New Delhi, March 12 BJP Rajya Sabha member Dorjee Tshering Lepcha on Thursday sought a special incentive for young farmers to continue large cardamom cultivation in Sikkim.
Raising the matter during the special mentions in the Rajya Sabha, Lepcha emphasised the need to revive and strengthen large cardamom cultivation in Sikkim, which has long been known as the "traditional home of this valuable spice".
Large cardamom is not only an important cash crop but also a major source of livelihood for thousands of small and marginal farmers in the Himalayan region, he said.
Lepcha urged the government to enhance financial and technical support through the Spices Board of India for large-scale rejuvenation of cardamom plantations, establishment of disease-resistant nurseries, research on climate-resilient varieties, and improved post-harvest processing facilities.
"Special incentives may also be provided to encourage young farmers to continue cardamom cultivation. Revival of large cardamom cultivation will not only boost farmers' income but also strengthen India's position in the global spices market," he said.
The member said that the production of large cardamom in Sikkim has declined significantly in recent years, due to several challenges, such as plant diseases and climate variability, ageing plantations, and lack of adequate scientific support.
"This decline has directly affected the income and economic security of farmers who depend heavily on the crops," he added.
Aam Aadmi Party's Sandeep Kumar Pathak suggested that the government put in place effective controls to check fees, advertising, and the functioning of coaching institutions.
He said the "coaching industry", in the name of providing preparation for competitive exams, has become a parallel education system.
With limited seats and intense competition, parents and students are increasingly relying on coaching institutes, making coaching almost mandatory, Pathak said.
He said, their high fees are a huge financial burden on middle-and lower-income families, and as a result, the coaching culture has brought immense stress into the lives of parents and students.
In many cases, this has led to serious problems, such as suicide, said Pathak, the AAP's Rajya Sabha member from Punjab.
He asked the government to ensure "effective controls" on fees, advertising, and the functioning of coaching institutions.
BJP's MP Maya Naroliyaa urged the government to ensure ease of doing business for micro, small and medium enterprises through reducing regulatory compliance in Madhya Pradesh.
Bhim Singh, BJP's Rajya Sabha member from Bihar, asked the government to establish a National Commission for Persons with Disabilities in the country to ensure their empowerment.
TDP's Masthan Rao Yadav Beedha urged the government to consider enhancing the annual Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) allocation from Rs 5 crore to at least Rs 10 crore per member.
"Such an increase will enable MPs to respond more effectively to the needs of causes and strengthen grassroots infrastructure and ensure better developmental outcomes for the people," he said.
