As part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the State fisheries and aquatic resources (F&AR) department Wednesday distributed 20 motorcycles with ice boxes to unemployed youth at directorate of F&AR here on Wednesday.
Advisor for F&AR, A.Pangjung Jamir, who graced the programme as guest of honour, handed over the keys and documents to the beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)— a centrally sponsored scheme to bring about Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of fisheries sector in India.
Speaking at the event, advisor A Pangjung Jamir informed that the department was implementing the programme under PMMSY which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 10, 2020.
Advisor said the programme has enhanced fish farming and production nationally. He said the National Fish Production for the year 2022-23 stands at 174 lakh metric tons, 81% higher compared to 2013-14 production leaving India as the third largest fish producing country in the global market. He said the India exported 13,69,264 MT of seafood worth Rs 57,586.48 crore in 2021-22. Since harvested fish cannot be stored for long period unless frozen and stored in deep freezers or cold storage, the advisor said the department had come up with the idea to provide Motorcycles with ice box to the unemployed youth of the state to encourage sustainable fish business.
He said that the main objective of the programme was to generate sustainable self-employment for fish farmers and entrepreneurs. Jamir said it was aimed to assist them in marketing produces from fish farms and to procure better fish transport facilities to prevent severe spoilage of fish besides providing good quality fishes directly to the consumers.
Advisor requested all the beneficiaries to utilize the given opportunity with dedication and also follow directives given by the department. He said that to make fish available to consumers in hygienic condition at the right time required an effective marketing system involving the fish transport facilities. Jamir said the purpose of distributing motorcycles with icebox was to avoid losses due to spoilage and to transport the fishes from harvest area to kiosks/markets and also to distant locations where fish could be sold and fetch better prices for the producers as well as for the traders. At the programme, F&AR additional director A.R. Lotimenba briefly highlighted about the scheme. He said the department has already distributed two motorcycles on trial basis from the fund availed during the year 2020-21. Seeing its success, he said the department proposed for 20 motorcycles during the year 2022-23 to the ministry.
The pattern of funding is 60:40 where Central and State together contributed 60% of the cost and the beneficiary contributed 40% cost. He also encouraged the beneficiaries to utilise the motorcycles only for the sole purpose of selling fishes as mentioned in the MoU and try to provide best services to the general public.
F&AR director Rongsennungba told reporters that the beneficious were chosen from all over the state and they would be monitored by each district officer and ensure they were using it for sole purpose of selling fishes as mentioned in the MoU. If anyone was found misusing it, the director said their motorcycles would be confiscated.