Centre assures help for Kerala Fisheries University

New Delhi, Dec 17 (UNI) The Centre today offered all assistance to Kerala for its proposal to set up a ''Fisheries University'' in the coastal southern state.

The offer came from Union Human Resources Development Minister Arjun Singh during a meeting with Kerala Fisheries Minister S Sarma here.

Mr Sarma later told mediapersons that he had also submitted a copy of the report of the expert committee which had gone into the university proposal. The committee was headed by Dr Ravindran, who was advisor (fisheries) in the Union Agriculture Ministry.

Kerala stands first in fish catch and export. The state accounts for 25 per cent of the total marine export from India.

Mr Sarma said it was estimated that a total of 3.2 million people would be employed in marine and inland fisheries sector and also in fish processing by 2025.

This would lead to a huge demand for trained manpower in the fisheries sector, he said.

Mr Sarma said the proposed university would cost Rs 290 crore.

Out of this, the fisheries department already had infrastructural facilities valued at Rs 213 crore.

UNI