The Hindu : National : Rs. 736-crore scheme for fisheries sector

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Rs. 736-crore scheme for fisheries sector

Rahi Gaikwad

Mumbai: The Centre, in a recent Cabinet meeting, has decided on a Rs. 736 crore scheme to give an impetus to the fisheries sector, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said here on Saturday, at the golden jubilee of the Fishery Survey of India (FSI).

Mr. Pawar spoke of a slew of measures which are on the cards for the sector. He said his department has written to State governments asking them to reduce the sales tax on marine products. Other planned initiatives include subsidies for creation of swamps and motorisation of traditional crafts, grants for development of fishing harbours and grants targeting vulnerable sections.

The recent decisions, likely to benefit individuals, include an increase in doubling the insurance cover for fisherfolk and an increase in housing subsidy by Rs. 10,000.

According to FSI, the “harvestable potential of the marine fishery resources in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone is estimated to be about 3.9 million tonnes, of which the present level of annual fish production is about 2.8 million tonnes.

Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who also attended the event, stressed on increasing the scope of production by “tapping offshore and deep-sea regions.”

He also highlighted the need for increasing the educational level of the fishing community. In Maharashtra, which had 406 fishing villages and 3,20,000 fisherfolk, more than 1 lakh were illiterate, he said.

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