Sagar Parikrama Yatra Phase VII Concludes in Trivandrum, Completing Expedition Along Kerala's Coastal Regions

'Sagar Parikrama' is a transformative voyage planned in the water across the coastal belt to show solidarity with fisher folk, fish growers, and other stakeholders, honouring our great independence fighters, sailors, and fishers. It is a Government of India initiative aimed at resolving fishers' and other stakeholders' issues and facilitating their economic and overall upliftment through various fisheries schemes and programmes implemented by the Government of India, such as the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), FIDF, and KCC.

The development of inland fish production has been remarkable, mostly due to aquaculture. From 28.23 lakh tonnes per year in 2000-01 to 121.21 lakh tonnes per year in 2021-22, inland fish production rose 400 percent. Sagar Parikrama Yatra Phase VII began on the 8th of June 2023 in Madakkara, Kerala, and covered the following locations: Pallikkara, Bekal, Kanhangadu, Kasaragode, Mahe (Puducherry), Kozhikode district on the 9th of June 2023, Thrissur district of Kerala on the 10th of June 2023, Cochin on the 11th of June 2023, and Trivandrum today.

The first day programme began on June 8, 2023, with Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Dr L. Murugan, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Saji Cheriyan, Minister of Fisheries, Government of Kerala, MP, Kasaragode, Raj Mohan Unnithan, MLA, Kasaragode, and other public officials in the presence of Suvarna Chandrappara Dignitaries have visited Mussle Culture Site, Madakkara, Pallikara Fishermen Colony, Kanhangadu, and Kasaragode Town Hall.

Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, and other public officials met with beneficiaries such as fish farmers and fishermen at various locations, and beneficiaries highlighted their issues such as replenishment, while also appreciating the tremendous contribution that the KCC and PMMSY schemes have made to the lives of fishermen and the fishing community.

Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying Parshottam Rupala emphasised the importance of improving fisheries production, productivity, and associated activities like as infrastructure development, marketing, exports, and institutional arrangements, among others. Beneficiaries, including fishermen, fish farmers, and other stakeholders, were also given Kisan Credit Cards and QR Code Aadhar Cards/E-Shram Cards. Approximately 5,000 fishermen, various fisheries stakeholders, and researchers took part in the Sagar Parikrama Phase VII.

The second day programme began on June 9, 2023. Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Dr. L. Murugan, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and K Lakshminarayanan, Minister of Fisheries, Government of Puducherry, in the presence of Dr. Suvarna Chandrapparagari, Chief Executive, National Fisheries Development Board, Thiru. D. Balaji, Director of Fisheries, Government of Pudu Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, discussed how he joined Sagar Parikrama to learn about the profession, life, culture, and current state of respected fishermen, which will help him prepare policy, and thanked everyone for their time. Dignitaries visited other places of Kozhikode district like Beypore Fishing Harbour, Samudra Auditorium. Kozhikode etc.

During the event, certificates/sanctions related to Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, Kisan Credit Card (KCC) &other State Scheme. The following beneficiaries are i) Raghvan, ii) Shivaji, iii) Narayanan, iv) Ranjith, v) Sushalal, vi) Rajeesh, vii) Biju, viii) Savithri, ix) Deepa D, x) Sathyan, xi) Kunhiraman, xii) Usha, xiii) Unni, xiv) Shijina, xv) Sajeendran, xvi) Vinod. Also, certificates/sanctions related to two-wheeler, three-wheeler & ice box were distributed to the beneficiaries such as i) Abdul Nizar, ii) Mohammed Althaf, iii) Abdul Muneer, iv) Jamseer P.K, v) Koya C.V, vi) Parambath, vii) Sidiq K, viii) Majeed J.P, ix) Sahad K, x) Subod, xi) Deepesh, xii) Noufal, xiii) Kamharudin, xiv) Udayan MP, xv) Muhammed Koya. In all around approx. 4,000 fishermen, various fisheries stakeholders, scholars participated in the Sagar Parikrama Phase VII program from different places.

Third day programme continued on 10th June 2023. Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, GoI, Dr L. Murugan, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying,GoI, Saji Cheriyan, Minister of Fisheries, Government of Kerala, in the presence of Abhilaksh Likhi, IAS, OSD (Fisheries), Shri K.S Srinivas, IAS, Principal Secretary (Fisheries), Government of Kerala, Dr. Suvarna Chandrapparagari, Chief Executive, National Fisheries Development Board and other public authorities touched the districts of Thrissur, Kerala with various locations like Nattika, Thrissur S.N Auditorium, TSGA Indoor Stadium, Thripparayar, Bhaskareeyam Convention Centre, Elamakkara, Ernakulam etc.

Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, GoI discussed the issues and its development opportunities with local people representatives, various applications have been received from beneficiaries to strengthen the fisheries ecosystem. He has also shared his opinion that carrying out the PMMSY scheme activities shall have a significant impact on the fisheries sector in India, aims to enhance the production and productivity of fish through the adoption of modern technology and scientific methods of fishing and aquaculture.

Abhilaksh Likhi, IAS, OSD (Fisheries), Government of India informed the major initiatives have been taken such as initiatives of  KCC camps, setting up team of technical officers for inspection of various infrastructure facilities. Also, 62 KCC camps were organized of which 744 KCC cards have been issued, 178 post-harvesting facilities have been sanctioned. It was informed that various fishing harbours have been launched, along with several projects such as expansion of fishing harbour, upgradation of biofloc unit, ornamental fishing, deep sea fishing vessel, cage water culture have been considered for improving the livelihood and strengthening fisheries ecosystem. Further, beneficiaries are like fishermen, fish farmers and other stakeholders were felicitated with Kisan Credit Card and QR Code Aadhar Card/E-Shram Card. In all around approx. 4,000 fishermen, various fisheries stakeholders, scholars participated in the Sagar Parikrama Phase VII program from different places.

Fourth-day Program was held on 11th June 2023 and covered various location from Cochin district of Kerala like Samudrika Hall, Willingdon Auditorium, Cochin Port Authority, Cochin Fishing Harbour (Thoppumpady), Thottappally Fishing Harbour. Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, GoI, Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister, Port, Shipping, Waterways & Ayush, in the presence of K.J Maxi, MLA, Kochi Constituency, T.J Vinod, MLA, Ernakulam Constituency, Adv M. Anilkumar, Mayor, Kochi Municipal Corporation, Hibi Eden, MP, Ernakulam Loksabha Constituency, Abhilaksh Likhi, IAS, OSD (Fisheries), K.S Srinivas, IAS, Principal Secretary (Fisheries), Government of Kerala, Dr. M.Beena, IAS, Chairperson, Cochin Port Authority, Vikas Narwal, IAS, Deputy Cahir Person, Cochin Port Authority, Dr. Suvarna Chandrapparagari, Chief Executive, National Fisheries Development Board and other public authorities participated at the event.

Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, GoIinteracted with beneficiaries, fish farmers, fishermen present at Cochin Fishing Harbour, Thottappally Fishing Harbour. He was very pleased that an interactive session helped fishermen, fish farmers to share their ground realities, experiences and to come out with their issues being faced. He thanked fishermen, fish farmers, beneficiaries, coast guard officers for sharing their suggestion for enhancing fisheries sector development.

On the sidelines of the program, Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, GoI, and other public authorities visited Mata Amritanandamayi Campus for further interaction with beneficiaries. Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, GoI, also met with sea food exporters association, where the members of the association expressed their concerns related to seafood export. In all around approx. 3,500 fishermen, various fisheries stakeholders, scholars participated in the Sagar Parikrama Phase VII program from different places.

The fifth day journey of Sagar Parikrama Phase VII continued 12th June 2023. Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, GoI, Abhilaksh Likhi, IAS, OSD (Fisheries), GoI and other public authorities visited Muttathara Fishermen village and Good Voyage Church, Vizhinjam International Port, Trivandrum, Kerala to interact with fishermen, coastal communities, and stakeholders to disseminate information of various fisheries related schemes and programs such as PMMSY, KCC. Applications have been received by Hon’ble Minister and beneficiaries have come up with their concerns which helped in understanding the ground realities.

Taking forward, dignitaries visited Matsyafed Net Factory at Muttathara, Trivandrum, Kerala and assessed the production process of net making and interacted with traditional fishermen and women.

In all around today approx. 4,500 fishermen, various fisheries stakeholders, scholars attended physically the Sagar Parikrama Phase VII program from different places of which approx. 2800 fisherwomen participated, and the program were live streamed on various social media platforms such as YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook.

Approximately 21,500 beneficiaries, including fishermen, fish growers, fisherwomen, and other stakeholders across Kerala's whole coastal region, contributed and participated in Sagar Parikrama Phase VII over the course of five days. Sagar Parikrama is helping to distribute information on government-implemented fisheries schemes/programs, exhibiting best practises, promoting responsible fishing, and demonstrating unity with all fisherfolk and interested stakeholders. Interaction with fishers, fishermen, and other stakeholders is also assisting in understanding the difficulties and concerns in the fisheries sector on the ground. The upcoming Sagar Parikrama stages would motivate and produce an impactful effort to address fishermen's issues and encourage them to take use of various programmes such as PMMSY and KCC for their benefit.

(Source: PIB)