Six Punjab shrimp farmers invited to R-Day celebrations in Delhi

The Centre has invited six Punjab shrimp farmers and their family members to attend the three-day Republic Day celebrations as special guests in New Delhi on January 26.

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The invitation was sent by the Department of Fisheries.

Those invited are Harmeet Singh of Fazilka, Robindeep Kaur from Mansa, Kamaljit Singh and Narinderjit Kaur from Ludhiana, Rupinder Kaur from Muktsar and Sukhraj Singh Sandhu from Mohali.

The progressive farmers had earlier received assistance varying from 40% to 60% of the total cost born by them to launch their shrimp farming initiatives under the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).

Punjab Fisheries Department Director Jasvir Singh said the scheme is being implemented by the Centre and state governments jointly.

Under this scheme, a subsidy of over Rs 26 crores has been disbursed to more than 500 beneficiaries by the Fisheries Department in Punjab so far.

Muktsar: Meanwhile, Rupinder Kaur said she and her husband Manjinder Singh will be attending the Republic Day programme from January 25-27.

“We will be flown from Chandigarh to Delhi. This is the first time when someone from our village or area has been invited to such a prestigious event,” said 30-year-old Rupinder, a graduate who started shrimp farming in 2011.

Kewal Krishan, Assistant Director, Fisheries, Muktsar, said Rupinder and her husband had started shrimp farming in a pond on four acres.

“Gradually, they started shrimp farming in 12 acres at Enna Khera village in Muktsar district and Dhabhan Kokrian village in Fazilka district,” he said.

Muktsar district, with 400 acres under shrimp farming, ranks first in the state. The shrimp farming is done in saline water.

Under the (PMMSY), the Centre and state government give 40% subsidy to general category entrepreneurs, 60% to the SC/ST people and women to start shrimp farming.

Nearly half of the total area in the state under shrimp farming is in Muktsar district alone because of the easy availability of saline water due to waterlogging. Further, the district has fish farming on nearly 1,800 acres. -- TNS