Diglipur, Nov. 12: During the visit to Diglipur, the Deputy Commissioner, North & Middle Andaman, Shri Sushant Padha, IAS, accompanied by Shri Abhishek Gulia, Assistant Commissioner, Diglipur, and the Assistant Director (Fisheries), N&MA, visited a Fish Kiosk at Subhasgram established by a local beneficiary under the ‘Post-Harvest and Cold Chain Infrastructure’ sub-component of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
During the visit, the beneficiary briefed the dignitaries about the initiative and informed that he had availed an admissible subsidy under PMMSY for setting up the kiosk. He further highlighted that he operates his business through multiple online channels, including WhatsApp and popular food-delivery platforms, thereby expanding customer outreach and ensuring timely delivery of fresh and processed fish products.
The beneficiary also shared that he has successfully ventured into fish value addition by processing locally available prawns from Diglipur. The prawns are cleaned, frozen, vacuum-packed, and supplied directly to customers, yielding enhanced returns. The kiosk has contributed significantly to his livelihood, enabling him to generate a stable income while promoting quality fish products within the community.
The Deputy Commissioner visited the non-operational Ice Plant owned by Shri Binod Hawalader, son of Shri Bibhisan Hawalader. During the visit, the beneficiary informed the Deputy Commissioner that the plant has ceased operations due to the high electricity tariff, which has rendered its functioning economically unviable. He requested the introduction of agricultural subsidy rates for electricity tariffs, emphasizing that such a measure would benefit similar facilities facing closure due to unsustainable energy costs.
The Deputy Commissioner expressed his appreciation for the beneficiary’s entrepreneurial approach and commended the Department of Fisheries for effectively implementing PMMSY and facilitating meaningful livelihood opportunities for fishers and fish farmers in the Diglipur region. He remarked that such initiatives exemplify the transformative potential of Government schemes when combined with innovation, technology-driven marketing, and value-addition practices.