First fully digitised National Marine Fisheries Census 2025 launched
Kochi (PTI): Union Minister George Kurian on Friday launched the household enumeration phase of the fully digitised National Marine Fisheries Census (MFC) 2025 at the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) here.
Kurian urged all officers and enumerators participating in the census to ensure the registration of all fishers and fish workers on the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP), noting that it is mandatory for availing benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY).
"Only fishermen and fish farmers registered on the portal will be eligible to receive financial assistance from the central government," the union minister of state for fisheries said, adding that registration could be carried out through Common Service Centres (CSCs).
Describing the census as a milestone in India’s digital and data-driven fisheries governance, Kurian said, "This edition marks a major technological shift as the first fully digitised data collection in the history of Indian fisheries."
Kurian called upon all state fisheries departments, local bodies, and community organisations to extend full cooperation to make the ‘Smart Census, Smarter Fisheries’ initiative a success.
Following the launch, live field data collection from Maharashtra and Kerala was displayed at the venue, showcasing real-time digital data capture and central monitoring of the process using two mobile applications, VyAS Bharat and VyAS Sutra — developed by CMFRI, a press release said.
The apps enable geo-referenced data collection, instant verification, and seamless transmission to central servers, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and efficiency, CMFRI said
According to CMFRI, the 45-day nationwide enumeration will be conducted from November 3 to December 18, covering over 1.2 million fisher households across 4,000 marine fishing villages in 9 coastal states and 4 union territories, with thousands of trained field staff participating.
The exercise is coordinated by the Department of Fisheries (DoF) under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), with CMFRI as the nodal agency and the Fishery Survey of India (FSI) as the operational partner, a press release said.
Economic Advisor to the Ministry of Fisheries, Dr Ajay Srivastava, presided over the function.
Union Fisheries Secretary Dr Abhilaksh Likhi, Joint Secretary Neetu Kumari Prasad, ICAR Assistant Director General Dr Shubdeep Ghosh, CMFRI Director Dr Grinson George, CIFT Director Dr George Ninan, FSI Director General Dr Sreenath K R, Marine Census Principal Investigator Dr J Jaysankar, Dr Somy Kuriakose, and Dr C Ramachandran also spoke.
The event was followed by a national workshop featuring presentations from coastal states and interactions with representatives of fishing communities.
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Youngsters should be made aware of UP's condition before 2017: Adityanath
Gorakhpur (UP) (PTI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday urged intellectuals and opinion makers to educate the younger generation about the condition of the state before 2017 and the transformation witnessed in recent years.
Addressing the "Prabuddh Samvad" programme organised by the BJP's Rapti Nagar Mandal at a marriage hall in Gorakhpur, Adityanath said youngsters must be made aware of the "era of riots, curfews, lawlessness and appeasement politics", so that such a situation does not return.
He said many youngsters today were too young to understand the condition of Uttar Pradesh 10 years ago. "If we do not tell the present generation what the state faced earlier, they will forget the consequences of misgovernance and appeasement politics," he said.
The chief minister alleged that before 2017, the state suffered from "goondaism, corruption, anarchy and exploitation by regional parties". He claimed that traders were forced to pay the "goonda tax", women felt unsafe and employment opportunities were limited, forcing many to migrate.
Highlighting the changes under the present government, Adityanath said Uttar Pradesh now offers development, security and employment opportunities.
Referring to Gorakhpur, he said the fertiliser plant has resumed operations, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is functioning smoothly and the Baba Raghav Das (BRD) Medical College has improved healthcare services.
The chief minister added that industrial projects worth Rs 15,000 crore have generated jobs for nearly 50,000 youngsters in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Adityanath said India has emerged as a global inspiration under his leadership.
Referring to global tensions and rising fuel prices, he appealed to people to conserve fuel and adopt alternatives, such as solar energy, public transport, electric vehicles and carpooling.
Calling intellectuals the "opinion makers of the society", he said teachers, doctors, lawyers and entrepreneurs have a responsibility to guide people in the right direction. He also urged citizens to remain balanced during both favourable and challenging times.
Local MP Ravi Kishan and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC Dharmendra Singh also addressed the programme. Mayor Manglesh Srivastava and several BJP leaders, professionals and social workers were present.
