Demand for Bharat Ratna for social reformer Jyotiba Phule

He was known for his work on upliftment of dalits and education of women

A demand to confer Bharat Ratna to social reformer Jyotiba Phule, known for his work on upliftment of dalits and education of women, was made in the Lok Sabha during the Zero Hour on Friday.

The demand was made by Boinapally Vinod Kumar (RTS) and Rahul Shewale (Shivsena).

Satyapal Singh (BJP) demanded seperate provision in the curriculum for hotel management and catering for vegetarians as it will help popularise vegetarianism.

"Many universities and institutes offering hotel management degrees and diploma have a mandatory course on preparing non-vegetarian food. Since there is a substantial vegetarians in India, many opt out of the course," Singh said.

Jagdambika Pal (BJP) raised the issue of death of three children and an anganwadi worker in Mathura after consuming packaged milk, which was supplied through the mid-day meal scheme and demanded action against those responsible for it besides compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the family of the deceased.

Santosh Ahlawat (BJP) said several people have died in her Jhunjhunu constituency due to cancer after drinking arsenic water. She demanded a multi-speciality hospital in Jhunjhunu.

Ramesh Bidhuri (BJP) said since Delhi has a lot of archeaological sites, strigent laws are becoming a hindrance for development as even a road cannot be enlarged.

Highlighting the plight of Bundelkhand, which has been facing a a third consecutive drought, Pushpendra Singh Chandel (BJP) said the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh has still not disbursed Rs 1,304 crore meant for farmers following the drought despite instructions from the Centre.

With the crashing of onion prices, Pralhad Patel (BJP) said while the Centre is procuring over 15 lakh tonnes of onions, states who consume more onion should also buy excess yield.

Shankar Prasad Dutta (CPI-M) said salaries have not been paid to over 1,050 workers of Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd in Pune over the last 18 months, which is leading them to a starvation like situation.

Mahendra Nath Pandey (BJP) raised the issue of over 3 lakhs vacant posts of teachers. He said that when a demand was made to fill the posts by youth, they were lathi-charged.

It was worse than Jallianwala Baug episode, he said.