Sagar Parkarma Yatra Phase IX concluded successfully in Chennai on Monday. The transformative journey, which began on October 7, 2023 from Thiruvadanai in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu, was aimed at addressing the concerns of fishermen, fish farmers and other stakeholders along the coastline.
During its nine-day campaign, the Sagar Parkarma Yatra Phase IX covered a wide area, including Pudukottai, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam districts, Puducherry, Myladuthrai, Cuddalore districts, and Karaikal district in the Union Territory of Puducherry. Included. The trip included extensive interaction with local communities to understand their issues and promote sustainable fishing practices.
About 11,100 participants, including fishermen, fisherwomen, scholars, and various fisheries stakeholders, participated in the Phase IX program. Of these, a significant number—about 4,600—were fisherwomen, reflecting the inclusive nature of the initiative. In all, the Yatra involved around 32,300 beneficiaries from the entire coastal region of Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
Sagar Parkarma’s mission goes beyond symbolism, aiming to address issues faced by fishermen and related stakeholders by providing a platform to voice their woes and grievances. The program emphasizes grassroots engagement and promotes sustainable fishing practices. The trip concluded with an interaction between Union Ministers and senior dignitaries at the Chennai Fishing Harbour.
Focusing on the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), the discussion revolved around effective utilization of government schemes. The Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy hoped that the implementation of PMMSY would greatly benefit India’s fisheries sector, increasing the income of fishermen and fish farmers while increasing the availability of fish. Through this, food security and nutrition will increase.
Additionally, the Union Minister inaugurated infrastructure projects with a total cost of Rs. 9,246.59 lakhs sanctioned under PMMSY. These projects included construction of fish landing centers at Periyakalpet and Nallavadu as well as expansion of the existing fishing harbor at Veerampatnam.
While spearheading Phase IX of Sagar Parkarma, Union Minister Prashotham Rupala along with key officials visited various fish landing centers including Anumandai in Villupuram district and Pudupatnam in Changalpattu district. During these visits, the minister and dignitaries met fishermen and fish farmers, appreciated their cooperation and discussed improvements in infrastructure and fish handling.
The trip also included a stop at the Mamallapuram Kapam Fish Landing Centre, where the Union Minister and senior dignitaries interacted with the beneficiaries and members of the All India MP Hatchery Association (AISHA). Discussions focused on disease surveillance programs in fisheries, training of human resources, and promotion of fish stocking and breeding. Prashotham Rupala encouraged AISHA members to strive for global leadership in MP production and related products.
Apart from these discussions, Union Minister Prashotham Rupala held a review meeting with officials of the Fisheries and Wildlife Department of the Tamil Nadu government. He stressed the importance of regular monitoring, evaluation and reporting mechanisms to ensure transparency and trust among beneficiaries. The Minister also emphasized the need for immediate implementation of Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs) to enhance animal health care.
Dr. Abhilaksh Lakhi, Secretary, Department of Fisheries (DoF) had an opportunity to interact with the fishermen during the event. He highlighted the success of Pre-Saturation Sagar Parikarma Phase IX, which ran from September 30 to October 6, 2023, covering 11 districts and 64 locations in Tamil Nadu and two districts in Puducherry.
The campaign focused on Kisan Credit Cards (KCC), PMMSY, and FIDF resulted in the approval of KCC applications worth Rs.531.30 lakh, benefiting 1,599 fishermen, fish farmers and fisher societies in eight districts.
First Published: 09 Oct 2023, 22:06 IST