SAGAR PARIKRAMA

Why in News?

Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Shri Parshottam Rupala will start the Sagar Parikrama Phase X today wherein Union Minister will be travelling onboard Coast Guard Ship from Chennai to enter into coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh to interact with the fishers and stakeholders of the fisheries sector.

What is Sagar Parikrama?
The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India launched the ‘Sagar Parikrama’ program on the occasion of 75th Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Sagar Parikrama program is being organized through a pre-decided sea route covering coastal states/UTs.

Sagar Parikrama’ aims to
(i) facilitate interaction with fishermen, coastal communities and stakeholders so as to disseminate information of various fisheries related schemes and programs being implemented by the Government,
(ii) demonstrating solidarity with all fisher folk, fish farmers and concerned stakeholders as a spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat
(iii) promote responsible fisheries with focus on sustainable balance between the utilization of marine fisheries resources for food security of nation and livelihoods of coastal fisher communities, and
(iv) protection of marine ecosystems. 

‘Sagar Parikrama’ program envisages to cover the maritime States/UTs in a phased manner. The fishermen, fisher communities and stakeholders in the coastal areas are likely to be benefitted with awareness of various beneficiary-oriented schemes and programs being implemented by the Government and showcasing them the best practices that may be adopted. The interaction programs being organizedduring the ‘Sagar Parikrama’ aims to resolve the issues of the fishers and other stakeholders and to facilitate their economic up-liftment through various fisheries schemes and programs being implemented by the Government of India, such as ‘Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana’ (PMMSY) a flagship scheme with highest ever estimated investment of Rs.20,050 crore in fisheries sector, ‘Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund’ (FIDF) of Rs. 7522.48 crore to provide concessional finance to eligible entities, and the facility of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) which has been extended for fishers and fish farmers. In addition to the schemes and programs of fisheries sector, the ‘Sagar Parikrama’ program envisages creation of awareness on various other schemes and programs of the Government of India.

The nine phases of Sagar Parikrama have been completed and has covered 4,115 km in 9 Coastal states/UTs including Gujarat, Diu & Daman, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.