Steps taken to promote fish farming in State: Chouhan

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that fish farming has been promoted in the State.

Machhua Kalyan Board has been constituted to chalk out welfare schemes for fishermen. All have right over resources. Public welfare schemes are being chalked out in the State keeping this in view. Chouhan was addressing a function to mark State-level Machhuara Diwas here on Wednesday.

The Chief Minister said that efforts have been made in the State to uplift living standard of the poor and weaker sections. Better arrangements for water, power and roads have been made. Now, 24X7 power is being supplied to villages. Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana has been launched to provide one month’s ration in one day’s wage to BPl people. Rajya Beemari Sahayata Nidhi has been constituted for their treatment. Fishermen are being provided loans at zero per cent interest rate. 

Subsidy scheme has been launched for fishermen to purchase boats and fishing nets. He said that fishermen should educate their children and engage them in better occupations. Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Minister Ajay Vishnoi said that fisheries sector has also contributed significantly in achieving historic agriculture growth rate in the State. Now, Madhya Pradesh is self-dependent in fish seeds’ production. Fishermen are being provided 80 per cent subsidy on purchase of boats, nets and fish seeds. Over 500 houses have been constructed for them. Their children are being provided `100 per month education incentive. Fishermen’s cooperative societies are being provided upto `50 lakh financial assistance.

At the outset, Principal Secretary Fisheries Saleena Singh threw light on departmental activities. She informed that fish farming has increased by 13.09 per cent during last year. Fish production  has gone up by 15 per cent. State is pioneer in fishermen’s insurance scheme. At the programme, Chouhan awarded fishermen for best performances. He released magazine containing fisheries action plan and inspected an exhibition put up on the occasion. Members of Fishermen Cooperative Societies felicitated the Chief Minister with shawl and coconut. Fishermen’s Welfare Board Chairman Moti Kashyap, Vice-Chairmen Kailash Vinay and Sitaram Batham, Agricultural Production Commissioner MM Upadhyay were also present on the occasion. The programme was held by Madhya Pradesh Fisheries Federation and Fisheries Department.