In order to generate employment in the State through fish farming, Directorate of Fishery started inviting applications from interested farmers in fish farming to provide help under Rs 20,000 crore Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojna (PMMSY). Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced that the Central Government started a five year scheme of Rs 20,000 crore PMMSY to promote marine and inland fisheries. A total of 55 lakh people are expected to get employment from this scheme. Director Fishery, HN Dwivedi informed that there is immense potential in the State to develop fishery among masses in the State so the department has started inviting applications under PMMSY from fish farmers. The department assigned the concerned official in the all 24 districts to supervise the selection of interested and eligible farmers who can get the benefit of the plan, he added. Dwivedi explained that it aims to bring a blue revolution through sustainable and responsible development of the fisheries sector in India. It also intends to augment fish production and productivity at an annual growth rate of 9 per cent, it strives to create direct employment to Rs 15 lakh fish farmers and about thrice this number as indirect employment opportunities and it also aims to double the incomes of fishers, fish farmers and fish workers by 2024. “Under this scheme, for the general class of beneficiaries 60 percent of total cost of the project will be invested by beneficiaries, in which the Central Government will provide 60 percent of the total cost and the State Government will provide 40 per cent. For the candidates of reserved category like OBC, SC, ST and Women the beneficiaries will have to invest 40 per cent of total cost and 60 per cent cost will be provided by the Governments including the Center and the State in the ratio of 60:40,” said Dwivedi. Informing about eligibility criteria for the scheme, the Director said that those farmers can get the benefit of this scheme who have a minimum 40 dismil of land and maximum two hectares of land. The input cost of the scheme is Rs 7 lakh for one hectare, he added. “The department has fixed July 31 as the last date to apply for the scheme but it also said that to promote the scheme to maximum numbers of masses it can further extend it,” said Dwivedi.