PUDUCHERRY: In a first-of-its-kind initiative in India, the Puducherry govt proposes to introduce fish dishes in the midday meal menu for govt school students, said a release issued by the office of the fisheries minister.




The proposal was mooted during a high-level meeting chaired by public works minister Malladi Krishna Rao, who also holds the portfolio of fisheries and fishermen welfare, in the presence of Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) chairman P Jawahar and others in the legislative assembly.




Rao, while highlighting the proposal to introduce fish in midday meals provided to govt school students, said the initiative would initially be rolled out on a pilot basis in select schools in Puducherry and Yanam regions before potential further expansion.




The discussion focused on boosting marine resources , expanding exports, generating local employment and setting up fishery-based industries across the Puducherry, Karaikal, and Yanam regions. Jawahar proposed several targeted initiatives to bolster marine infrastructure and economic opportunities.




He said the authority has proposed to establish dedicated fisheries parks at Bahour in the Puducherry region and Polagam industrial estate in Karaikal and to enhance and expand mud crab aquaculture practices in the Yanam region. The authority would extend necessary financial assistance to execute these projects, he said.




MPEDA joint director Kandhan, the authority’s Chennai regional head Arulmurthy, director (fisheries) Mohamed Ismail, joint director Govindasamy and Yanam deputy director (fisheries) Konthaiya attended the meeting.