#RajyaSabha reconvenes after lunch at 2pm

House pays tribute and observes a moment of silence for victims of #MumbaiTerrorAttack

Then, Tiruchi Siva, DMK is called to start speaking on #Transgender Rights Bill

It was Siva who first brought a Bill on this subject in #Parliament
Siva claims that in Tamil Nadu, his party had set up a welfare board for #Trans community, calls NALSA judgment a historic judgment - his Bill complied with judgment and was welcomed by the community also

But Govt Bill doesn't serve the purpose

#SansadWatch
Siva continues:
-Govt could have adopted my Bill, it was not about taking credit, my Bill was kept pending in #LokSabha for 9 sessions, then Govt decided to bring its own bill
-But #trans community rejected that Bill
-Its good that Govt accepted some of my recommendations
Siva continues:

- #TransBill still has many deficiencies
-Should be sent to Select Committee
-You sent #Surrogacy Bill also to committee because contentious provisions, so why not this Bill
-Many members of #Trans community agitating against this Bill

#SansadWatch
Siva continues:
- #Trans community calls Bill regressive, half-hearted, doesn't address our concerns
-Main issues - no definition for discrimination in Govt Bill, it just prohibits discrimination; definition of transgender also problematic; right to self identification not there
Siva continues:
-When country is celebrating 70th yr of #Constitution, we are asking #Trans people to go to a DM, prove their gender, and get a certificate- this is insulting and discriminating
-Bill provides for Nat'l council, but better to have a statutory commission like NCW
Siva continues:

-A Commission shud be set up which is also empowered to investigate and address issues faced by #Trans community
-Offences of sexual, physical abuse against transgender community inviting lesser punishment
- #Reservation not provided

#SansadWatch
Siva continues:

-Recently you amended #Constitution to provide 10% #Reservation to economically weaker sections, why cant reservation be given to #Trans community
-Ends his speech by again asking that Bill be sent to Select Committee

#SansadWatch
V. Vijaysai Reddy, YSRCP, supports #Trans Bill but also supports demand to send it to Select Committee
-Bill has some good and much needed provisions
-Prohibits discrimination and unfair treatment or denial of services to community
-Statutory guarantee of benefits like health,edu
Reddy continues on #Trans Bill:

-Claims that self determination of one's gender identity can lead to misuse to claim benefits
-If there is certificate of identity, how will self-perceived identity be enforced

Supports Bill

#SansadWatch
Derek O'Brien, TMC speaks on #Trans Bill:
-Official numbers- 7-9lakh, unofficial estimates- 40lakh, many dont come forward for fear
-Thanks Arun Jaitley for helping in passing the Pvt Member Bill by Tiruchi Siva, wanted to do something for the community
-Send to select committee
O'Brien continues:

We need to go beyond this Bill and look at other Bills which also need to change to address concerns of #Trans community
-POCSO
-Indecent Representation of Women
-Domestic Violence Act
-Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act

#SansadWatch
O'Brien continues:
-Stringent punishment given if rapes a woman, but only 6months to 2years if rapes a person on #Transgender community
-A college principal in Bengal is a transgender person- sends a fantastic message
-Needs further scrutiny, send to Committee
#SansadWatch
K.Keshava Rao, TRS also supports sending Bill to Select Committee, highlights issues with Bill

Most MPs bat for Siva's version of the Bill and ask Govt to reconsider its own Bill and work on it

#SansadWatch
Rao reads some figures from Budget:

-In 2016-17 Budget, Govt had allocated 50 croes for welfare of #Transgender community, but spent only 1 lakh, in 2017-18, allocated 4 crore, spent only 2 lakh and further reduced allocation to 1 crore in 2018-19

#SansadWatch
Rupa Ganguly, BJP speaks on #Transgender Rights Bill:

Who is a transgender? Physical and emotional aspect - those whose physical sexual organ dont develop properly, they become trans people, or if organs are right, but due to hormonal issues, wish to change sexual orientation!!
Ganguly speaks on good things in #TransBill:

-If there is early detection, good for parents and child

-Bill prohibits discrimination and unfair treatment

-if parents want to discard child, not permitted, if some community comes and wants to take child, not permitted
Ganguly continues:

-Its good that they have to go to DM, CMO to get certificate of identity, this means that no one can dupe them etc.
-Those opposing this Bill have some agendas need to read Bill properly, its beneficial for community

#SansadWatch
A. Navneethakrishnan, AIADMK makes some suggestions:
-Call the Bill - Third Gender Bill
-Allow setting up of councils in states as well
Welcomes Bill

Satish Chandra Mishra, BSP starts speaking on #TransBill:
-Raises issues with composition and functioning of Nat'l Council
Thaawar Chand Gehlot, Social Justice Minister responds to debate on #Transgender Rights Bill:
-Bill passed by #LokSabha twice
-Assures House that Standing Committee recommendations, Tiruchi Siva Bill and NALSA judgment taken into consideration
-Bill complies with Art 14, 15
Minister continues:
-Many states had been running welfare schemes for transgender communities, we studied all that as well
-Bill has no flaw as such- addresses most major concerns - regarding identity, discrimination, welfare, offences etc.
-Reads our provisions from #TransBill
Minister continues:
-In edu, employment, running for public office, access to public places, in giving house on rent etc. any kind of discrimination, unfair treatment is prohibited
-Regarding identity- they will get certification of identity according to their perceived gender
Minister continues:
-Earlier had a screening committee to verify gender, now removed, DM has already been giving certificates for SC, ST, OBC etc., they are empowered to do so for #Transgender community as well
-If a child needs certificate, parents will apply
#SansadWatch
As Minister concludes his speech, assures that whatever suggestions MPs have, can be addressed later

Anand Sharma intervenes- this Bill is about addressing historic injustice, therefore best to send to Select Committee

But Minister asks for #TransBill to be voted upon
Dy Chair reads a notice from Tiruchi Siva to send Bill to Select Committee

Dy Chair asks for voice vote and declares that 'Noes' have it

Tiruchi Siva intervenes- good that Bill is brought, send to Select Committee, transgender community is waiting outside, Govt will be exposed
Minister again asks for Bill to be passed (also makes an emotional appeal that Arun Jaitley itself had drafted this Bill) as Tiruchi Siva asks for division (though he had admitted earlier that Govt has the numbers to defeat him)

Siva asks Govt to show magnanimity

#SansadWatch
Lobbies are being cleared and House prepares to vote on sending the #TransBill to Select Committee

#SansadWatch
And division takes place

Ayes - 48
Noes - 67
Abstain - 1

And notice to send #TransBill to Select Committee is defeated

#SansadWatch
Dy Chair reads out corrected numbers

Ayes - 55
Noes - 70

And notice to send #Transgender Rights Bill to Select Committee is defeated

Then Bill is taken into consideration

#SansadWatch
As clause by clause consideration of Bills is taken up, some MPs move amendments

The amendments are negatived

Dy Chair presses forth with clause by clause consideration of Bill

#SansadWatch
MV Rajeev Gowda has submitted some amendments
He explains that the way Bill is drafted, regarding ability of child to stay in family home, children will be thrown out, requests govt to accept it

But amendments put to vote and defeated

#SansadWatch
Rajeev Gowda moves another amendment to provide counselling to people of transgender community free of cost
Amendment is defeated
Another amendment clarifies welfare possibilities in Bill
Defeated again

Not sure if MPs have even read these amendments, just mechanically voting No
And the #Transgender Rights Bill has been passed by #RajyaSabha

#SansadWatch
Now #RajyaSabha takes up Chit Funds (Amendments) Bill
#LokSabha had passed this Bill last week

Anurag Thakur, MoS, introduces Bill
-Chit Funds are legal, through a registration process
-It is subscription based
-Different from Ponzi schemes, unregulated deposits
Thakur continues on Chit Funds Bill:
-Key Advisory group was formed to look into Bill, was also reviewed by Standing Committee
-Recommendations made with purpose to reduce regulatory, compliance burden but also to protect interests of subscribers
Thakur continues:
-Limit of Chit Funds increased, foreman's commission increased, as hadn't increased in a while, needed to be pegged to inflation
-Subscribers could participate in meetings thru video conferencing also
-Chit funds can also be known fraternity funds
P. Bhattacharya, INC on Chit Funds Bill:
-In West Bengal, many cases of fraud came out
-Some cases being investigated by SC, some political, non-political people arrested
-People have lost money, still waiting to get money back, bit GoI didn't come forward to return their money
Bhattacharya continues on Chit Funds Amendment Bill:

-It's not clear how Bill provides relief to subscribers esp. those who have been cheated
-Send Bill to select committee and clarify these points

#SansadWatch
Dr. Narendra Jadhav, Nom., on Chit Funds Amendment Bill:
-Bill provides punishment for non registering a chit fund, which is only 2 yrs or 5000 fine, this is too low to act as deterrent
-It may start as Chit Fund, but gullible people taken advantage of, can become ponzi scheme
Dr. Anil Jain, BJP on Chit Funds Amendment Bill:
-Many scams happened in past, Bill helps curb
-Biggest financial inclusion exercise happened thru jan dhan
-development of chit funds not because of banking failure, but supplements banks
-Names some scams- Saradha,Rose Valley etc.
Jain continues:
-many of those involved in such chit fund scams being protected
-Claims that 15 crore people affected by chit fund scams, this Bill will help with that
-When draw happens, subscriber can join through video conferencing, brings transparency
Jain continues:
-Some arrangement shud be made to get such funds regulated by RBI or SEBI

Supports Bill

Manish Gupta, TMC starts speaking on Chit Funds Amendment Bill:
-piecemeal amendments, gut reaction, doesn't tackle deep rooted problems
-Bill doesn't weed out money lenders
Gupta continues:
-Act doesn't apply to chit funds established before act, shud be changed
-RBI and SEBI Act shud also be changed to cover chit funds
-Ministry of Corporate Affairs publishes data regarding companies on its website but how many people in rural areas can access that
Gupta continues on Chit Funds Amendment Bill:

-Govt shud consider making a budgetary allocation to return money scammed off people, insurance cover should also be provided
-Banking system needs to spread further so that people's lives not ruined by such scams

#SansadWatch
N. Gokulkrishnan, AIADMK on CHit Funds Amendment Bill:
-Bill helps people have access to funds, eases some regulation
-Those running such funds from households which could be poor housewives, should not subjected to undue hardships
-Stringent provisions needed against big players
Ravi Prakash Verma, SP on Chit Funds Amendment Bill:
-People get duped as not well aware
-Need an agency which can work on financial literacy, can help people make informed decisions
-Need a system to do credibility rating of those running such funds
-Attach property of scamsters
Amar Patnaik, BJD on Chit Funds Amendment Bill:
-Looking at this Bill in isolation not enough
-RBI or other regulators dont keep any check on funds, on credit coop societies
-all changes welcome but cosmetic, doesn't address root of problem
-No provision for whistleblowers
KK Ragesh, CPI(M) on Chit Funds Amendment Bill:
-Need deposit insurance of subscribers
-If chit fund company goes bankrupt, will RBI or Govt take responsibility of returning people's money?
-Chit Funds play an imp. role in providing financial access to people, but checks needed
P.Wilson, DMK on Chit Funds Amendment Bill:

-Bill expands coverage of Bill to rotating funds, fraternity funds, credit societies but doesn't define them
-Notices some discrepancies in text of Bill

#SansadWatch
G.C.Chandrashekhar, INC on Chit Funds Amendment Bill:
-193 regd. chit fund companies in Bengaluru, but 2000 unregd companies, 40-50K annual turnover
-Names some chit fund cos which have scammed
-80% chit fund cos family wonder, which hav 60% repeat customers, many frm rural areas
Dy Chair announces that discussion on Chit Funds Amendment Bill will continue further

Now MPs raise Special Mentions in #RajyaSabha

Chhaya Verma raises issue of connecting every household with water connection in naxal affected areas

#SansadWatch
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