481 Matters under (Hil) Need to settle pending cases of Freedom Fighters’ pension ex- peditiously SHRI UTTAM RATHOD (Hingoli): Mr. Chairman, Sir, many applications for Free- dom Fighters’ pension from the Central Gov- ernment are pending with the Home Minis- try. There is usually delay in sanctioning these cases. There is a great discontent- ment among the freedom fighters as a result of the delay. The CentralGovernment should enquire into the delay and settle the freedom fighters’ pension cases recommended by the State Government at the earliest. (iv) Need to include Manipuri lan- guage In the Elghth Schedule of the Constitution PROF. N. TOMBI SINGH (Inner Manipur): Mr. Chairman, Sir, the rising na- tlonal consensus in favour of the inclusion of Manipuri in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution does not need re-enphasis: As to justification, Manipur is the official language of the State of Manipur. It is the medium of instruction and examination upto Xil class in Manipur. Manipur has been the language of administration and the judiciary for the State of Manipur for thousands of years still the British annexation of Manipur in 1891 and continued more or less in the same position upto Manipur’s merger with the Indian Union in 1949. ॥ is the mother tongue of more than two million people in Manipur mainland and Manipuris in Assam and Tripura. ॥ has been recognised as a developed modern India language by the Sahitya Academy. It has an ancient script of its own and has rich ancient medieval, modern and contemporary litera- tures particularly in the niodein and con- temporary spheres, original writina com- prising novels, stories, essays, criticisms poems, history of literature anu drama. Inthe sphere of translation it has covered the Mahabharata, Ramayana, Puranas, Upanishads, Smritis, Shremad Bhagwat Gita, the Bible and leading Bengali, Hindi and English works, International agreements till 1891 were signed in Manipuri by Manipur Kings. The Government is requested to take PAUSA 18, 1912 (SAKA) Rule 377 482 early steps to amend the Constitution to fulfil the long standing demand. (v) Need to withdraw the Increase in excise and customs duty on man- made fibre yarn SHRI KASHIRAM CHHABILDAS RANA (Surat): Sir, the recent increase in excise and customs duty on man-made fibre yarn is likely to dislocate the entire textile industry in Surat resulting in aloss of revenue in form of excise and customs duty to the Gov- ernment. This would also effect more than three lakh workers engaged in twenty thou- sand small powerloom units and ancillary units. Surat and surrounding South Gujarat region is the biggest centre for art silk and weaving industry in India, where more than 195 thousand powerlooms are working , producing about 45 lakh metres of cloth per day. Textile policy, 1985 inter alia stipulates reduction of taxation on man-made fibre yarn. Abid Hussain Committee has also supported this contention. In 1988, the then Finance Minister had reduced the excise duty. Besides, the last meeting of N.D.C. consented to transfer an additional excise duty to yarn from fabric. ' ॥ upon the Governmentto withdraw the present decision, which has an adverse’ effect on the industry. (vi) Need to bring Pay-scales and other facilities of Anganweadi workers at par with those of Government employees [ Translation} SHRI SARJU PRASAD SAROJ (Mohanlalganj): Mr. Chairman, Sir, through you | want to draw the attention of the Central Government towards Child Development Projects being run in the country. The con- dition of the Anganwadi workers and ‘Sahayikas’ working in these projects is be- coming miserable day by day. In my con- Stituency, Mohanilalganj, Lucknow and in its ah 483 idatters under {[Sh. Sarju Prasad Saroj) development blocks, Sarojini Nagar, Malhihabad, Purva, Auras and in Delhi, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and other parts of the country, they are not getting the full supplies of medicines, biscuits other ed- ible items. Under the scheme, people from high castes get 50% reservation and back- ward castes and Scheduled Castes are getting 25% reservation each, whereas high castes should get only 40$ reservation and backward castes and Scheduled Castes each should be given 30% reservation. The Anganwadi workers are consid- ered honorary workers and they get Rs. 275/ to Rs. 325/- only and 'Sahayikas’ get only Rs. 110/- per month. As against this, the employees working in the Children Develop- ment Project are considered as Goverrment employees. The Government has merely given as- surances so far for increase in the salary of the Anganwadi workers and no concrete steps have been taken in this regard. The Government instead of increasing their salaries, has all along been saying that these workers get honorarium, which is not a cor- rect reply. The Government should pay special attention for the upliftment of the women working in Anganwadis so that their economic and social level is raised. The Government has recently cel- ebrated the Girl-Child Day. How can Anganwadi workers and ‘Sahayikas’ develop the life of the girls properly when meagre amount is being paid to them. ।. therefore. demand from the Central Government that Anganwadi workers and ‘Sahayikas’ should immediately be given the status of Government Employees and they should be given the pay-scales and facilities being provided to the Primary Teachers. JANUARY 8, 1991 Rule 377.0 48 (vii) Need to name some street/road/ lane in Delhi after Gopabandhu Das, Shri Madhusudan Das and Shri Krushna Chandra Gajapat Deo, the eminient of Orissa [English] SHR! A.N. SINGH DEO (Aska): Sir, Delhi is not only a metropolitan city but also the Capital of India and the seat of Govern- ment. It symbolises the national integration of the country. Many streets, roads, lanes have been named after persons of emi- nence belonging to different States. Though many streets have been named after na- tional leaders, men of letters and leading personalities in different spheres, no such roads have been named after eminent per- sons belonging to Orissa. The Government is requested to name any street, road or line after the name of three of Orissa's itlustrious sons, namely Gopabandhu Das, Madhusudan Das and Krushna Chandra Gajapathi Deo. (viii) Need for early completion of Naval Academy at Ezhimala, Kerala SHRI M. RAMANNA RAI (Kasargod): Sir, there is slow progress of work at Naval Academy in Ezhimala Kerala. Thousands of acres of fertile and valu- able land has been acquired and thousands of people have been evacuated from this area by spending crores of rupees. But, the progress of the work is slow which causes great anxiety in the minds of the people. Except construction of compound wall and posting of guards, no work is presently going on at that place. । is absolutely necessary to complete the work of Naval Academy so that Naval Academy starts functioning in Ezhimala, Kerala immediately.