Vijaya Sai Reddy Questions Cabinet Ministers

New Delhi: As part of Parliament sessions, YSRCP MP V. Vijaya Sai Reddy has posed questions to the Minister of Human Resource Development, Minister of External Affairs, Minister of Commerce and Industry and the Minister of Tribal Affairs.

Pending applications for registration of schools in AP and Telangana

MP V. Vijaya Sai Reddy has asked the Minister of Human Resource Development about the number of applications for registration of all kinds of schools from the States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for the academic year 2016-17 received by CBSE and how many of them are still pending for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana separately. He has also questioned what steps CBSE would take to clear and approve all such applications to help the backward areas get access to schooling and not lose an academic year and about the measures proposed to fast-track all such pending requests and applications. He has also wanted to know about the plans to modify, improve and install better electronic administration system in CBSE.

Upendra Kushwaha, the Minister of the State for the Ministry of Human Resource Development, has answered the MP in writing. Informing that Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has received 60 applications from Andhra Pradesh and 33 from Telangana for Academic Session 2016-17, he has given information about disposal of applications. He has stated that action on the applications are taken as per Affiliation Bye-laws of the CBSE. No application received from schools is pending for initial processing. However, the above pendency is on account of non fulfillment of the required conditions by the concerned schools in accordance with Affiliation Bye-laws. CBSE has introduced online system for submission of applications for affiliation through e- affiliation portal and subject to fulfillment of various conditions as prescribed in Affiliation Bye-laws of the CBSE, he has said.

Proposal by Sri Lanka to end ‘Bottom Trawling’ fishing

MP Vijaya Sai Reddy has questioned the Minister of External Affairs whether Sri Lanka has made a proposal to Government to end “Bottom Trawling” fishing in the coastal waters between the two countries, whether it is a fact that Joint Working Group has been set up between the two countries to negotiate fishermen issues, whether any points of agreement have been finalized and what steps Government would take to have such arrangements with all countries with whom India shares coastal waters and the steps proposed to be taken to reduce friction between India and other countries over fisheries and fishermen.

M.J.Akbar, the Minister of the state for the Ministry of External Affairs, has answered the MP’s questions in writing. He has informed that the India-Sri Lanka Ministerial level meeting on fishermen issues held in New Delhi on 5 November 2016 agreed to set up a Joint Working Group (JWG) on Fisheries as a bilateral institutional mechanism to help find a permanent solution to the fishermen issues. The Terms of Reference of JWG include

(i) expediting the transition towards ending the practice of bottom trawling at the earliest

(ii) working out the modalities for the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for handing over of apprehended fishermen

(iii) ascertaining possibilities for cooperation on patrolling. The JWG is also mandated to discuss the issue of release of detained fishing vessels.

Akbar has also informed that Government attaches the highest priority to the safety, security and welfare of Indian fishermen. Our Missions and Posts regularly seek consular access to Indian fishermen detained in foreign countries, ensure their welfare and also pursue their early release and repatriation, along with their boats. Given the humanitarian and livelihood dimensions of this issue, the Government has put in place several bilateral mechanisms to ensure cooperation and understanding between India and countries concerned, to promote the safety and security of Indian fishermen.

Taking up issue of IT industry visa problems with US

YSRCP MP Vijaya Sai Reddy asked the Minister of Commerce and Trade whether Government has taken up issue of IT Industry Visa problems directly with US Trade Representative Michael Froman recently, whether Indian IT professionals are facing severe movement restrictions and targeted discrimination by the US in the last three years and whether Government has pointed out that such restrictions directly negate the rules governing multilateral trade agreements in force between India and the US.

He has also questioned what was the reaction of US Trade Representative to such direct talks and what are the steps proposed to appropriately raise this issue in Washington to implement bilateral and international trade agreements.

The Minister of the State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Nirmala Sitharaman, has answered the MP by accepting that the issue of IT industry visa problems has been taken up with the U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador Michael Froman, during the Trade Policy Forum meeting in New Delhi on October 20, 2016.

On December 18, 2015, the US President signed into law the 2016 Omnibus Spending Bill (Public Law 114-113) which doubled the supplemental visa fees for L-1 and H-1B visas for a period of 10 years for companies employing 50 or more employees in the United States, 50% or more of which were on L-1 and H-1B visas (50:50 rule). With this legislation in place, 50:50 companies would now need to pay an enhanced fee of $4,500 for each L-1 visa and $4000 for each H-1B visa, as compared to $2,250 and $2000 previously. According to data available from the US State Department, Indian nationals accounts for 69.43 percent of total H1B visas issued during Fiscal Year 2015, she has stated.

Nirmala Sitaraman has informed that the matter on US visa fee hike has been raised by India at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Geneva. India had consultations with the United States on 11-12 May 2016 at the WTO, Geneva under WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism. India had raised claims on US measures relating to the fees for L-1 and H-1B visas and the numerical commitment for H-1B visas.

The US Trade Representative’s position is that the Public Law 114-113 applies uniformly to all companies irrespective of the origin of the company. Visa related issues of IT industry have been raised with the US Government at various forums, including at the Ministerial dialogues during the Strategic and Commercial Dialogue in August 2016 and the Trade Policy Forum in October 2016, she has explained.

Issue of minutes of meeting of NCST

Tribal Affairs Minister to a reply to starred question asked by Sri V.Vijayasai Reddy in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, 30th Nov 2016 disclosed that Government of India has indeed asked the Government of Andhra Pradesh to issue land pattas to the displaced Tribals of Polavaram Dam under Forest Rights Act.

The YSRCP MP has questioned if National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) issued the minutes on 3 August, 2016 of a meeting held with many State Chief Secretaries on 24 May, 2016 regarding tribal displacement along the River Godavari, if any communication has been sent to the prime petitioner and long-time complainants in this regard. He has also asked what are the reasons for NCST refusing to communicate with tribals and their representatives in this manner, the name of the prime petitioner and the steps proposed to solve grievous problems of tribals in Godavari valley in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. 

Jual Oram, the Minister of Tribal Affairs, has stated that a communication has been sent by National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) to prime petitioner. He has informed that the Prime petitioner is Dr. P. Pullarao, Polavaram, West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh. Smt. K. Kamala Kumari, former Member, NCST visited Polavaram project site during 07.01.2014 to 11.01.2014. Her inquiry report was provided to State Government of Andhra Pradesh for further necessary action. Subsequently, Secretary, NCST also visited Andhra Pradesh during 25.01.2016 to 31.01.2016 to review Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) activities for displaced tribal families in Polavaram Irrigation Project.

Dr. Rameshwar Oraon, then Chairperson, NCST held meeting on 24.05.2016 with Chief Secretary of Odisha; Additional Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh; Secretary, Water Resources, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh; Member Secretary, Polavaram Project Authorities, Ministry of Water Resources and Secretary (Land Resources), Ministry of Rural Department on issues relating to displacement of tribals and other local people due to construction of Indira Sagar (Polavaram) Multi-Purpose Project on river Godavari, West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh.

While taking note that the matter is subjudice before Hon’ble Supreme Court of India due to suit filed by Government of Odisha on 09.10.2007, NCST in meeting held on 4.5.2016 has observed that the project is under implementation since 1948 and compensation has been provided as per Land Acquisition Act, 1894 or Andhra Pradesh State Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy 2005.

NCST made following advice / recommendations: