Bilaspur (Himachal Pradesh): Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday transferred a total of ₹52.50 lakh by Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to 1,500 fishermen of Bilaspur district under the Mukhya Mantri Machhuara Samman Nidhi Yojana, an official statement said.
The transfer, carried out during the CM's visit to the Jhandutta Assembly constituency, amounted to ₹3,500 for each beneficiary. Sukhu addressed a public meeting at Dhrarsanni where he announced several measures aimed at strengthening the fishing community and local infrastructure.
Key financial and policy decisions announced
Sukhu said the state government had taken steps to ease financial burdens on fishermen and fishing societies and to improve the supply chain for fish products. The announcements included:
- Waiver of the five-fold penalty previously imposed on fishermen societies.
- Increase in the subsidy for setting up cold storage units from 70% to 80%.
- Sanction of ₹50 lakh for provision of life jackets for fishermen across the state.
- Allocation of ₹10 lakh for creating landing facilities.
- Sanction of ₹10 lakh each for completing 10 link roads in the Jhandutta constituency.
- Provision of a 70% subsidy on refrigerated vehicles to aid transportation of fish to major markets such as Delhi and Chandigarh.
Sukhu also announced academic additions for the area, saying BCA and BBA classes would be started at the Government Degree College, Jhandutta.
"The government has plugged avenues of corruption and the savings are being utilised for the welfare of fishermen and schemes supporting higher education for orphaned and other deserving children," Sukhu said, according to the report of his public address.
He further referred to the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, saying it had been reinstated by the Congress government in its first Cabinet meeting, a move he presented as part of broader pro-employee measures.
Change in royalty and administrative rationale
The CM said the royalty on fish caught from reservoirs had been progressively reduced: from 15% earlier to 7.50% in 2025-26 and now brought down further to 1%, according to the announcement. Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani was reported as saying that government policies had yielded several important decisions for the welfare of the fishing community.
| Measure | Detail |
|---|---|
| DBT to fishermen | ₹52.50 lakh to 1,500 beneficiaries (₹3,500 each) |
| Cold storage subsidy | Increased from 70% to 80% |
| Refrigerated vehicle subsidy | 70% subsidy to facilitate transport to major markets |
| Royalty on reservoir fish | Reduced to 1% (from 7.5% in 2025-26 and 15% earlier) |
| Life jackets | ₹50 lakh sanctioned for fishermen safety |
| Landing facilities | ₹10 lakh sanctioned |
| Link roads, Jhandutta | ₹10 lakh sanctioned for each of 10 link roads |
Local implications and context
The measures announced aim to address both immediate relief and infrastructure needs for Bilaspur's fishing community. The cash transfer under the Mukhya Mantri Machhuara Samman Nidhi Yojana provides direct, short-term financial support, while higher subsidies for cold storage and refrigerated vehicles target post-harvest losses and market access. Reduced royalty rates and penalty waivers are intended to lower recurring costs for those engaged in reservoir fishing.
By sanctioning funds for landing facilities and link roads, the state government signalled an intent to improve local connectivity and fish-handling infrastructure within the Jhandutta constituency of Bilaspur district. The introduction of BCA and BBA courses at the Government Degree College in Jhandutta was presented as an investment in local higher education opportunities.
Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani was cited as supporting the policy decisions, saying they reflected government priorities for the fishing community. The CM framed the measures as part of wider administrative reforms and spending reallocations following what he described as steps to reduce corruption.
All figures and measures above were announced by the Chief Minister and cited in reports of his public meeting at Dhrarsanni during his visit to the Jhandutta Assembly constituency.
