With the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik stressing upon providing shelter security to the poorest of the poor, the department of Fisheries and ARD has asked the Collectors to make special drives for construction of houses for the hapless fishermen.
The plan to provide shelter to the fishermen is known as “Matsyajibi Basagruha Yojana” (MBY). Department Secretary Bishnupada Sethi has charted out a road map for the MBY, which will cover around 2,000 fishermen in the first phase. Sethi has given out detailed information on the MBY, which needs special attention of the Collectors. Sethi has also given thrust on economic development of the fishery sector by promoting Pond Development Programme (PDP) with 20 per cent subsidy under the Centrally Sponsored Plan (CSP). Additional top up 25-30 per cent subsidy is being given to the beneficiaries from the State Plan.
For increasing fish productivity, the State Govt is giving 8 per cent interest subvention on short term crop loan to the fish farmers from the State Budget. But the banks are not showing interest. So the intervention of the Collectors is much required to scale up fish productivity and successful implementation of the PDP, said Sethi. Multi Purpose Farm Pond for Pisciculture is aimed at promoting fingerling raising activities through Rashtriya Krishi Vikash Yojana (RKVY) and the beneficiaries are entitled to Matsya Credit Card with an amount of Rs15,000 subsidy and pond construction for free.
The programme needs attention of the Collectors as very few ponds have been constructed, he said. There is ample scope for brakish water aquaculture as around 24,000 hectares Govt land in the State is available. The district Collectors need to take interest in the ambitious programme as only 189 applications for 500 hectares have been collected. Immediate action is needed to clear these proposals as those are pending with Tehsildars, said sources