Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala and Union Minister of State Dr.L. Murugan began the ninth phase of Sagar Parikrama at Thondi fishing harbour in Ramanathapuram district today morning.

Speaking at the event, Minister Rupala said that Tamilnadu is one of the leading States in the fishing Industry. He said that the State's fishing sector has been a prime contributor to the Country's economic growth. The Minister explained the various schemes implemented for the benefit of the fishermen. He also said that the Kisan Credit Card will be distributed to the fishermen who have applied for it. The Minister directed the officials to submit a detailed project report for the construction of a fishing harbour at Thondi. He said that the workers involved in making fishing nets and construction of boats can benefit from the Vishwakarma Scheme. 

The Minister said that the Union Government gave priority to women involved in captive fishing and ornamental fish growing industry. The Minister said that the Government will be involved in coastal cleaning activities and also in dredging in a small harbor in Jegathapattinam, Pudukkottai district.

The Ministers interacted with the local fishermen and reviewed the ongoing projects in the area. They jointly inaugurated the Manalmelkudi fish farmer producer cooperative society branch in the Thanjavur district. Speaking to the media, the Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan said that the Sagar Parikrama plan began six months back in Gujarat and travelled through all the coastal districts of the Peninsular region. He said that visiting the coastal areas was an opportunity to interact with the fishermen who are the beneficiaries of the schemes implemented by the Narendra Modi Government.

The Sagar Parikrama will be held till the ninth of this month. It will end in Chennai this Monday.