Parliament Watch: Manual scavenging, digital currency, Panama Papers and more [Day 6 & 7 round up]

The sixth and seventh day of the 2021 Winter Session of Parliament saw responses on issues ranging from manual scavenging, digital currency, undeclared assets from the Pandora papers scandal and more..To some questions on the instances of manual scavenging and what the government has done for individuals engaging in the practice, the response said that there is no report of people currently engaged in the practice.It was also stated that surveys conducted between 2013 and 2018 had identified 58,098 manual scavengers in the country. After field verification of the data on a mobile app launched in December 2020, "no instance of unsanitary latrines have been found and thus no cases of manual scavenging arise," the reply added.The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment admitted that 321 people have died in the last five years while hazardously cleaning sewer and septic tanks. In the State-wise list of manual scavengers identified for rehabilitation, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra lead the pack with 32,473 and 6,325 deaths respectively..In a question by BJP Member of Parliament Varun Gandhi regarding the rationale for extending the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) from 15 km to 50 km inside the international borders in Punjab, Assam and West Bengal, the Minister of State in the Union Home Ministry Nityanand Rai responded,"The extension in territorial jurisdiction of BSF in some States is aimed at empowering BSF to discharge its border guarding duties more effectively in the wake of use of technology like Dynamic Remotely Operated Navigation Equipment (Drones), Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAVs), etc. generally having long range, by anti-national forces for surveillance as well as for smuggling of arms, narcotics and fake Indian currency notes (FICN). It would also help in curbing the menace of cattle smuggling as smugglers take refuge in the interior areas outside the jurisdiction of BSF." A petition has already been filed before the Calcutta High Court challenging Section 139(1) of the Border Security Force (BSF) Act, 1968 to the extent that it grants unrestricted powers to the Central government to fix the territorial jurisdiction of the BSF..Questions were tabled before the Lok Sabha by BJP MP Rakesh Singh on whether the government proposes to start digital currency in the country, the utility, safety of the same, and whether it will be an alternative to popular cryptocurrencies?Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance Pankaj Chaudhary stated that the Central government received a proposal from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in October 2021 to enhance the scope of the definition of ‘bank note’ to include currency in digital form. Further, the RBI is examining the use of such currency and introducing the same in a phased manner to avoid disruption.The statement further mentions that introducing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) will result in “reduced dependency on cash, higher seigniorage due to lower transaction costs, reduced settlement risk” and pave the way for a “more robust efficient, trusted, regulated and legal tender-based payment option.”However, the response also warns against “associated risks which need to be carefully evaluated against the potential benefits.”.A question was raised by All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen MP Asaduddin Owaisi regarding restriction on transfer of foreign contribution to other persons/NGOs once received in the country and its impact on NGOs working on ground. Nityanand Rai mentioned that Section 7 of the FCRA Amendment Act, 2020 prohibits transfer of foreign contribution. The response further stated, “Prohibition on transfer does not in any way hamper functioning of any genuine NGO. Any NGO is free to obtain Certificate of registration or prior permission by complying with the legal requirement of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 and the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Rules, 2011. NGOs with valid Certificate of registration or prior permission may obtain Foreign Contribution and carry out the permitted activities.”The number of transferor associations/NGOs and the amounts transferred in the last 3 years is as below:.A question was tabled by two BJP MPs Naranbhai Kachhadiya and Parbatbhai Savabhai Patel on the details of financial assistance provided under the Journalist Welfare Scheme to help the families of journalists who died due to COVID-19.Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Singh Thakur stated that a sum of ₹6.15 crore has been approved during the financial years 2020-21 and 2021-22 for financial assistance at ₹5 lakh per head to the families of 123 deceased journalists. The response further mentioned, “The fund allocation of the scheme has increased over the last three years. Rs. 1.50 crore allocated in 2019-20; Rs 2.60 crores allocated in 2020-21 and 6.06 crores allocated in 2021-2022. The JWS Scheme does not provide for employment related assistance.”Below are the State-wise details on the number of cases that have occurred:.BJP MP Sushil Kumar Modi tabled a question before the Rajya Sabha on the amount of undeclared assets that have been detected by authorities on probing the Panama and Paradise Papers and the action being taken against offenders.Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance Pankaj Chaudhary in his response stated, “As on 01.10.2021, total undisclosed credits amounting to Rs. 20353 crores have been detected with respect to 930 India linked entities in the Panama and Paradise Paper Leaks.”The response further stated that, “In 52 (Fifty-two) cases of Panama and Paradise Paper Leaks, Criminal prosecution complaints have been filed under the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015. Further, in 130 cases proceedings under Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of tax Act, 2015 have been initiated. Taxes collected so far amount to Rs. 153.88 crores in the Panama and Paradise Paper Leaks.”The statement also mentions that the government has taken cognisance of the Indian names alleged to be linked to the Pandora Papers leaks and speedy investigation under the umbrella of a Multi Agency group (MAG) was under way..A question was tabled before the Rajya Sabha by INC MP Digvijay Singh on the bench-wise number of companies sold and settled by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and whether the settled companies were sold on the basis of market volume and the loan amounts waived off in this process? Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman responded,“As of 30th September, 2021, 4708 CIRPs have been initiated under the IBC. The realisable value of 421 cases which were resolved through a resolution plan as on 30th September, 2021 is ₹ 2.55 lakh crore for all creditors, including financial creditors. The liquidation value of these companies was ₹ 1.48 lakh crore. If no resolution plan is received or no resolution plan is approved by the Adjudicating Authority, the corporate entity proceeds to liquidation. Till 30th September, 2021, 1419 CIRPs have yielded orders for liquidation, having liquidation value of ₹ 52,036 crore. The total amount of admitted claims of financial creditors in respect of 421 corporate debtors, which have been resolved through a resolution plan, is ₹ 7.19 lakh crore, while the amount realisable is ₹ 2.46 lakh crore.”Below is the bench-wise details of these cases that have been disposed of: