Question : INDIAN COUNCIL FOR HISTORICAL RESEARCH

(a) whether the grant worth lacs of rupees provided by the Indian Council of Historical Research for promotion of high level research in Indian history has been bungled due to flaw in the policy of the institution as reported in some national dailies;

(b) if so, whether ICHR has disbursed funds amounting to Rs.21.77 lakh to 41 researchers during 1995-96 and 2000-2001 for the said purpose but neither they have submitted their research report nor refunded the amount upto August 2003;

(c) if so, the facts thereof and the reaction of the Government in this regard;

(d) the action taken by the Government against erring officials; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to recover the said amount till date?

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT ( SHRI ARJUN SINGH )

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.


STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO PART (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 306 BY SHRI NIKHIL KUMAR CHOUDHARY AND SHRI SITARAM SINGH FOR 17th AUGUST, 2004 REGARDING INDIAN COUNCIL OF HISTORICAL RESEARCH

(a) to (e) : Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) has denied misuse of grants on the grounds that these grants had been extended as per the Research Funding Rules of the Council. The Council had disbursed grants totalling Rs.21.77 lakhs to 41 researchers through their `institutes of affiliation` during the period between 1995-96 and 2000- 2001. According to the ICHR, three fellows have completed their research work, and reports are awaited from the others. The Council has reported that it has issued reminders, and further action is being taken through the `institutes of affiliation` relating to the grantees. Ministry of Human Resource Development has asked the Council to take necessary remedial steps including the fixing of responsibility for lapses.