Smart fish parlours to come up in local bodies, will help provide organised employment to fishermen as well as ensure availability of variety of clean and fresh fish to consumers, said chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday. Speaking at the Budhni Kshetra Fishermen Conference,
CM said, assistance will be provided for fish seed production and shrimp-cum-ship farming through ‘Mukhya Mantri Matsya Vikas Yojana’. Kisan Credit Cards will also be made available to fishermen at zero percent interest rate.
Chouhan distributed fishing kits to 400 beneficiaries and motorcycles for sale and transportation of fish to 50 beneficiaries during the conference held at the chief minister’s residence on Thursday. In addition, 443 beneficiaries were also given letters of approval of the Kisan Credit Card. So far, one lakh 5 thousand fishermen have been given these cards in the state. Fishermen welfare and fisheries development minister Tulsiram Silavat, Vidisha MP Ramakant Bhargava, head of Salkanpur Temple Trust, Mahesh Upadhyay and a large number of people from Kewat community were present in the conference. Chouhan’s wife Sadhana Singh Chouhan was also present in the programme.
Chouhan said that our boatmen used to travel by walking or by bus. The Kevat community also had difficulty in carrying their material. They are being given two wheelers. So far, 50 beneficiaries have been benefited under the scheme. Along with this, a kit of material for fisheries and fisheries work is also being given. An ice box has also been provided with the motorcycle. Fishing material includes nets, hooks, etc.
The chief minister said that a strategy has been worked out to get the best out of various beneficiary oriented schemes besides ensuring training and upgradation of fishermen to increase fish seed, fish and shrimp production, providing market through effective marketing and branding, providing pond hatcheries, fish feed plants, boats and nets, working capital, employment along with the arrangement of livelihood.