Fisheries growth hinges on adequate manpower

Fisheries growth hinges on adequate manpower
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Highlights

The government’s grandiose plan to make fisheries the fastest growing sector that would contribute to GSDP of the State, generating income and employment, may not become a reality unless it takes immediate measures to double the staff strength in the department.

Hyderabad: The government’s grandiose plan to make fisheries the fastest growing sector that would contribute to GSDP of the State, generating income and employment, may not become a reality unless it takes immediate measures to double the staff strength in the department.

  • The department presently has 370 staff members and 124 vacancies S Government expected to allocate 300 crore to fisheries sector

According to official sources the government is expected to make allocations to the tune of Rs 300 crore in 2017-18 budget. The Fisheries Department at present has only 370 staff members and this number is not sufficient to achieve the targets by spending the massive allocations.

Sources said that the government had allocated Rs 108 crore during 2016-17 budget but with the existing staff they could handle works worth Rs 50 crore only. For instance, each Fisheries Development Officers (FDO) role includes identification of beneficiaries, forwarding proposals, marketing and handling 13 to 14 mandals.

Besides this, most of them have been serving as in-charges for districts and Mandal Special Officers. There are about 40 officials in the State who have to attend meetings convened by senior officials in secretariat regularly and this affects their field work. “Unless the government fills 124 vacancies and creates 150 posts the intended results cannot be achieved,” said an official.

It is argued that the FDOs holding a rank of Superintendent can only handle 6 mandals efficiently, which means that their number should be doubled. While their additional task as District In-charge should be handed over to officials holding the post of Additional Directors.

In this regard, the department is going to submit a proposal to the government to induct youth who have completed their graduation in Bachelor of Fisheries on contract basis. Along with this, the department is also likely to submit a proposal to the Cabinet Sub-Committee on January 26 for buying new vehicles.

Officials say that they are not able to take up more field visits due to lack of conveyance facilities from district headquarters. They described this as a major hindrance for field visits, particularly to remote villages. “For instance Paleru Venkatapuram is about 250 kms from Khammam (headquarter). Visiting this place would be a tedious task without a proper conveyance,” added the official.

By Md Nizamuddin

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