Question : FOREIGN TRAINING TO OFFICERS

(a) whether the Government select/sponsor/nominate/depute Officers for training to the reputed Foreign Institutions for improving their academic, managerial, technical and administrative capabilities in various fields and disciplines where in some cases cost of such training are borne by the sponsoring countries/agencies under bi-laterial/international agreements;

(b) if so, furnish year wise number of persons from Small Scale Industries Ministry who underwent such short/long term training courses during last five years ;

(c) number of SCs, STs and OBCs among them and their percentage;

(d) indicate `special provisions` made for ensuring adequate representation to SCs, STs and OBCs for availing such opportunities as provided under Article 46 of the Constitution in the absence of which historical educational handicaps suffered by them as well as deep rooted social prejudices prevailing against them may deprive them their due share in such opportunities; and

(e) if not, state reasons for ignoring the said Constitutional Directive?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SMALL SCALE INDUSTRIES, MINISTER OF STATE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL AND TRAINING, DEPARTMENT OF PENSIONS AND PENSIONERS WELFARE OF THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE DEPARTMENTS OF ATOMIC ENERGY AND SPACE (SHRIMATI VASUNDHARA RAJE)

(a): Yes, Sir.

(b) & (c): Year-wise information in respect of number of persons from Small Scale Industries Ministry who underwent short/long term training courses during the last five years is as under :-

Sl.No.	Year	Total No.of	SC/ST/OBCs	Percentage	officers	among them	trained
1.	1996-1997	17	4	23.53

2.	1997-1998	14	3	21.43

3.	1998-1999	19	6	31.58

4.	1999-2000	14	2	14.29

5.	2000-2001	12	3	25.00