Now Reading: Himachal gives 70% subsidy on boats, 90% on fishing gear
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Himachal gives 70% subsidy on boats, 90% on fishing gear
The Himachal Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, has rolled out subsidy schemes for fishermen. The fishing boat scheme offers 70% financial assistance on boats costing ₹50,000, so beneficiaries…
The Story in Brief
The Himachal Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, has rolled out subsidy schemes for fishermen. The fishing boat scheme offers 70% financial assistance on boats costing ₹50,000, so beneficiaries pay just ₹15,000. The fishing gear scheme provides a 90% subsidy, with riverine fishermen getting cast nets for ₹300 instead of ₹3,000 and reservoir fishermen paying ₹500 for ₹5,000 gill nets.
To be eligible, applicants must be active members of a registered primary fisheries cooperative society, have completed at least 50 fishing days in a financial year, and hold a valid fishing licence issued for at least three consecutive years. The state aims to modernise fleets in reservoirs like Gobind Sagar, Pong Dam, Chamera, and Ranjit Sagar, and improve safety and income. Subsidies will be transferred via the Direct Benefit Transfer mechanism.
The Indian Opinion
Critics may call this a vote-buying gimmick, but the subsidy directly addresses the high upfront cost of modernising fishing fleets. The real test is whether the mandatory 50-day fishing and three-year licence rule will be enforced. If officials skimp on verification, the scheme will benefit only a few influential cooperative members, not the thousands of genuine riverine and reservoir fishermen it targets. Watch the number of actual new boats registered in six months.
Source: hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
