Port Blair, Jun 30: Mr. S.U. Maheswar Rao, Governing Body Member of National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) – Hyderabad, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, GoI, Representative from A&N Islands, has proceeded to Hyderabad to attend an Interactive Meeting on 28th June 2022 and 29th June 2022 with the appointed non-Official members of Governing Body of NFBD. The meeting was attended by 14 State Governing Body Members wherein discussion on several developmental working projects were held.
Mr. S.U. Maheswar Rao has submitted his memorandum on the following major issues of Fishermen of these A&N Islands in the interactive session before the NFDB for their consideration, which will be beneficial for the local fishermen of these Islands resulting in the upliftment of socio-economic livelihood.
The memorandum included: Creation of Infrastructures like Ice Plant/Cold Storage/Refrigerated Vehicle / Insulated Vehicle” under PMMSY; Nutritional and livelihood support for fishers during lean period and also during cyclone; Construction of Modern Fish Market at Bathu Basti with all facilities for wholesale and retail marketing; Construction of 20 Nos. of Fish Vending Kiosks in the first phase at various locations of Municipal area for the women beneficiaries;· Construction of Jetty for Fishermen at Dugnabad Area; Establishment of Ice Plant of capacity 1000 blocks & Cold Storage (100 MT) per day to overcome the acute shortage of Ice Blocks & Cold Storage for the Fishermen/Fish Vendor/Fish Exporters at Port Blair; Inclusion of Fishermen Community of these Andaman & Nicobar Islands under OBC and BPL Category; Issuance of Permit to the South Andaman Fishermen for carrying fishing activities in North & Middle Andaman by passing through Baratang creek (nallah); Re-launch of the scheme “Fishermen Modern village” in these Islands under Pradhan Mantri Awash Yojana; Construction of Traditional Bonga Dounge under UT Plan Scheme instead of model Wooden FRP Craft approved by Director of Fisheries; Sanction of Working Capital Loan to the Fisheries Cooperatives Societies, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Aqua Culture farming in North & Middle Andaman.