The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday (6th December 2023) continued the discussion on the economic situation in the country with opposition Members accusing the government of being cut off from the ground reality about the situation of the poor and treasury benches lauding the handling of the economy by the government.<br />” <br />”Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary laid the statement on Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2023-24.<br />” <br />”Highlighting India's economic progress, BJP Members cited the recent S&P estimates that show India is set to be the world’s third-largest economy by 2030.<br />” <br />”Criticising the government for its handling of the economy, Ram Gopal Yadav of Samaj Party alleged the ruling members were only indulging in propaganda and publicity using the Prime Minister's name and do not know what is happening on the ground.<br />” <br />”On the per capita GDP index, India stands at 133 position out of 194 nations and the condition of common people shows where we stand in the world even if the country was the fifth largest economy in the world, he said.<br />”Mahesh Jethmalani of BJP countered the opposition claim saying India has seen a high growth rate.<br />” <br />”Citing data, he said post-Covid, urban employment registered a robust V shaped recovery after the adverse impacts during lockdown and second wave of the pandemic.<br />”Noting that urban areas were most affected by the pandemic, Jethmalani said the complete recovery in employment in urban areas is crucial.<br />”The unemployment rate recorded in the April-June quarter of 2023 is the lowest over the last five years, he claimed.<br />” <br />”From 2017-18 to 2019-20 regular wage/salaried employees increased by 1.5 crore, showing a growth of 13.2 per cent, he said. The increase among females was 0.72 crore or 29.4 per cent and that for males 0.79 crore or 8.8 per cent, he added.<br />” <br />”He accused the opposition of buttressing their case with selective facts, planted questions and distorted data.<br />”He cited the World Bank saying its estimates have proved wrong, and in the last two quarters India’s growth rate has been very impressive, and way above the world average growth.<br />” <br />”Fauzia Khan of NCP retorted saying there was growing unemployment crisis in India, particularly the dearth of government jobs, and said a large number of youths are either getting into crime or commiting suicide due to lack of employment opportunities.<br />” <br />”Mahua Majhi of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha said India wants to be "Vishwa Guru" but it is facing a huge problem of unemployment. What can a hungry person contribute to the growth of the country, she asked.<br />” <br />”Majhi said non-BJP-ruled States should not be at an economic disadvantage.<br />” <br />”Binoy Viswam of CPI asked where is the "V shaped development" when many people of the country are still "hungry and youth are unemployed".<br />” <br />”Birendra Prasad Baishya of Asom Gana Parishad said at a time when world's major economies are struggling India is doing very well with inflation going down and forex reserve at an all time high.<br />” <br />”Santanu Sen of TMC said two pictures of the Indian economy emerge, one is of privilege and another is of poverty. In the Global Hunger Index, India has been placed at 111 out of 125 countries, among the bottom 15 ranks.<br />” <br />”India has the maximum unemployment in the last 45 years, he claimed, noting that the Per capita Income is even less than one-fifth of China and less 1/32 of USA.<br />” <br />”He also accused the government of curtailing MGNREGA budget by 33 per cent.<br />” <br />”Jebi Mather of Congress said the face of growth claimed by the Modi government is under a cloud of suspicion as several indicators such as poverty and unemployment and health point to the contrary.<br />” <br />”Jawhar Sircar of TNC raised concerns over rising unemployment, noting that in 2022, India's youth unemployment rate was at 23.22 per cent, which was even higher than that in neighbouring countries.<br />” <br />”He also highlighted the income inequalities in the country and countered the claims made by the government on GDP growth. Sirkar alleged that India is 'enriching oligarchs', as some billionaires have grown their income by five times in the last decade.<br />” <br />”P Wilson of DMK said the government promised to double the farmers' income, clean Ganga and inland water transport system, and creation of two crore jobs but it never happened.<br />” <br />”Dinesh Sharma of BJP said the government schemes have helped to uplift 13.5 crore people from the poverty line. More than 55 crore Jandhan accounts were opened, having an average deposit of 4,000 rupees.<br />” <br />”Sharma spoke about India’s journey of becoming a 'golden lion', not just a 'golden bird'. Among other achievements, India has excelled in start-up growth, opened new IITs and IIMs, and addressed poverty by direct transfer schemes, he said.<br />” <br />”Raghav Chadha of Aam Aadmi Party said the BJP has failed to fulfill even one of its 25 promises pledged to be fulfilled before 2022.<br />” <br />”When a government fails to meet its promises, the final ruling on its success will come from the people’s court, he said.<br />” <br />”Earlier during Zero hour, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge asked the Centre to release 18,171 crore rupees for Karnataka drought relief from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).<br />” <br />”He said Karnataka was grappling with the most severe drought in 123 years and the damage to crops is estimated at over 35,162 crore rupees.<br />” <br />”Kharge said the state government has sought 18,171 crore rupees from the NDRF to help the affected people.<br />” <br />”This financial support is crucial for providing input subsidies, gratuitous relief and implementing other immediate growth measures due to low rainfall," he said.<br />” <br />”Kharge also spoke about the flood situations in certain parts of Tamil Nadu, including Chennai. He accused the BJP of not paying heed to the problems being faced by people as they have "won elections".<br />” <br />”Amee Yajnik of Congress raised the issue of women's safety and demanded that all laws concerned should be implemented strictly. She said violence against women in public spaces has a big detrimental effect on the development of a nation and its economy.<br />” <br />”Ashok Bajpai of BJP highlighted the issues related to the safety and security of on-duty doctors. He said there are about 25 lakh doctors in the country who do a phenomenal job and cited their work during the Covid pandemic.<br />” <br />”Rajeev Shukla of Congress raised the issue of the plight of undertrials lodged in jails of the country and demanded judicial reforms to deal with the matter. His party colleague Imran Pratapgarhi said the government should focus on improving facilities in trains.<br />” <br />”Imran Pratapgarhi of Congress raised concerns related to Railways, including safety and security of passengers in light of the recent spate of railway accidents. He alleged that Railways was "looting" people in the name of dynamic pricing.<br />” <br />”Abir Ranjan Biswas of TMC said wealth is not being distributed equally, to individuals or to States.<br />” <br />”Priyanka Chaturvedi of Shiv Sena-UBT pointed out the Indian rupee falling to an all-time low against the US dollar.<br />” <br />”Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said the discussion on the economic situation would continue on Wednesday (6th December 2023).<br />” <br />”The Chairman also accepted the resignation of MP Kirodi Lal Meena from the Rajya Sabha. Meena had contested the Assembly elections in Rajasthan and won as an MLA.<br />” <br />”<span style="color: #222222;">Meanwhile, a copy of the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, after the passage in Lok Sabha, was laid on the table of the Upper House.</span><br />
News On AIR | December 6, 2023 9:46 PM | Review of Parliament proceedings in Raj Sabha
Review of Parliament proceedings in Rajya Sabha
