14:21 March 17
Questions taken up during the Question Hour:
1. Voluntary retirement of doctors of Dr. RML Hospital Delhi
2. Deaths of children due to negligence in treatment
3. Conservation of forts in Maharashtra
4. Power generation from thermal and hydro power plants
5. Recovery of the artifacts and idols stolen from various temples, museums and archaeological sites
6. Tourist influx in the country
7. Separate watchdog for online and offline retail trade
14:12 March 17
Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman in Rajya Sabha said, "The Competition Commission came up with a report in which several practices which where not true to the ideals of free and fair markets practice has been identified and the commission took an approach that through the advocacy powers it has, it will talk with these companies and have them do a lot of self-regulations."
13:53 March 17
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan in Rajya Sabha said, "Our scientists at ICMR are in touch with everything happening on this front all over the world. As far as retroviral drugs are concerned, we're using them on some patients and we've given approvals for using them only after all sorts of scientific assessment."
"We've heard about some research being done on Chloroquine in US right now. Approvals are given after detailed scientific scrutiny, not by Ministry but by scientists working at ICMR. We're trying best to deliver the best possible treatment to the patients," added Vardhan.
13:45 March 17
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan in Rajya Sabha said, "The doctors, paramedical staff, pilots, airlines' staff and especially those Indians who braved this critical situation & brought back Indians from other parts of the world, despite social distancing being the best way to safeguard oneself. Doctors across the country have been working honestly while taking all risks - I think there are not enough words to appreciate them. I thank all the doctors and paramedics of the country, on behalf of all of you."
13:18 March 17
SP MP Jaya Bachchan in Rajya Sabha said, "Till now we have never discussed about the pensions and gratuities of the retired teachers of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan."
"Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan teachers are not receiving their dues timely, after their retirement and they are experiencing this at a time when they gave their best performance."
13:03 March 17
INC MP Viplove Thakurin Rajya Sabha said, "Himachal Pradesh's economy depends upon tourism which has been effected negatively due to the outbreak of coronavirus."
"Hotel bookings have been cancelled and hotel owners are facing a lot of problems. I suggest that a policy should be formulated to provide financial aid to tourism businesses during tough times like these," said Thakur.
12:43 March 17
BJD MP Dr. Amar Patnaik in Rajya Sabha said, "When the country is combating the onslaught of the coronavirus and have set up testing centres and isolation wards everywhere. The question is- Whether our preparedness would have been proved had the epicentre of the virus been within the country?"
He also said there are many places which are experiencing shortage of nurses and paramedical forces.
"It is necessary that we have to do something very serious about increasing our expenditure in the primary and secondary health sectors and not just concentrate on the tertiary health sector," added Patnaik.
12:09 March 17
Rajya Sabha Live Updates
New Delhi:Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will table a statement showing the supplementary demand for grants of Jammu and Kashmir for the year 2020-2021 in the Rajya Sabha.
It was passed by Lok Sabha in December last year and was introduced in Rajya Sabha on March 2 by Minister for Human Resource Development Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank', since Rajya Sabha has passed the bill with amendments, it would now go to Lok Sabha again.
BJP MP Vinay D Tendulkar gave Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over 'demand for according permission to conduct bullfight in Goa to boost tourism'.
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh gave Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over 'need for informed debate and discussion on Law Commission's Report on Uniform Civil Code'.
Congress MP Viplove Thakur gave Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over 'demand for measures to help the hotel industry in Himachal Pradesh suffering losses due to Coronavirus outbreak'
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ruled out adjournment of Parliament over Coronavirus.