District Fisheries Officer Pradeep Kumar explained that around 2012–13, cage culture fish farming was introduced in the Tilaiya reservoir through small state-level welfare schemes. Initially, farmers hesitated to adopt these modern techniques, but with sustained training and support, including exposure visits outside Jharkhand, they gradually mastered scientific aquaculture practices.
“These welfare schemes gained momentum through cooperation among the state government, district administration, and various organisations,” Kumar said.
The turning point came with the launch of PMMSY, which removed caps on the number of beneficiaries, allowing more farmers to apply and benefit from its support. This dramatically scaled up the fish farming revolution across the region.
Farmers whose land was submerged during the construction of the Tilaiya reservoir have now reclaimed their futures by cultivating fish in the same water. This connection has strengthened their bond to their native place, officials noted.
One such farmer, Pintu Kumar Yadav, returned to his village in 2017 after working as a driver in Rajasthan. In 2021, under PMMSY, he received two fish nets with a capacity of eight kilograms each. Today, he earns a profit of nearly ₹10 lakh annually through fish farming.
“Earlier, I had to work far away and live without my family. Now I am earning well and living with dignity in my own village,” Pintu said. With his improved income, he has built a concrete house, admitted his children to a reputable school, and repaid previous debts. His wife and children have supported his journey, making it a family-driven success story.
The fish farming effort is coordinated by a local committee with 31 members, creating employment for nearly 100 people directly or indirectly. Fishes harvested from the Tilaiya reservoir are being supplied across Jharkhand and to other states as well.
Where migration was once a necessity, families are now thriving in their home villages. Officials said fish farming has not only boosted employment but also improved the social and economic well-being of rural communities.
Residents and authorities alike credit PMMSY with rewriting the fortunes of thousands of small farmers, proving that scientific and supported aquaculture can be a powerful path to aatmanirbharta (self-reliance).
