Speaking as the prime ministerial candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here on April 18, Narendra Modi proposed what he called a “port-led” development and a holistic plan for improvement of fisheries. Many are hoping the model is executed soon.
The former Chief Minister of Gujarat — which has a Maritime Board considered a model to other coastal States — had said that Indian coastal States should shape an independent “port-led” development.
Addressing a large crowd at Nehru Maidan, Mr. Modi recalled that the former Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee had envisioned a ‘Sagara Mala’ project for such States, which need to develop rail, road and air network, besides building harbours and training the manpower to manage harbour and repair ship repair, among others.
Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Mohammed Ameen told The Hindu that ports triggered development in Gujarat. Shipping being the cheapest mode of transport, port development should result in state-to-state transport of goods and for tourism, besides export, he said, and added that would reduce the burden on roads and other modes of transport. In Karnataka, this [port-based] trade was missing and the only major port — New Mangalore Port – was being used as a substitute (transporting through it only as a last go), Mr. Ameen said.
“The ports are not connected to hinterland. If this is turned around, ports could be hubs of economic activity and lead prosperity of the State and the country.”
On fisheries, Mr. Modi had said that latest technology should be used to help the sector, suggesting the use of satellite-based technology to pin-point the location of a possible fish catch.
Welcoming the idea, Vasudev Boloor, vice-chairman of National Fishworkers Federation, an umbrella organisation of associations of fishermen in the country, told The Hindu that Mr. Modi should consider the demand for creating a portfolio for fisheries with an independent charge under Agriculture Ministry. With fisheries being part of agriculture, the issues of fisherfolk were not getting the due attention, he said. He also wants Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe tag for the community. While satellite-based information was being already used by deep-sea trawlers, he would await for the further steps Mr. Modi could take in bringing technology closer to fishing community.
MANGALORE: Seeking to take the country from low-end thinking to high-end activity, Mr. Modi had, during his speech here on April 18, recommended a village-based economy to put money in the hands of people while seeing urbanisation as a positive trend.
Citing “stagnation in the growth of IT industry” as an example of low thinking, Mr. Modi wanted the country to come out of the mindset of mediocrity, and “export both talent and labour” instead of merely supplying labour to the world in the form of call centres. He had said India should ensure its rightful place in sectors such as IT, BT, nanotechnology, genetic science, tourism, gems and jewellery.
