Thiruvananthapuram, March 4: Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Production, and Minority Affairs, George Kurian, announced on Wednesday that the central government’s Fisheries Empowerment Project will play a crucial role in empowering coastal minority communities through structured skill development and livelihood support in the fishing sector.
The minister inaugurated a training and awareness program under this initiative at the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) regional center in Vizhinjam. This project, implemented under the Ministry of Minority Affairs’ Prime Minister’s Heritage Promotion (PM Development) scheme, is a significant step towards capacity building in the fisheries sector.
While launching the new phase of training and awareness activities, the minister presented certificates to candidates who completed the program’s first phase, which began last year at the Vizhinjam center. He stated that the Fisheries Empowerment initiative aims to benefit 690 individuals, making it one of the largest targeted skill development efforts for minority fishing communities in the district.
As part of this program, 90 participants are undergoing a 40-day intensive course to become hatchery production workers. The curriculum covers broodstock management, artificial breeding, larval rearing, feed and water quality management, hatchery sanitation, and biosecurity protocols.
Additionally, 180 beneficiaries will receive practical training in cage aquaculture, with a strong emphasis on sustainable marine farming practices. A key component of this initiative is women’s empowerment, with 420 women set to receive specialized leadership development training.
These modules will include communication skills, financial literacy, entrepreneurship development, awareness of government schemes, and collective action strategies. During his interaction with trainees, Kurian encouraged them to leverage this program to become entrepreneurial community leaders capable of creating local employment.
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