Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Parshottam Rupala launches Sagar Parikrama Yatra Phase-V
Sagar Parikrama Yatra aims to resolve the issues of the fishermen and stakeholders and for their economics upliftment
The Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Shri Parshottam Rupala launched the Sagar Parikrama Yatra Phase-V in Karanja, Raigad, Maharashtra yesterday. The Sagar Parikrama Yatra Phase-V would be proceeding towards coastal regions like Gateway of India, Karanja (Raigad District), Mirkarwada (Ratnagiri District), Devgad (Sindhudurg District), Malvan, Vasco, Mormugaon, Canacona (South Goa).
In his address, Shri Parshottam Rupala highlighted the importance of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojna (PMMSY) scheme and other multidimensional activities of the blue revolution. He emphasized focusing on increasing fisheries production and productivity (for both inland and marine) and its associated activities, including infra development, marketing, exports, and institutional arrangements, etc. He requested volunteers to provide support in creating awareness of the schemes so that the beneficiaries can take benefit from the same.
About 6000 fishermen, fish farmers and other dignitaries participated in the program at Karanja (Raigad Dist.) Shri Abhilaksh Likhi, IAS, OSD, Government of India highlighted the importance given to the fisheries sector by the Minister and special funds has been allocated for the fisheries sector. Further, he discussed about the projects sanctioned in Maharashtra under the schemes such as blue revolution and PMMSY i.e., Rs 140 Cr for the fish harbour centre, fish landing centre etc. He thanked coast guards and the Government of Maharashtra for supporting the Sagar Parikrama programme.
Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying and other dignitaries interacted with beneficiaries such as fish farmers, fishermen present at the event. Many beneficiaries shared their experiences with Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and highlighted their issues as well as appraised for the tremendous contribution that the PMMSY scheme has been introduced to the life of fishermen and fishing community. Moving forward, he deliberated on the promotion of KCC and enthusiastically added that camps have been conducted in Coastal districts of Maharashtra, where the fishers and fish farmers were made aware of KCC registration & its benefits.
Further, he felicitated the beneficiaries like fishermen, fish farmers and other stakeholders with Kisan Credit Card and QR Code Aadhar Card/E-Shram Card. Following is the various beneficiaries list i) Felicitation of Fishermen (Dr Suyog Chandrakant Aher, Smt. Asmita Vivek Patil, Vithal Kolekar, Project Manager, Shramjivi Janta Sahayak Mandal Sanchalit), ii) Felicitation of Fishermen who saved the life of fishermen (Omkar Kantilal Pagdhare, Raju Patil), iii) Aadhar Card Hemant Parshuram Koli, Harshad Sakharam Koli, Shankar Narayan Nakhawa), iv) E-shram Card Beneficiary List (Rushiraj Janardan Koli, Vinayak Ramchandra Koli, Ravindra KhanduKoli), v) KCC Card Beneficiary List (Rupika Ramdas Nishandar, Gajanan Ramkrishna Koli, Umesh Gajanan Koli, Ramchandra Rama Koli, Manoj Janu Koli), vi) Compensation list of Fishermen (Peter EnasGariba, FransisPualPedru, James Mojes Palekar, SafrusPascuLakri, Rajesh Malwankar, Fransin Anton Pedru, Santosh Koli, JhonsonSandomar, Anton PascuLakadi, Vasudev Pandurang Koli).
Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying enlightened by sharing the concept of Sagar Parikrama and highlighted the following: i) People-centric governance model, ii) From 1950 to 2014, the investment in the fisheries sector was of around Rs 3,681 Cr, starting from 2014 government introduced the schemes such as PMMSY with budget of Rs. 20,500 Cr, FIDF with budget of around Rs. 8,000 Cr, Blue Revolution with budget of Rs. 3000 Cr, totally approx. Rs. 32,000 Cr. of total investment has been made for the development of the fisheries sector by understanding the ground realities., iii) Today, all the countries of the world are looking towards India for solutions and this has become possible because our government trusted the common wisdom of the people and encouraged them to participate intelligently in the progress of the country including fisheries sector development, iv) Interacted with various stakeholders to objectively assess their problems and aspirations. Also, reviewed the progress of schemes like PMMSY etc. in the coastal areas by the department. He paid special emphasis on creating awareness among fish farmers for the promotion of KCC, v) discussed an objective assessment of the wealth of the ocean and its potential for contribution to the economy in the fisheries sector.
Shri Sudhir Mungantiwar, Minister of Forest, Cultural Affairs, Fisheries, Government of Maharashtra, Hon’ble Shri Uday Samant, Minister of Industries, Govt of Maharashtra, Dr Atul Patne, IAS, Secretary (Fisheries), Government of Maharashtra, vi)Dr. J. Balaji, IAS, Joint Secretary (Marine Fisheries), vii) Dr SuvarnaChandrappagari, Chief Executive, NFDB, viii) Dr L.N Murthy, National Fisheries Development Board were also present on the occasion.
The journey of Sagar Parikrama is an evolutionary, envisaged in the sea across the coastal belt demonstrating solidarity with all fisherfolks, fish farmers and concerned stakeholders. It is an initiative by the Government of India, with an aim to resolve the issues of the fishers, and other stakeholders and facilitate their economics upliftment through various fisheries schemes and programs being implemented by the Government of India such as Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and Kisan Credit Card (KCC).
Sagar Parikrama shall focus on the sustainable balance between the utilization of marine fisheries resources for the food security of the nation, livelihoods of coastal fisher communities and the protection of marine ecosystems to bridge the gaps between fisher communities and their expectations, development of fishing villages, upgradation and creation of infrastructure such as fishing harbours & landing centres to ensure sustainable and responsible development through an ecosystem approach.
Phase I Programme of ‘Sagar Parikrama’ was organized in Gujarat, started on 5th March 2022 from Mandvi and ended on 6th March 2022 at Porbandar, Gujarat. The voyage Sagar Parikrama as Phase –II programme started on 22nd September 2022 from Mangrol to Veraval and ended at Mul Dwaraka, on 23rd September 2022 from Mul Dwaraka to Madhwad. Phase III Program of ‘Sagar Parikrama’ started on 19th Feb 2023 from Surat, Gujarat, and ended on 21st Feb 2023 at Sasson Dock, Mumbai. Phase IV program started from Mormugao Port, Goa on 17th March 2023 and ended on 19th March 2023 in Mangalore.
The impact of this Sagar Parikrama will be far-reaching on the livelihood and holistic development of fishermen and fisher folks including climate change and sustainable fishing.
Disclaimer: This is an official press release by pib.
