NT Reporter
Panaji
The Union government through the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) has approved fisheries projects amounting to Rs 147.23 crore, which has benefited 463 beneficiaries, whereas projects worth Rs 107 crore has been approved under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), covering 4339 beneficiaries in Goa, said Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias
Lalan Singh.
In a written reply to a question tabled by MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade in the Rajya Sabha on July 29, Singh said the Department of Fisheries, Government of India has been implementing PMMSY from financial year 2020-21 and FIDF from financial year 2018-19 aimed towards a holistic development of fisheries in all the states and Union Territories (UTs),
including Goa.
Under the central schemes, beneficiary selection is done by the respective state governments/union territory administrations. “Government of Goa has informed that about 463 beneficiaries covering fishermen, fish farmers, fisheries cooperative societies and self-help groups have been benefited under PMMSY. Additionally, it was informed that 4339 beneficiaries are covered under approved FIDF projects in the state of Goa,”
said Singh.
In addition, he said the government is also implementing Central Sector Sub-scheme, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) and has launched the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) to facilitate formalisation of the fisheries and aquaculture sector through creation of a work-based digital identity and database for stakeholders.
“It also serves as ‘one-stop’ solution for access to institutional credit, strengthening of fisheries co-operatives, incentivising aquaculture insurance, performance-based incentives, fisheries’ traceability systems and training and capacity building,” said Singh. He said that the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility has also been extended to fisheries and fish farmers to meet their working capital requirements.
