Question raised in Rajya Sabha on survey on poverty in rural areas, 03/08/2015. As per the latest estimates of poverty by the erstwhile Planning Commission, the rural poverty ratio in the country was 41.8% in 2004-05 and was 25.7% in 2011-12. On July 3, 2015 Government released on line the provisional data from the Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 for Rural India.

The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) estimates that disasters forced more than 19.3 million people in 100 countries to flee their homes in 2014.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on ICDS Scheme, 31/07/2015. Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme being implemented by the State Governments/UT Administrations.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on polluting industries, 28/07/2015. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has inventorised Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) in 5 states on the main stem of River Ganga and its tributaries i.e. Kali-east and Ramganga as well as Yamuna. The state-wise and sector-wise status of Grossly Polluted Industries GPIs in Ganga basin is given at Annexure. The industries discharging effluents in Yamuna at Haryana are 1211 and in Uttar Pradesh these are 2381.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on socio-economic condition of farmers, 28/07/2015. The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) conducted Situation Assessment Survey (SAS) of Agricultural Households (during January–December 2013) in the rural area of the country. In this survey, agricultural households were not categorized as below poverty line or landless. However, results have been presented by different size classes of land possessed.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on particulate matter in the air, 28/07/2015. The air quality problem is prevailing in many cities across the World. Some world’s cities are non-compliant in respect of particulate matter while other cities are non-compliant for benzene, nitrogen oxides, ozone etc. The study published by Energy Policy Institute, Chicago, in February 2015 is based on estimates /extrapolation and not an actual data. There is no established methodology to directly correlate quality of air with life expectancy.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Vehicular Pollution, 28/07/2015. Increasing number of vehicles, both petrol and diesel contribute to air pollution levels in the country. The analysis of air quality data of different stations in 28 States/ Union Territories collected during 2013 reveals that the values of SO2 in all 28 States/ Union Territories are within the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) of 50 µg/m3 (annual average standard).

Question raised in Lok Sabha on National Ambient Air Quality Standards, 28/07/2015. The National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) notified by the Government are at Annexure-I. The ambient air quality is monitored at 593 locations in 249 cities, towns and industrial areas across 28 States and 5 Union Territories by CPCB in association with the concerned State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees for UTs for SO2, NO2, and PM10 under National Air Monitoring Programme (NAMP).

Question raised in Lok Sabha on illegal trade in wildlife, 28/07/2015. The details of incidents of smuggling of the skin of tigers including the number of such cases reported during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise are at Annexure-I. Action against offenders is taken as per provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on data on polluting industrial units, 28/07/2015. CPCB has issued directions to the defaulting industries under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and directed the State Pollution Control Boards under Section 18(1)(b) of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 for ensure compliance by industries. A State-wise summarized status of the directions issued during the last three years and till date are enclosed at Annexure.