Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 13 November 2025
The Deputy Commissioner, North & Middle Andaman, Mr. Sushant Padha, IAS, accompanied by Mr. Abhishek Gulia, Assistant Commissioner, Diglipur, and the Assistant Director (Fisheries), North & Middle Andaman, visited a Fish Kiosk at Subhasgram established by a local beneficiary under the ‘Post-Harvest and Cold Chain Infrastructure’ sub-component of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
During the visit, the beneficiary apprised the dignitaries of the initiative and informed that he had availed an admissible subsidy under PMMSY for setting up the kiosk. He shared that his business model leverages multiple online platforms such as WhatsApp and popular food delivery applications to reach a wider customer base and ensure timely delivery of fresh and processed fish products.
Highlighting his efforts toward value addition, the beneficiary explained that he has successfully diversified into prawn processing using locally available resources from Diglipur. The processed prawns are cleaned, frozen, vacuum-packed, and supplied directly to consumers, generating higher returns. The kiosk, he said, has provided him with a stable source of income while promoting quality fish products within the community.
Later, the Deputy Commissioner also inspected a non-operational ice plant owned by Mr. Binod Hawalader, son of Mr. Bibhisan Hawalader. The owner informed that operations had been halted due to the high electricity tariff, which made the venture economically unviable. He requested the authorities to consider agricultural subsidy rates for electricity tariffs to support similar facilities that are struggling to sustain operations.
The Deputy Commissioner appreciated the beneficiary’s entrepreneurial spirit and lauded the Department of Fisheries for the effective implementation of PMMSY in the region. He remarked that such initiatives highlight the transformative impact of government schemes when complemented by innovation, technology-driven marketing, and value-addition practices, ultimately empowering fishers and fish farmers across the Diglipur region.
