Thread by @_maadhyam_

#17thloksabha
Extended Session
Day 31

Agenda in #LokSabha

-1 Bill for introduction
Dam Safety Bill

-2 Bills for consideration and passing
Nat'l Medical Commission Bill
Repealing and Amending Bill

#SansadWatch

#LokSabha starts
Azam Khan apologizes for his comments made to the female MP Chairing during debate on #TripleTalaq Bill

Minister Prahlad Joshi asks him to apologize properly

Akhilesh Yadav intervenes brings up #Unnao, argues BJP always say 'Jai Shri Ram', not 'Jai Siya Ram'

Rama Devi, BJP MP, who was chairing the session at the time when Azam Khan had made the controversial remark blamed Azam Khan for habitually saying such things and demanded a strong apology

Finally, #Speaker intervenes and settles the matter

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Adhir Ranjan Choudhary, INC argued that House has been extended without consulting Opposition MPs, and MPs are also being denied opportunity to raise Qs, suggests that first Hour taken up as Zero Hour

#Speaker states that every day, at some or other time, Zero Hour will happen

Jal Shakti Minister Gajender Singh Shekhawat moves motion to introduce Dam Safety Bill
Several MPs oppose introduction
Arguments:
-Water Resources is state subject, #Parliament doesn't have competence to pass Bill
-#Parliament can pass Bill only if States pass a resolution first

MPs continue to argue:
-At best #Parliament can make laws on dams on inter-state rivers, not on dams within a state, for which states are competent to make law
- This Bill was considered by Standing Committee in 2010, its been 9 yrs, and many recos of Committee also nt included

MPs continue further:
-Andhra and West Bengal had passed a resolution at that time, and so #Parliament cud make laws wrt those states and other states will have to then pass similar resolutions
-But that Andhra Legislature also different from today's Andhra Legislature

Minister replied:

-25% dams between 50-100 yrs old
-Entry 56 of List I permits laws to be made by #Parliament on regulation and devl of inter-state rivers, river valleys if considered expedient and in public interest
-Solicitor General also advised the same

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Finally, #Dam Safety Bill was introduced

Now, House takes up discussion on National Medical Commission Bill

Minister explains provisions of Bill

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Minister argues on Nat'l Medical Commission Bill:
- Urgent reforms were needed in regulation of medical education, profession
-#NEET made part of Bill, there will also be an exit, licentiate exam after MBBS
-More seats will be available for students on regulated fee

Vincent Pala, INC, speaks on Bill:
-Raises objection on the licentiate exam, saying that a student studying from AIIMS might still nt be able to practice if not clear licentiate exam
-Bill provides for community health providers, but no provision for their training

A. Raja, DMK, speaks on Nat'l Medical Commission Bill:
-Raises concerns on states not getting enough representation in Nat'l Medical Commission, which replaces the Medical Council of India
-Also that MCI was a democratically elected body, but NMC will be appointed by Govt

A.Raja continues:
-Licentiate exam-first student gives NEET, then 5 yrs to clear MBBS, then licentiate exam, will harm, kill future for children from underprivileged backgrounds
-Who r Community health providers who will be given license to prescribe primary,preventive medicines

Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, TMC on #NMC Bill:
-Doctors burning copies of Bills today
-Community Health Providers, basically quacks, half of them not qualified, govt doing this to inc. no. of doctors, so, why have 5 yr MBBS, let there be only community health providers killing people

Kakoli Ghosh continues:
-Children made to go through licentiate exam, after going thru 5 yrs MBBS, many exams, internships, if still not qualified, teachers, examiners responsible
-Yes, there was corruption, doesn't mean that federalism undermined, states need to be given space

Kakoli Ghosh continues:

-Opposed NEET, people studying state syllabus, regional language face difficulties, first bring uniform syllabus, implement it, then NEET
-Opposes Bill

Then House adjourned till 2.10pm

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Lavu Sri Krishna, YSRCP on #NMC Bill:
-MCI was considered corrupt as mostly had Doctors, wouldnt take action against other Doctors, but #NMC has very few doctors, how can bureaucrats who lack expertise manage affairs of #NMC Bill
-State representation lacking in #NMC

Lavu Sri Krishna further states:
-Pvt Medical colleges being given more freedom to fix fee for seats, which will further make medical education restricted to rich
-India producing very few doctors

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Dr. Alok Kumar Suman, JD(U) speaks on #NMC Bill:

-Lists steps taken by Central Govt, Bihar CM in field of health
-Argues that more people will nw be able to take admission in pvt medical colleges as fee on 50% seats will now be regulated by Govt

#SansadWatch

Achyutananda Sawant, BJD on #NMC Bill:

-Bill is good
-But out of 18 lakh students who appeared in NEET, only 80,000 cleared, then 5 yrs MBBS, then again exit exam, already students committing exam for not clearing NEET, now suicides will go up, shud reconsider

#SansadWatch

Dr. Shrikant Shinde, SS on #NMC Bill:
-Defends National Exit Test
-States that earlier different boards, different universities, colleges would have their own final exam, now one uniform final exam
-But need to clarify how many attempts will be allowed, who will issue certificate

Shinde continues:
- Need to clarify who are these community health practitioner who will be given limited license to practice, Unani practitioner, pharmacy etc. No one can replace doctor, but for that open more colleges
- But supports Bill

Manish Tewari, INC on #NMC Bill:
-Bill doesn't make it mandatory to conduct evaluation of medical colleges b4 granting recognition
-Bill also provide that even if college doesnt have requisite facilities, but can provide so within a time frame, even then recognition can be given

Manish tewari, INC on #NMC Bill:
-Secretariat of NMC will be a non-medical person, provided to accommodate retd bureaucrat
-For only 50% seats in pvt colleges, only guidelines will be provided, even for these fee will nt be set, will help Pvt medical colleges charge whatever fee

Hasnain Masoodi, JKNC on #NMC Bill:
-Bill extends to whole of India
-But J&K enjoys special status, it has only 2 lists - Union and concurrent, every residuary power vests with state
-Reads some items from Concurrent list under which law may fall, but those wont apply to J&K

Dr. Heena Gavit, BJP on #NMC Bill:
-MCI had charges of corruption
-Now NMC members hv to declare assets, liabilities b4 joining & after vacating, this info will be in public domain, will bring transparency
-Also any Member will nt be allowed to act as advisor to college/hospital

NK Premachandran on #NMC Bill:
-Proposed NMC hs 20% elected members, UG/PG Medical Edu Board, Evaluation Board etc. don't hav democratic character, all appointed
-50% seats in Pvt medical college will be unregulated, fr rest 50% guidelines to be framed, bt will those b mandatory?

NK Premachandran on #NMC Bill:
-Those who dont manage to clear licentiate exam at end of MBBS, will they be considered as just 10+2 students, 5 yrs MBBS will not have any value
-No time limit to conduct evaluation b4 granting recognition to medical colleges-liberalizing procedure

NK Premachandran on #NMC Bill:

-All employees of MCI will lose their jobs as soon as Bill is passed, what will be their fate, Govt shud take a sympathetic stand

#SansadWatch

Minister Starts responding to debate on #NMC Bill:
-When I wanted to be Doctor, had to give many entrance exams, now just NEET, and improvement from 2017 Bill, now AIIMS also will be included
-80,000 medical seats, 50:50 between govt and pvt, state govts have also promoted pvt

Minister continues:
-Exit exam- if student doesn't pass, can appear again, but this exam will start happening after 3 yrs, till then #NMC will work on modalities, many concerns will be addressed
-If students dnt pass, then pvt college will also be forced to improve standards

Minister continues:
-1 yr imprisonment, 5 lakh fine for quacks
-All 36 Chancellors of medical colleges from State govts, members of State Medical Council will be on #NMC, states have representation
-In #NMC, 21/25 will be doctors, will be there for 4 yrs, no extension

Minister continues:
-Community Health Providers will be trained to treat ordinary ailments, need people to work in 1.5 lakh health, wellness centres, in remote places
-Reads out LANCET paper, mid level health workers placed all over world, quite useful if adequately trained

SPOT THE MP game going on in #LokSabha

Speaker had earlier given ruling that Minister need nt reply to points raised by MPs who leave before Ministers response

So, Dr. Harshvardhan before responding to specific points on #NMC asks if MP is there and only then responds!

There is confusion on whether a student clears MBBS first, then gives Exit exam in #NMC Bill?

Minister in his clarification seems to be saying that Exit Exam will mean 3 things:
-Final MBBS exam
-PG Entrance
-Licentiate exam

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As motion to pass Bill is out to vote, an MP asks for division

Lobbies are being cleared now and Bill will be voted upon

Meanwhile, at 6pm, House was extended till pending items are cleared - another Bill + Zero Hour

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Results of vote:

Yes- 262
No - 48

Motion to consider Bill passed

Now clause by clause consideration of #NMC Bill

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And finally the National Medical Commission Bill was passed by #LokSabha

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