{"id":3795,"date":"2024-12-06T15:03:05","date_gmt":"2024-12-06T09:33:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thecord.in\/?p=3795"},"modified":"2024-12-06T15:03:08","modified_gmt":"2024-12-06T09:33:08","slug":"sikkim-mp-calls-for-green-bonus-and-financial-aid-to-support-environmental-initiatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thecord.in\/?p=3795","title":{"rendered":"Sikkim MP Calls for Green Bonus and Financial Aid to Support Environmental Initiatives"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On December 3, 2024, Sikkim<\/a> MP Dorjee Tshering Lepcha addressed the Rajya Sabha<\/a>, calling for the government to provide Sikkim with a Green Bonus and a Special Financial Package. The proposal seeks to recognise the state\u2019s exceptional commitment to sustainable development and environmental preservation while addressing the financial challenges posed by natural disasters and strict land-use regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lepcha highlighted Sikkim\u2019s impressive environmental achievements, noting that 82% of the state is under forest cover, with 31% designated as protected areas. He emphasised the significance of the Khangchendzonga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site<\/a>, as a symbol of Sikkim\u2019s dedication to conservation. \u201cSikkim is not just a biodiversity hotspot but a key contributor to global environmental preservation,\u201d Lepcha stated, underscoring that the state harbours 26% of India\u2019s biodiversity within only 0.2% of the country\u2019s total land area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sikkim\u2019s eco-friendly<\/a> policies have earned it international accolades. In 2018, it became India\u2019s first fully organic state, winning the Future Policy Gold Award from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. It was also declared India\u2019s cleanest state in 2015 by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) and recognised in 2024 as the Best State for Environmental Education by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite these achievements, Sikkim continues to face financial constraints. Natural disasters<\/a> such as flash floods and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) have further strained the state\u2019s limited resources, making additional support crucial for its sustainable growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response to Lepcha\u2019s appeal, Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, Minister of State for the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region (MDoNER), affirmed the government\u2019s commitment to Sikkim\u2019s environmental and economic progress. \u201cWe acknowledge Sikkim\u2019s invaluable contributions and will work to bolster its economy while advancing its environmental objectives,\u201d Majumdar assured.<\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"