Patna: The Bihar government has launched an ambitious initiative to boost employment and entrepreneurship through aquaculture in the state’s plateau regions, targeting Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes with generous subsidies and support.
Under the scheme, overseen by the Directorate of Fisheries within the Animal and Fisheries Resources Department, beneficiaries will receive financial assistance to construct fish ponds and install related infrastructure in select districts of south Bihar. These include Banka, Aurangabad, Gaya, Kaimur, Nawada, Jamui, Munger, and Rohtas.
The initiative focuses on transforming fisheries into viable rural enterprises. A subsidy covering up to 80% of the costs—up to Rs16.7 lakh per acre of water area—is being offered to help beneficiaries develop 1-acre plots, with a minimum 0.4-acre water body. The package includes pond construction, tube well and solar pump installation, and the provision of advanced aquaculture inputs. Officials say the scheme not only aims to create jobs but also to promote sustainable economic development in areas where conventional agriculture faces environmental constraints.
More details can be found on the department’s official website, https://state.bihar.gov.in/ahd/CitizeHome.html and interested applicants are encouraged to contact their local District Fisheries Office.
