In a major decision to boost the Aatmanirbhar Bharat efforts, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Rs 20,050 crore Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) on Thursday in order to promote production and exports in the fisheries sector. The PMMSY is an ambitious project which aims to double the fish exports in three to four years.
On the other hand, a slew of other projects related to fisheries and animal husbandry sectors were launched by the PM for poll bound Bihar. PM has started his speech in Bhojpuri then switched to Hindi. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, deputy CM Sushil Modi and union minister Giriraj Singh were also present in the video-conference event.
PM also launched e-GOPALA app, which will provide information “related to cattle care, from productivity to its health and diet”. The app will enable cattle owners to buy and sell animals, said a statement from the government.
Launching the scheme, the PM said, “The thinking behind launching sundry schemes today is to ensure that our villages should become India of the 21st century and the strength of Atmanirbhar Bharat.”
“Today the scheme is being launched in 21 states across the country. Over Rs. 20,000 crores will be spent on this in the next 4-5 years. Works worth Rs 1,700 crore are being started today. Under the scheme, several facilities have been inaugurated in Patna, Purnia, Sitamarhi, Madhepura, Kishanganj and Samastipur,” he added.
This is the first such comprehensive plan to promote fisheries in the country, he said adding, “The goal is to double fish exports in the coming 3-4 years.
The PM also launched other initiatives for fisheries, dairy and animal husbandry including e-GOPALA app, which will provide information “related to cattle care, from productivity to its health and diet”. The app will enable cattle owners to buy and sell animals, said a statement from the government.
Lauding the work done by the Bihar government, Modi praised Nitish for the scheme to deliver drinking water to every home. “Till four-five years ago, only 2 percent of people were linked to supplied drinking water. This figure has now gone up to 70 per cent and about 1.5 crore households are linked to the scheme,” he said.
However, given the primacy that Bihar received in the event, be it the presence of state NDA leaders, or the special mentioning of the several districts of the state for getting projects, or lauding of the Bihar CM by the PM, or invoking of Bhojpur; it was clear that government want to get electoral benefit from this launch in the upcoming state election.
