Nizamabad MP K Kavitha said Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao was committed to developing fisheries as a big industry with Rs 4,000 crore and renovation of tanks under Mission Kakatiya was also a part of the strategy. Kavitha laid foundation to fisheries society community hall in Jagitial town on Saturday. Speaking on the occasion, she opined that no successive ruler thought of developing fisheries as an industry. The occupation had neglected by previous rulers on the pretext of water shortage in tanks, she said. People had migrated to towns and cities in search of employment due to lack of livelihood as caste-based occupations losing their existence in rural areas. To restore livelihood in villages, the State government began efforts to revive these professions. With a view to protect people dependent on fisheries, various measures had been taken after the formation of Telangana, she said and added that it would take some time since a majority of the fisheries societies are defunct. Besides renovating tanks, fish seed had also been released in all tanks across the State. The Chief Minister also has an idea of providing marketing facility. Since it was not possible to sell entire produce in the village itself, it has to be transported to the nearby town for market. In this regard, the government was charting out a strategy, she informed. Talking about Jagitial town, she said they were contemplating allocating a portion of the old vegetable market to fish market after developing it. Referring to MLA Jeevan Reddy’s comments that education was more important for the children of weaker sections, she opined that both education and caste-based occupations were important. She hoped that educated youth would come back to their villages and take up agriculture and their caste-based occupations. Jeevan Reddy asked the MP to provide insurance facility to fisheries community since it was a risky occupation. She assured to take the issue to the notice of the Chief Minister. The MP also promised to take the proposal of providing pensions to the community people on the lines of handloom weavers to the notice of KCR. She participated in various developmental programmes in Jagitial constituency.