The Bihar government has launched a ‘boat and net package scheme’ for fishermen before 2025 elections. Under this, up to 90% grant will be given on the purchase of boat and mesh. The move is considered an election strategy to influence Mukesh Sahni’s vote bank.
Patna: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced an ambitious scheme to strengthen the fishermen society as soon as the stirring of Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 increased. Under the ‘boat and net package distribution scheme’, fishermen of the state will be given up to 90% of the unit cost on purchasing boat and nets. This is considered to be an important part of the government’s election strategy. Political pundits believe that the scheme may have a direct impact on the vote bank of VIP (Vikas Human Party) and their chief Mukesh Sahni, as the fisherman society is an important basis of VIP.
Fishermen will now get ₹ 1,54,400 boat in only 16700
Under this scheme, priority will be given to traditional fishermen, fisheries cooperation committee members, women fishermen and SC-ST class. For example, the price of a wooden boat is ₹ 1,24,400, on which 90% subsidy will be available. At the same time, the cost of the FRP boat package has been fixed at ₹ 1,54,400 and the price of Faka net package is fixed at ₹ 16,700. This means that the beneficiary will have to pay only 10% of the actual price from his pocket. The government has made the online application process mandatory to make it transparent. Interested fishermen will be able to apply on fisheries.bihar.gov.in by 31 December 2025. Documents like bank account, Aadhaar card and fisheries evidence will be necessary for the application.
The selection process will be completed through a committee headed by Deputy Fisheries Director at the district level. The implementation of the scheme is expected to increase rural income, as fishermen will get better equipment. This will not only strengthen the economic condition of fishermen families, but the fisheries industry of Bihar will also move in a new direction. In addition, women and backward class fishermen will also get direct benefits through the scheme, which will also increase social and economic inclusion.
What is a dent in the vote bank of fishermen society?
Political analysts are seeing this as Nitish Kumar’s election strategy. The fisherman society is the main vote bank of VIP, but now that JDU has come directly to provide economic benefits to this class, the possibility of Mukesh Sahni and his party’s votes has increased. Before the election, the announcement of such schemes sends positive messages to the public in the mind of the public and highlights the activeness of the ruling party.
Nitish Kumar has introduced the scheme with social and political importance, not just limited to financial assistance. Boat and mesh package will not only provide modern equipment to fishermen, but will also improve their standard of living and production capacity. This step is considered a concrete initiative to improve the state’s fisheries industry and increase rural income.
This initiative of Nitish Kumar is a mixture of electoral strategy and development works. Thousands of fishermen families will benefit from the ‘boat and mesh package scheme’, the state’s fisheries industry will be strengthened and the electoral equations can also be changed. Through this scheme, this clear message goes that JDU is now taking active steps for the fisherman society, which has increased the challenge for Mukesh Sahni and his VIP vote bank.