East Burdwan district administration has started some reform works along the stretch of around one kilometer on a piece of land owned by the Agriculture department to encourage the local youth in pisciculture.
The district administration is engaging some local people under 100 days work to dig up a waterbody where fish farming would be undertaken in which local unemployed youth will be given opportunity. The district administration has already initiated the procedure to dig up a waterbody on a piece of land of the district agricultural firm and 100 days workers have been engaged to dig up the waterbody.
The land had been lying unused for a long time and hence the administration has decided to utilise it for fish farming where people would be engaged. The works for cutting the shrubs have also been initiated.
A senior official of the Agricultural department in the district said the department was trying to utilise some local people under the 100 days work so that the land that had been lying unused for a long time can be made conducive for pisciculture. The department was also trying to dig up the waterbody during this monsoon so that the fish farming can be started as soon as possible. According to the official, local youth have already showed interest in taking part in the fish farming as it could become an alternative source of income for them.
The state Fisheries department will also extend its support in this regard so that fish production in the state goes up. It may be mentioned that the state government has already initiated schemes to engage more number of youth in pisciculture so that they become independent. The state Fisheries department has also been distributing fishlings to the youth free of cost through the formation of various self help groups in the districts.