Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, March 27: Three days Fish Festival at Durga Mela Ground beside Goenka’s, Diglipur was inaugurated by Mr. Ankit Kumar Yadav (IAS), Assistant Commissioner, Diglipur in presence of Mr. S. Bhuvarahan, DGM, NABARD, A & N Islands, Port Blair, Dr. Siddaraju, CMO, CHC Diglipur, Mr. P.R. Singaram, Pradhan, Gram Panchayat Subhashgram, Smti Bupathi, Pradhan, Gram Panchayat Diglipur and Mr. Somoudip Paul, AFDO, Diglipur in the afternoon today. All the guests were greeted with bouquets of flowers.
A number of stalls have been put up in the premises of the festival. Stalls selling fish-made food stuff were on display and sale. The stakeholders of shopkeepers selling/dealing in fishing accessories found an opportunity to display their products while fishermen engaged in breeding fish installed/set large vessels containing fresh water fish and other fish hatchery equipment.
In his inaugural speech, the AFDO said that this kind of festival is the first of its kind in Diglipur. He then familiarised the gathering with the information about fish and its value added products. Fish are the prime source of omega-3 and getting enough omega-3s during pregnancy and early life is crucial for children’s development, the AFDO said. He said that stalls were installed by SHGs to sell foods especially made of fish and which are good sources of proteins. He then said that, this is the first time ever this type of fish festival is happening in Diglipur and is expecting that next year too, the festival will be organised and celebrated in a bigger and more enthusiastic way. He thanked the Assistant Commissioner and the DGM NABARD for extending their immense support in conducting this fish festival.
Dr. Siddaraju also shared the dais and spoke on the occasion. He said he is happy to see this type of festival in Diglipur. He said that Diglipur is a place where people love and prefer fish and ponds can be seen everywhere rearing fish in them which tell how people love fish. In his extremely informative speech, the CMO said that 100% protein is obtained from fish and some fish containing omega-3 are extremely beneficial for the children and pregnant women. He also said that the cause of malnutrition among one third children is the lack of nutritious foods containing proteins that are fish. Supplementing is also linked to higher intelligence and a lower risk of several diseases, the CMO added. Though red meat like pork is consumed by a large section of people in Diglipur, the CMO said that red meat contains bad cholesterol while fish are rich in good cholesterol. People having cardiac complaints should prefer fish over meat containing bad cholesterol. He said that this type of festival should go on so as to motivate people to eat more and more fish.
Mr. P.R. Singaram said in his speech that this is a new kind of festival and thanked the concerned departments for holding this fish festival. He said that fish are inseparable food stuff of the people of Diglipur and fish are extremely necessary for the mothers for the growth of their infants.
Mr. S. Bhuvarahan, DGM, NABARD told in his speech that, it was fantastic to see such a type of festival in Diglipur. He hailed the enthusiasm and exuberance of the President, Secretary and others involved in the Andaman District Fish Federation, N & M Andaman. He said that the NABARD is always ready to sanction loans under KCC schemes to the eligible fishermen/members of registered societies who intend to take the loan in order to mend their fishing nets, dinghies and other related requirements. The loan to be sanctioned is to the tune of 1.5 lakhs @ 7% interest; but if the loan is repaid within a year, the loan beneficiary will get 3% cut in interest and will have to repay the loan with merely 4% interest, the DGM, NABARD said. The Festival was funded by NABARD in coordination with the Department of Fisheries, Diglipur.
Assistant Commissioner told the importance of fish as a diet for people’s health and thanked the officials of the Department of Fisheries, NABARD and the Andaman District Fish Federation, N & M Andaman for organizing this type of festival which will undeniably boost the morale of the fishing community as well as the fish consumers. He expected this type of festival should be organised every year to promote the fishing sector in Diglipur and he concluded his speech assuring his possible help in such activities in future, officials said.
