Jhansi — A divisional seminar for fisheries stakeholders was organized today at the Jhansi district headquarters under the leadership of Dr. Sanjay Kumar Nishad, Minister for Fisheries in the Uttar Pradesh government and National President of the Nishad Party. The event witnessed participation from hundreds of fish farmers and representatives from fisheries organizations across the Jhansi division.
In his keynote address, Dr. Nishad declared that the traditional rights of the fishing community in Bundelkhand, long denied, will now be returned to them. “The benefits of fisheries schemes will now directly reach the community, bypassing exploitative systems. Contractors and middlemen will no longer dominate,” he said.
He outlined key government schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), insurance plans, scholarships, loans and subsidies, and cooperative revival programs, promising transparency and timely delivery to deserving beneficiaries. “Rivers, lakes, and ponds will belong first to the communities that have relied on them for generations,” he emphasized.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Nishad also made a significant political announcement. Recalling the 2022 assembly elections when the Nishad Party contested from Kalpi in Jalaun, he called it the beginning of a new era. “We’re not here just to support others—we will lead. The Nishad Party will contest from all Nishad-dominated constituencies in Bundelkhand,” he asserted, urging party workers to mobilize at the grassroots and raise awareness of the party’s ideals.
He further cautioned: “Leaders who win with Nishad votes and then defect to other parties should not consider themselves successful. Loyalty to the community is paramount.”
Call to Action for June 7
In a stirring appeal, Dr. Nishad called upon party workers to attend the upcoming ‘Balidan Se Netratva’ (From Sacrifice to Leadership) event in Lucknow on June 7, commemorating Akhilesh Nishad, who lost his life in the 2015 rail roko protest. “This is not just a tribute, but a declaration of future leadership,” he said, directing the Jhansi unit to ensure at least 300 attendees for the historic event.
Key Schemes Highlighted by Dr. Sanjay Nishad:
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Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)
• Grants for pond construction, seed, feed, and RAS-biofloc systems
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Fisheries Insurance Scheme
• Coverage for disaster, death, or disability -
Scholarship Scheme
• Financial aid for higher education and fisheries science studies -
Loan and Subsidy Scheme
• Subsidized loans and up to 60% subsidy for boats, nets, and ice boxes -
Reservoir Participation and Cooperative Societies
• Priority and reservation for Nishad communities in contracts and tenders
The seminar concluded with renewed resolve for both social empowerment and political representation of the fishing community in Bundelkhand and across Uttar Pradesh.
