The ordeal of filling 42 different forms to avail subsidies from the National Fisheries Development Board (NRDB) will soon be passé.

Beneficiaries can fill just a single form to avail of subsidies or assistance. The entire processing of the application will be completed within two weeks, claims the Chief Executive M V Rao.

The simplified form, will replace the existing one soon. This is part of the Board’s efforts to make delivery of services hassle-free and reach the beneficiaries and stakeholders, he told media persons today. Stakeholders include aquaculture farmers, seed, feed and processing entrepreneurs and women’s groups engaged in marketing endeavours throughout the country.

The Board’s most popular scheme for fishermen-assistance to purchase fish transport vehicles to both individuals and fishermen societies has seen the distribution of 1150 vehicles at an investment of Rs 11 crore, he explained.

Another Rs 250 crore had been spent on modernisation of 135 fish markets, 117 Retail fish markets and on Mobile Markets in Mumbai, Chennai and Andhra Pradesh.

Two States 

Referring to the activity in the two states, he said funds have been sanctioned for establishing modern fish markets at Hyderabad and Nellore districts. The Board has spent Rs 39 crore in Telangana and Rs 24 crore in Andhra Pradesh under various schemes meant for fishermen and particularly for supplying fish transport vehicles.

The Fisheries Board has also spent Rs 109 crores on building of 32 Fish Landing Centres and 21 Fishing Harbours development in 8 states including AP, he added.

India with its long coastline of 8000 km is annually exporting 9.83 lakh tonnes and producing 9.5 million tonnes of fish.

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