Mr. Speaker, Sir, through you, I would like to know the number of cantonments in our country and whether experienced members have been included in these cantonment Boards to provide facilities. I would also like to know as to how the responsibility is shared by them and whether there is any move to bring an amendment in this regard.There are 62 cantonments in our country. Elections are held after every 5 years in all cantonment Boards. The elected members look after the affairs of cantonment boards. Decisions are taken in Board's meeting which is generally held once in a month. So far as the working of cantonment boards is concerned, the present set up is legal and appropriate.Mr. Speaker, Sir a very meager amount has been allocated for civic amenities in Nasik Cantonment. I want that all the facilities which have been provided to Bangalore, Mumbai and Pune should be provided to Nasik also.All types of facilities are available in cantonment areas at local level. Cantonment is an area where defence forces are deployed. Some facilities may not be available in civilian areas but water, electricity, roads etc. are available for them.Many complaints are being received from that area. A very meager amount has been allocated for this area. If you have any genuine complaints, please send them to me. I will immediately take action on it.Mr. Speaker, Sir, Hon’ble Minister is aware that today every party and every Government is talking of strengthening the democracy at grass root level. The condition of Zila Parishads and Panchayat Samities is very bad in my State. I would like to tell the Hon'ble Minister that 7 Members are elected from Jalandhar Cantonment Board of my constituency. However, they do not have any power. They are being treated as second grade representatives. Amendment is required in the present Cantonment Act. Even the citizens of this area are being treated as second grade citizens. In my view, it is the duty of the army authorities to take care of the welfare of these people. I would like to know whether the Hon’ble Minister will consider giving more powers to the elected representatives and amending the present Cantonment Act.Mr. Speaker, Sir, the matter regarding amendment in the existing Cantonment Board Act is under consideration for the last few years. Many amendments have been prepared. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence has also made a thorough study in this regard and has given some recommendations also. When the Defence Ministry referred the proposed amendments to the Law Ministry to present it in the Parliament, the Law Ministry was of the opinion that instead of making so many amendments in the existing Act, it would be better to legislate a new Act. A draft of that Act is under preparation. As soon as it is prepared, we will bring it to the Parliament. Through this act, we would be able to correct and improve the shortcomings in the existing Act.Mr. Speaker, Sir, as Hon'ble Minister has stated that as per rules members are elected and elections are held after every five years but how much power do they enjoy? They are only dummies. According to my experience, there should be no interference in these cantonment areas where the army is stationed but there are thousands of people living in civil areas and there is no one to listen to them. They refer their problems to Members but the Members have no power to get the work done. My submission is that the elected Members should have sufficient powers to solve the problems of the people living in civil areas. At present they do not have any powers. Nowadays all cantonment areas are adjacent to big cities.You have asked about the powers of the Members. I want to submit that all the Cantonment areas of Delhi and Jalandhar are adjacent to corporation areas. The Members of Cantonment Board do not have powers equal to the powers of corporation members. I do not say that there should be any interference in the military areas by these Members but the Chairmen of all the sub-committees of neglected civil areas should be elected Members. If the Chairman of the Cantonment Board is from the military, then at least Chairmen of sub-committees like Committees on electricity, water, road etc. should be elected ones. Such an amendment should be made to provide them with powers so that people in the civil areas adjacent to the cantonment Board could get adequate civic facilities. What is the view of the Government in this regard?Mr. Speaker, Sir, I have said that a new law is going to be enacted in this regard and the House will get an opportunity to have a debate to this issue, which will facilitate to remove the shortcomings if any and to make it more useful. Please bring the legislation as early as possible. (822) Submit