Imphal : Two fish farmers of Manipur along with their spouses have been invited as special guests during the celebration of Independence Day 2023 at New Delhi. Laimujam Dinamani Singh of Tentha Khunou in Thoubal District and Salam Rohendro Singh of Laphupat Tera in Imphal West District along with their wives are among 1800 special guests of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during this year’s Independence Day celebration at Red Fort, New Delhi.

According to the Director of Fisheries, Manipur, Heisnam Balkrisna Singh, the two progressive fish farmers are nominated as special guests of the Prime Minister of India in pursuance of an instruction from the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Diarying, Government of India considering their significant performances and contributions for the development of fisheries sector in Manipur.

Dinamani has got the distinction of highest producer of fish apart from being the largest producer of Meitei Sareng during Ningol Chakouba Fish Fair and Fish Crop Competition 2022 and Emoinu Fish Festival 2023 which were organized by the State Fisheries Department in October 2022 and January 2023 respectively.

Similarly, Rohendro also achieved the rare feat of being the largest fish producer in the State Level Fish Fair held in 2020. In addition, both of them have been honored with various prizes by fisheries institutions such as the College of Fisheries, Tripura, and research centres under the Central Agricultural University, Imphal. Balkrisna further informed that the journey expenses, accommodation in New Delhi, and local transport of the two fish farmers with spouses are being borne by the concerned Ministry concerned.

Director of Fisheries, Manipur while expressing happiness on the recognition of State fish farmers in such a historic event at the national capital, also said that the initiative of the Prime Minister of India is a positive sign of encouragement of fish farmers of Manipur to dedicate towards scaling up fish production in an unprecedented manner in future.