational logistics have been transferred to domestic airlines.

11:05 a.m.

Opposition benches continue to raise slogans against the recent fuel price hikes

11:00 a.m.

Proceedings resume at Lok Sabha. Question Hour in progress.

10.30 a.m.

List of Business

1. Arjun Munda to move The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Second Amendment) Bill, 2022, for consideration and passing.

2. Further discussion on climate change raised by Kanimozhi Karunanidhi on the December 8, 2021.

3. Papers and Reports to be laid on the Table

4. Question Hour

10.00 a.m.

Day 12 recap

The Lok Sabha passed the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022, to merge three municipal corporations of Delhi.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman responded to the discussion on The Chartered Accountants, the Cost and Works Accountants and the Company Secretaries (Amendment) Bill, 2021.