The Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala, inaugurated the Annual Capacity Building Plan (ACBP) of the Department of Fisheries in a ceremony held on September 20 in New Delhi.
The event witnessed the presence of distinguished guests, including Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan, Member Admn CBC Praveen Pardeshi, Secretary Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Joint Secretary Sagar Mehra, and other senior officers from the Department of Fisheries, CBC, and the State of Gujarat.
During his address, Minister Parshottam Rupala stressed the crucial need to identify and address the capacity-building requirements of officers and staff within the department. He emphasized the importance of developing a comprehensive action plan to meet the evolving priorities of the department. Launching the ACBP, the Union Minister underscored its pivotal role in improving service delivery, enhancing program implementation, and strengthening core government functions. He noted that this initiative would empower officials through basic training, equipping them with the necessary competencies to excel in their roles.
Minister of State, Dr. L. Murugan, highlighted the significance of the ACBP in light of the adoption of new technologies in the fisheries sector. Dr. Murugan emphasized that India’s numerous fisheries institutes are in need of technological innovations, and the ACBP would play a vital role in driving growth within the country’s fisheries sector.
Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary of the Department of Fisheries, underscored the importance of the ACBP in addressing capacity-building needs, including functional, behavioral, and domain knowledge competencies. He stated that this plan would facilitate the transition from a rules-based system to a roles-based one, enhancing the efficiency of the department.
Praveen Pardeshi, Member Admin CBC, provided a detailed presentation on the Annual Capacity Building Plan, analyzing the various training modules required for officials at different levels within the department.
To effectively implement and sustain the ACBP, a Capacity Building Unit (CBU) has been established within the department. A budgetary allocation of 2.5% of the department’s salary head has been earmarked for the implementation of the ACBP. The CBU will prioritize the training needs of department employees, offering both online and offline training programs.
The Capacity Building Commission has identified institutes and knowledge partners to deliver training to department employees, and the department will closely monitor the impact of these training programs to assess the efficacy of the ACBP.
The launch of the Annual Capacity Building Plan signifies a significant step forward in enhancing the capabilities of the Department of Fisheries and advancing the fisheries sector in India through skill development and technological integration.