Department for fisheries will have a separate Minister: B L Santhosh

April 11: BJP National Organising Secretary B L Santhosh, during the fishermen’s meet organised by BJP Fisheries Cell at Sudheendra Hall in Canara Girls High School in Dongarakeri, Mangalore, on Thursday said that Fisheries department will have a separate minister during next BJP government.

He stated that the centre, as promised in the budget, has carved a separate department for fisheries out of the Ministry of Agriculture and has released Rs 500 crore in the initial stage to implement welfare schemes for fishermen community.
He mentioned that the central government has initiated ‘Ocean Smart’ programme for the development of fishermen community. This provides the information on the availability of fish in the sea, based on latest technology. The programme will benefits around five lakh fishermen, he added. Santhosh said that the central government had considered fisheries as an industry to ensure more facilities to the community
Members of fishermen’s association submitted a memorandum to Santhosh requesting facilities to fishermen on par with the farmers. . The members have also urged centre to scrap road cess for vehicles transporting fish and also to increase the quantity of kerosene for traditional fisheries boats in the budget.
Ullal Town Municipal Council President Babu Bangera, KFDC former chairman Ramachandar Baikampadi, leaders Nithin Kumar, Pratap Simha Nayak, Gopalakrishna Herale and Shobhendra Sasihitlu were also present.