RAJYA SABHA SUPPLEMENT TO SYNOPSIS OF DEBATE
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RAJYA SABHA
_______
SUPPLEMENT
TO
SYNOPSIS OF DEBATE
_______
Friday, February 12, 2021 / Magha 23, 1942 (Saka)
_______
THE UNION BUDGET, 2021-22
General Discussion - Contd.
SHRI VIVEK THAKUR: This Budget will go down in
history as a landmark Budget as it is all-inclusive, touches the lives of
one and all and presents the road map of 'Aatmanirbhar India'. It
assumes greater significance inasmuch as it has been presented at a
time when the entire humanity is confronted with a challenge of
gargantuan proportions in the form of Covid pandemic. A similar
situation of deep economic depression had arisen in America in 1933
and the then American president Franklin Roosevelt had also launched
a major programme to build infrastructure, including roads,
schools,dams, airports and hospitals to provide jobs and income to
unemployed persons and help America to sail through the crisis. A
similar road map has been presented in this Budget which aims at
wealth creation and, in turn, comprehensive progress of the country.
The markets have reacted euphorically to the Budget. At a fundamental
level, choosing growth over fiscal consolidation is a quite sensible
decision as India's per capita GDP is very low. I am grateful that the
honourable Prime Minister has focussed on the growth of eastern India
through announcing a number of welfare measures. I want to point out
that India is the largest producer of milk, oil, seeds, pulses, cotton,
___________________________________________________
This Synopsis is not an authoritative record of the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha.
244mango, papaya and banana. Besides, India is the second largest
producer of rice, sugar, tea, vegetables and fish in the world. But
ironically, the income of the farmers from agriculture has not risen in
the last ten years. 6000 rupees are continuously going in the accounts
of more than ten crore farmers from Prime Minister Kisan Samman
Nidhi.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE; AND THE MINISTER
OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS (SHRIMATI NIRMALA
SITHARAMAN), replying to the discussion, said: About 48
Members have spoken on Budget and in very great detail and it is my
honour to be respond to many of the observations made by the hon.
Members. Members have taken very keen interest and have also gone
through the details of the Budget which is presented. It is a Budget
which clearly draws on the experience, the administrative capacities as
Prime Minister of this country, known for his commitment towards
development, growth and reforms. So, these three things are essentially
infused in the Budge. Post-pandemic and post-global contraction,
economies have suffered all over the world. Instead of finding quick
short-term solutions, we provide short-term quick relief for those
people who so desperately need it, we are also looking at medium-term
and long-term sustainable growth. Building an Atmanirbhar Bharat
actually reflects the aspirations of the people of India, 130 crore people
of India, two-thirds of whom are youth who are looking for
opportunities. The stimulus is for revival and reforms during the
pandemic that the Prime Minister has taken up are going to sustain the
growth. The relief and succour which was required for our poor, for
those people who were very much outside of their villages, outside of
their States were distinctly provided. 800 million people were provided
free foodgrains, free cooking gas provided for 80 million people and
cash directly was given to 400 million people, farmers, women,
Divyang and also the poor and needy. PM Garib Kalyan is valued at
Rs.2.76 lakh crores which is a timely measure that was necessary to be
taken. It has now become a sort of habit for some in the opposition to
constantly allege that whatever this Government is doing, for the poor.
Under PM Awas Yojana, more than 1.76 crore houses have been
completed. Households which are being electrified under Saubhagya
since 2017 October, are more than 2.67 crores. We have helped out
small and medium companies to ensure themselves getting a market.
245We had sanctioned 2,11,192 kilometres of roads for the year 2014-15
under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. These roads are life line of
the villagers. This government is working for all sections of the society.
Total verified applications on the national scholarship portal are 9 crore
people, all of whom are getting scholarships. These scholarships are not
going to the rich people. 1.69 crore farmers registered on e-NAM and
they are not rich corporates. They are the small farmers. Transaction of
Rs. 3.6 lakh crore through UPI has been made from August, 2016 till
January, 2020. Digital transactions through UPI are being made by the
small people. They are not rich people. Almost 9 crore farmers are
registered under PM Fasal Bima Yojana. The farmers who benefit out
of PM Fasal Bima Yojana are not large corporate farmers. As regards
loans sanctioned under MUDRA Yojana, more than Rs. 27,000 crore
has been given under it. Needy people take loans under this scheme.
Eleven crore farmers have received benefits under PM Kisan Samman
Nidhi Yojana. When the Budgetary provisions are made, it is made for
the poor, dalits, tribals and the students who desperately need all the
benefits. Please see how beneficial this Ujwala Yojna is for the women.
We have extended it to one crore more women. The capital creating
expenditure, creating infrastructure, is one of the main features of this
Budget. Disinvest process was ensured by the Prime Minister in 2014
and the policy is coming in 2021. We will achieve the maximum
governance with minimum Government. Fiscal reforms show how the
deficit is going to be managed. We are bringing transparency in
Government's accounts. I can give you clear proof of how data became
suspect in times which were not under the leadership of Prime Minister
Modi. We have brought everything on to the Budgetary accounting
mechanism. This Budget has come out boldly on many things, clearly
and openly stated what the Government's position is. Licence quota raj
and sudden move from socialism to globalisation was happened in the
time of Congress.
This Budget is consistent with BJP and Jan Sangh’s ideology of
taking care of people at the bottom of the rung – Antyodaya. The
Budget respects wealth-creators and taxpayers. Also, entrepreneurs
should not be constricted through various kinds of regulations and
licence etc. We have made a provision in the Budget to fund
infrastructure in several areas, like rail, road, bridges, ports, waterways,
agriculture and health. Allocations for Defence, whether it is pension
246or capital expenditure or revenue, have not come down. In pensions
between last year and this year there is, definitely, lesser number being
shown because, last year, post-OROP introduction, there were a lot of
arrears which had to be cleared. But, on all three counts there is only
increase. Now, we have moved away from licence quota raj. The
WHO justifies bringing in water and sanitation into health, as safe and
sufficient WASH plays a key role in preventing numerous tropical
diseases. So, increased allocations for water have been based on the
objective to provide tap water to ensure health for all in the long-
run. And, there is a substantial increase in allocations made to the core
health departments. BE for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
in 2020-21 was Rs. 65,012 crores and in BE 2021-22 the allocation is
Rs. 71,269 crores which is a 9.6 per cent increase. Allocation for the
Ministry of AYUSH went up to Rs. 2,970 crores in this Budget, which
is a 40 per cent increase. The highest allocation goes for health
research, which is a 26.8 per cent increase. The Government has
increased allocations for health, water and sanitation. The defence
budget is divided into three compartments -- the revenue, the capital,
and the pension. In 2011-12, the revenue was Rs. 95,216 crores, capital
was Rs. 69,199 crores and pension was Rs. 34,000 crores. Now, I come
straight to the 2020-2021, where the revenue is Rs. 2,09,319 crores as
against Rs. 95,216 crores in 2011-12. The capital in 2011-12 was Rs.
69,199 crores. It is now Rs. 1,13,734 crores. The pension in 2011-12
was Rs. 34,000 crores. Now, it is Rs. 1,33,825 crores. Last year,
revenue, capital and pension grew at 3.7 per cent, 10 per cent and 19.4
per cent respectively. In 2021-22, revenue is Rs. 2,12,028 crores, which
is 1.3 per cent more than BE of last year. Capital is Rs. 1,35,061 crores,
which is 18.8 per cent increase in this Budget. Pension is Rs. 1,15,850
crores, which is a fall from last year because last year's number had a
huge addition because of pension arrears which had been paid. On
every count the Defence Budget is higher than that of previous year.
Regarding alleged reduction in allocation under Prime Minister Kisan
Samman Nidhi Yojana, I would like to say that it has not been reduced
rather rationalised. The Government wants the farmers of every State to
receive this. But farmers of one State have not received any benefit
under this Scheme because that State has not given the list.
Consequently, the remaining amount has been rationalised. At the
same time, since inception of this Scheme, Rs.1.15 lakh crores have
247been transferred directly into the accounts of farmers. The MNREGA
was started during the previous Government. But there was mess and it
was poorly utilised. Since our hon'ble Prime Minister took charge in
2014, this Government removed all the ills out of that Scheme and
utilised it effectively. Right from 2015-16, the utilisation increased high
to higher and exceeded the BE every year. During the Covid
pandemic the Government came in with greater help and the actual
utilization in the year, as of now, is Rs. 90,469 crore which is the
highest ever. It is true that a lot of people suffered in terms of
unemployment during pandemic. But immediately, the Pradhan Mantri
Garib Kalyan Yojana was announced within which the
Government provided for the employees to draw money from their
accounts. Sooner it was added that both 12 per cent employees' share
and the employer share will be provided and for that, Rs. 2,567 crores
have been credited upfront into the EPF accounts. Hence, this
Government has kept its promises. This money has been given to 2.63
lakh establishments. For migrant workers nearly Rs. 50,000 crore were
paid through the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Rozgar Yojana. Under
the Pradhan Mantri Swanidhi Yojana, 15 lakh street vendors have
benefitted and Rs. 10,000 has been given to each one of them for a one
year period as working capital. Agriculture Infrastructure Fund for the
farm gate also enables a lot of income-generating activities. Then, we
came up with the Atmanirbhar package for all workers who were
thrown out of their jobs between 1st March, 2020 and 30th September,
2020. We have agreed to pay the employees' contribution for the next
two years i.e. up to 31st May, 2023 for such workers, if the employers
take them back to work. 1.46 lakh establishments are already registered;
7,75,000 people are new joinees and those who are coming back to the
same jobs are 1,78,369, as of 1st February. We have been taking a lot of
steps since 2019 so that MSMEs get all kinds of assistance in different
levels of stress that they may be in. So, there was a Self-Reliant India
Fund for this. An initial Rs. 500 crore has been allocated for this year
and the next. During the pandemic we came up with an Emergency
Credit Guarantee Liquidity Scheme. Earlier, it was a scheme for three
lakh crores and as of 10th February, 91 lakh borrowers, all MSMEs,
have benefited from that scheme. Out of total sanctioned amount of Rs.
2,43,440 crores Rs.1,78,000 crores have already been disbursed.
Besides, lots of other smaller schemes, a Subordinate Debt Scheme was
248also brought for stressed MSMEs. Rs. 4,000 crore were given as
corpus for this. The definitional changes in MSMEs have helped many
of the MSMEs to come out of the difficulty. As of funding CapEx,
there is 21.3 per cent increase. In AYUSH and Health Research, it is
93.4 per cent. In the RE of 2021, following important Departments,
apart from subsidiary Departments, have seen substantive growth in
their allocation: Pharmaceutical, 41 per cent; Rural Development, 64.3
per cent; Railways, 54 per cent; Labour and Employment, 13.7 per cent;
Defence Capital, 18.3 per cent; DFSS, 131 per cent and DPIIT, 14.8
per cent. We have taken a lot of steps during the COVID so that
companies don't come under stress. We have suspended the IBC
implementation. We have also given a lot of relief through the Debt
Recovery Tribunals and so on. A lot of processes have been held back
so that companies are not pulled into insolvency or any kind of
litigation. I just want to highlight that this Budget is a Budget for
Aatmnirbhar Bharat. We respect honest tax payers. We should be
accountable for the money that we get as tax.
The Government has been completely responsible and careful
to repay the debts taken by the FCI from the NSSF. Additionally, we
have provided an amount of Rs.2,500 crores as capital infusion into the
FCI so that they may continue with their procurement and storage
operations. This will strengthen the financial position of FCI and reduce
the debt servicing cost of FCI. The highest ever CAPEX is the 34.5 per
cent which we have done now, and it is getting split between Railways
at 53 per cent, Roads at 32 per cent and Defence at 18.7 per cent. That
is an honest statement. These are not suspect. Special bonds in lieu of
cash subsidy were issued by the earlier Governments to various
companies. This is not our practice. Special bonds worth Rs. 16,200
crores were issued to FCI in lieu of cash subsidy and we are now
paying back the loans of FCI. In 2014-15, in July Budget, the NDA
Government realized that there was under provisioning and the oil
marketing companies were being asked to foot the subsidy bill. The
then Finance Minister corrected what was pushed on to the balance
sheet of oil marketing companies. That is what makes Budget suspect
for the common citizen; not what we have done this year. I want to say
that false narratives were created.
_______
249OBSERVATION BY THE CHAIR
MR. CHAIRMAN: Hon'ble Members, a two-week long first
part of this Budget Session concluded today. I am happy to inform you
that this part of the Session has been quite productive with the House
clocking 99 per cent productivity. The productivity of the House during
this week has been 113 per cent as against the productivity of 82 per
cent during the first week. As against the total scheduled time of 45
hours 4 minutes, only 30 minutes have been lost due to disruptions.
This part of the Session has been one of debate and discussions with a
total of 27 hours and 11 minutes, accounting for over 60 per cent of the
total functional time spent on discussing the Motion of Thanks to the
President and the General Budget for 2021-2022. About 100 Members
spoke on these two subjects alone. As against the total loss of 4 hours
24 minutes during the first week, the Members sat for an extra 3 hours
54 minutes during the second week. A total of 88 issues of public
importance have been raised. These include 56 Zero Hour Mentions
and 32 Special Mentions. Fifty-five Starred Questions were orally
answered. Three Bills were passed - The J&K Reorganisation
(Amendment) Bill, 2021; The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws
(Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill, 2021; and The Major
Ports Authority Bill, 2020. This is the position as of now. We still have
to go for the second part. I only appeal to the Members not to miss any
Standing Committee meeting. Please see to it that you attend all the
Standing Committee meetings and make contribution also.
I will miss you, Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad ji, Mir Mohammad
Fayaz ji, Shri Shamsher Singh Manhas ji, and Shri Nazir Ahmed
Laway. I wish you all the best as I have said earlier.
With this, we will be concluding this part of the Session.
Desh Deepak Verma,
Secretary-General.
rssynop@sansad.nic.in
250ERRATA TO THE SUPPLEMENT TO SYNOPSIS OF DEBATE
DATED 11TH FEBRUARY, 2021
AND
SYNOPSIS OF DEBATE DATED 12TH FEBRUARY, 2021
Page No. Line No. Correction
217 27 Add 'crore' after '1,00,000'.
221 28 Remove 'in' before 'the Indian'.
240 6 Remove 'both' after 'but'.
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