Rajya Sabha members discussed fertiliser subsidies, proposals for the decongestion of railway platforms and a new wage board for journalists, during Question Hour and in the Mentions.Fertiliser Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said: ‘‘Direct subsidy to farmers will create a whole new bureaucratic hierarchy for certification process and other such requirements, which will give rise to corruption.’’ He added that he was preparing an economic revival package for two fertiliser companies — the Fertiliser and Chemicals Travancore (FACT) and Madras Fertilisers Ltd. A similar package is being proposed for Madras Fertlisers. Meanwhile, RSP member N.K. Premchandran said it was the Centre’s ‘‘legitimate duty’’ to create a new wage board for journalists. There were several proposals for improvement of the Railways — from the development of 319 railway stations as model stations to emergency communication systems.The Railways Ministry is also examining how to cope with the holiday crush. Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav said his ministry proposed to install CCTV and speed up work on pedestrian bridges to check overcrowding.
