(a) the salient features of the current Salt Policy;
(b) whether the Government proposes to formulate a new policy for development of the Salt Industry and if so, the details thereof along with its salient features;
(c) the details of welfare fund/financial assistance provided to salt workers and their families during the last three years and the current year; and
(d) the steps being taken for the welfare of salt workers?
???????? ??? ?????? ???????????? (????????? ??????)(??????? ??????? ???????)
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
(SHRIMATI NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTIOIN NO. 238 FOR ANSWER ON 14TH MARCH, 2016.
(a): The Salt Commissioner Organization under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion) is entrusted with the following functions for overall development of salt industry:
(i) Leasing of Central Government land for salt manufacture;
(ii) Planning of Production targets;
(iii) Arranging equitable distribution and monitoring the quality and prices;
(iv) Promotion of technological development and training of personnel;
(v) Maintenance of standards and improvement in quality of salt;
(vi) Nodal Agency for monitoring production, distribution and quality control of iodized salt;
(vii) Management of Departmental salt lands;
(viii) Planning, formulating and monitoring execution of development and labour welfare schemes for salt workers;
(ix) Promotion of exports and pre-shipment inspection of salt;
(x) Collection of Salt Cess, Assignment Fee, Ground Rent; and
(xi) Rehabilitation of Salt Works affected by natural calamities
(b): The Government does not propose at present to formulate a new policy for development of the salt industry.
(c): The details of welfare fund/financial assistance provided to salt manufacturers and their families during the last three years and current year are as under:
<pre>
Sr. No. Financial Year Development of Salt Industry Labour Welfare
Amount (Rs lakh)
1. 2012-13 5.66 91.71
2. 2013-14 33.92 58.46
3. 2014-15 1.52 60.81
4. 2015-16 (upto February, 2016) 7.09 22.10
</pre>
(d): The Government has approved code of principles for execution of labour welfare and development schemes. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry through Salt Commissioner Organization is supplementing efforts of the State Governments in conducting numerous activities for the welfare of salt workers. These include construction of labour rest sheds, organizing general medical health cum eye camps, supplementing facilities in the hospitals for the benefit of salt workers like providing ambulance, capacity building for transporting and storage of potable water, laying pipelines for supply of drinking water, etc., and also schemes of improving brine supply, construction of roads, culverts, Bridges, protective bunds, improvement of infrastructure and mechanization of transport and harvesting of salt including R&D activities for improving the quality of salt.
An amount of Rs. 3 crore has been earmarked to impart training to salt workers for improving their skill during 12th Five Year Plan period. During the years 2012-13 to 2014-15, the Government has incurred Rs. 45 lakh per annum for granting rewards to the meritorious children of the salt workers and in the current financial year 2015-16, Rs. 20 lakh has been allocated for granting rewards to the meritorious children of the salt workers.
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