Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday virtually inaugurated 18 cage culture units and 11 pen culture units under the Loktak Livelihood Mission.
Speaking as chief guest of the function, N Biren Singh said that the Loktak Livelihood Mission, which was launched in 2018, is an initiative of the state government for bringing improvement in the livelihood of people living on the periphery of Loktak Lake. He stated that it aims to increase the income of farmers by utilizing marshy land in and around the lake. The mission also aimed at providing employment opportunities to fish farmers and youths of the state, he added.
The chief minister stated that the state was spending around Rs 400 crore annually for procurement of fish from outside the state. After the installation of the BJP-led government in 2017, the government decided to have self-sufficiency in fish production and to save draining of crores of money in fish imports, he added.
The state had saved over Rs 100 crore in fish import, he said. He further maintained that a total of Rs 15 crore have been earmarked in the budget for the Loktak Livelihood Mission. He appreciated the Minister for fisheries, Commissioner, Director and other officials of the department for making the mission successful.
N Biren Singh mentioned that 18 Cage Culture units and 11 Pen culture units have been constructed and being installed today at various places of Loktak Lake, Takmu Lake and Thanga for ensuring sustainable economy of the people and increasing fish production in the State.
He also stated that more and more units of Cage Culture and Pen Culture would be installed in the near future in and around Loktak Lake in order to provide more economic benefits to the local fisherman communities for their sustainable livelihood. He further appealed to the people to extend their valuable support and cooperation towards achieving Atmanirbhar Manipur and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Minister for Fisheries S Rajen Singh, deputy speaker K Robindro Singh, MP (Rajya Sabha) Maharajah Leishemba Sanajaoba, Commissioner (Fisheries) M Harekrishna, Director (Fisheries) H Balkrisna Singh and others were present during the function.
Prior to this programme, the chief minister inaugurated Astro Turf at Kazipphung village, Hungpung and VIP seating gallery at Ukhrul headquarters ground, Ukhrul via video conferencing. N Biren also unveiled the statues of Thangal General and Chirai Thangal at Mayangkhang, Kangpokpi district through video conferencing.
