SIVASAGAR: The Assam Minister for Fishery and Information and Public Relations, Basanta Das paid a visit to the Fishery Training Centre at Joysagar in Sivasagar on Tuesday. The Minister took stock of the present condition of the Fishery Training Centre which was established in the year 1961 by the bank of the historic Joysagar tank. Das was also accompanied by Sivasagar DC , Jatindra Lahkar and MLA of Nazira, Debabrat Saikia. Announcing that Rs 93 lakhs has been released for the overall development of the training centre and another Rs 25 lakhs has been released for constructing the boundary wall of the centre, the minister of Fishery and IPR Basanta Das said, “Fishery sector has a higher growth rate than other agriculture and allied sectors and could play a pivotal role in the socio-economic development and employment generation in the State. Department of Fishery has been implementing a number of schemes in the State with a view to achieve self-sufficiency in fish production and socio-economic development of poor section of the society.” “ Keeping in view the importance of this sector in providing nutrition to the people , employment generation and source of livelihood to the rural sector, State Government has been giving due emphasis for the development of this sector” Das added. He further urged the unemployed to make full benefit of fishery loan. While exchanging views with the Minister, media persons expressed displeasure over the fact that the journalists have been thoroughly deprived of their due recognition and made a fervent appeal to the Minister to work towards uplifting the condition of the present day journalists of the region. The minister assured that during his tenure, he would leave no stone unturned to uplift the condition of working journalists in Assam. He further added that a pension schemes for journalists has been introduced in the state which will be given from this year. Minister Das also informed that Rs 1crore has already been in the journalists’ welfare fund. On the occasion, two Self Help Group (SHG) workers Jeevan Lakhshya , and Ajit were felicitated by the Fishery Department for their excellent performance in the field of fish production.