SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR (BALLIA, U.P.) :

Mr. Speaker, Sir, the question raised by Ramji Lal Suman contains many facts. But it is not true that the Government of India are showing any carelessness in regard to this programme. A number of suggestions were made to that committee. The suggestions which need prompt action by the Government are being attended to. Work is being done in home village of Jai Prakash ji and in the institutions run by him. The Government have not shown a good response towards one institution set up in Banaras by Jai Prakash ji towards which Shri Ramji Lal Suman has hinted. Their response has been poor. Even after the Prime Minister’s intervention the annoyance of our Human Resource Development Minister still continues to be there for the reason unknown to me. But it is disgraceful. The Government of India has set up a committee or a commission–the Waste Land Board or Commission under the leadership of Mohan Dhariaji I do not know its exact name. That committee has to select 100 poor villages of the country and undertake development works there. That proposal has also been accepted by the committee and the Ministry of Rural Development has also accorded its approval to that proposal. But no action has been taken towards that direction. As regards Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat ji, he is not only the Vice President but, also the Chairman of that committee. He has accepted all the proposals submitted by anyone. The Minister of Culture Shri Jag Mohan ji has taken up this programme quite promptly. The above committee has constituted a sub-commitee and I am the Chairman of that sub-committee. As such if I do not tell about that, I will fal indischaring my responsibility. I do not know if there is any proposal which has not been accepted by that commitee. There was shortage of funds. Some funds have been provided. The Minister of finance is going to provide more funds. I do not know as to what are the 100 villages whih have ben to do that work. I identified. But State Governments will have not got any information as to whether or not the State Governments are doing the work. But the required development work of the villages and Gandhi Institute, Banaras has not been done. The Union specially responsible so far as Gandhi Institute is concerned. I do not know why the Minister of Human Resources of Education Development, who is also the Minister c department, is displeased with that institution Barring the above two works, the Government has not shown carelessness in other works. A number of institutions are being run in the name of Jai Prakash ji. On behalf of that committee I would certainly request the Chairman, Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat ji that a list detailing the works being undertaken and the steps taken by the Minister of Culture may be drawn and distributed amongst all the Members for their information. But I do not know why the State Governments are not implementing that programme.