Port Blair, July 15: The Department of Fisheries in collaboration with Department of Agriculture and A&N State Cooperative Bank organized a Loan Mela–cum–Awareness Programme at Guptapara Panchayat Bhavan on Friday.
In his address, Mr Abdul Salam, Asst. Director Fisheries, South Andaman highlighted about various subsidy schemes under UT Plan, Centrally Sponsored schemes and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. He stressed on the need for linking of Aadhaar Card with Bank Account by the Fishers for Direct Benefit Transfer under various subsidy schemes of the Department. The Fishers were advised to obtain Biometric Identity Cards and carry proper identification documents and safety equipments while venturing in the sea for fishing.
The Loan Manager, A&N State Coop. Bank, Guptapara spoke about the Kishan Credit Card and loan schemes launched by A&N State Coop. Bank for the benefit of Fishers / Farmers. He informed that the A&N State Coop. Bank is extending loan upto Rs 25,000/- to any person / Fisher holding fishing license, Bank account in the Cooperative Bank for Fisheries related activities.
The programme was followed by a community interaction by Indian Coast Guard. The Deputy Commandant, Indian Coast Guard explained about the operational mechanism of Distress Alert Transmitters and advised the Fishers to carry DAT while venturing into sea for fishing. The usage of Life Jacket was also demonstrated during the programme.
Mr A. Periyaswamy, Surpanch, Gram Panchayat Guptapara expressed his happiness for organizing the programme by Fisheries Department and appealed the Fishers to avail the benefits of the scheme of Department and loan facilities from the Bank for self employment. Later during the interaction various issues were raised by the Fishers present in the meeting. The Asst. Director of Fisheries, South Andaman assured to sort out the genuine issues raised by the Fisher community. The meeting concluded with vote of thanks by Mr Sanjib Sutradhar, Sub-Inspector of Fisheries. About 77 Fishers/Farmers of Gupatapara Panchayat area attended the programme.
