Suryaa National Desk: Union Minister for Panchayati Raj, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Rajiv Ranjan Singh, also known as Lalan Singh, has commenced an official three-day visit to Sikkim. During his tour of Gangtok and Mangan districts, the Minister will launch development projects worth Rs 3.75 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). These initiatives aim to promote the fisheries sector and improve farmer livelihoods in the mountainous state.
As part of his itinerary, the Minister will visit a live fish vending center at Mangshila in Mangan district to interact with members of the Fish Farmers Cooperative Society. He is scheduled to review challenges related to fish farming and marketing in hilly regions. Additionally, he will release a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) book for organic fish farming and distribute Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) to fish farmers, along with checks to beneficiaries under the Chief Minister Matsya Utpadana Yojana.
The central government is focusing on developing a sustainable fisheries industry by utilizing the water resources and biodiversity of the northeastern region. In Gangtok, the Minister will also inaugurate dairy cooperative activities at the Sikkim Cooperative Milk Producers' Union Limited to strengthen the dairy sector. Officials expressed that this visit aims to increase the income of fish farmers and bolster the rural economy in the northeastern states.
