Mobile Fish Vending Vehicles to be Launched Under Indira Women’s Empowerment Program

NEWS CHARIOT (Hyderabad, Jan.1 ) : The Congress government, under the guidance of the Panchayat Rural Development and Women & Child Welfare Minister Sitaakka, is preparing to roll out the specialized mobile fish vending vehicles through the Rural Poverty Eradication Corporation (SERP). These vehicles will be given to women’s self-help groups in rural areas, empowering them to start and run their own fish vending businesses, which will contribute to both economic development and nutritional improvement in rural areas.

A total of 32 mobile fish vending vehicles will be allocated to the districts, with one vehicle designated for each district. The total cost of each vehicle is ₹10 lakh. However, through the Central Government’s Pradhan Mantri Matsya Yojana, 60% of the cost will be subsidized, which means the self-help groups will only need to pay ₹4 lakh for each vehicle. To make it easier for these groups to afford, the SERP will help secure interest-free loans from banks to cover the ₹4 lakh payment, making this initiative financially accessible to rural women.

Apart from the fish vending vehicles, the government has also set up Indira Women’s Bazaars as part of the program, where rural women can sell locally produced goods, further promoting their economic independence. These bazaars will provide women with a platform to showcase and sell their products, giving them better access to markets and customers.

To ensure the success of these mobile fish vending vehicles, the government has provided specialized training for women. The training, organized by SERP, took place at the Nitham Institute in Gachibowli and focused on essential skills such as fish vending, preparation of fish dishes, and customer interaction. The women learned how to efficiently sell fresh fish in the morning and prepare and sell fish-based dishes in the evening, creating a flexible business model that can operate throughout the day. The vehicles have been specially designed to accommodate both selling fresh fish and cooking fish dishes, ensuring that they meet the needs of rural customers.

The program is set to be inaugurated on January 3rd by Minister Sitaakka, who will officially launch these 32 mobile fish vending vehicles. This initiative is expected to be a game-changer for rural women, providing them with sustainable livelihoods and the opportunity to contribute significantly to their families and communities. The mobile fish vending vehicles will not only provide economic benefits but will also help raise awareness about women’s empowerment and the importance of rural development.