The Ministry of Minority Affairs will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) in Thiruvananthapuram on August 27, 2025, to launch a skill training and women entrepreneurship development project under the Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) scheme.
The signing ceremony, to be held at the Animation Centre in Kovalam, will be chaired by George Kurian, Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying.
As part of this initiative, 690 candidates from minority communities in Kerala will be trained in both fisheries and non-fisheries-based skills, with a strong focus on women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship.
420 women candidates will undergo leadership and entrepreneurship training, equipping them with the skills required to start and manage their own enterprises.
270 candidates will be trained in non-traditional fisheries-based skills, including:
90 in fish hatchery production
180 in cage culture fish farming
The project aims to enhance self-employment opportunities, improve income generation, and provide community-level empowerment. All participants will receive stipends during the training period, along with handholding support to facilitate their transition into sustainable livelihoods.
With its proven expertise in fisheries research, innovation, and capacity building, CMFRI will serve as the implementing agency, offering technical training, mentoring, and entrepreneurship guidance.
This initiative is part of the PM VIKAS scheme, which consolidates and scales up education and skilling programmes for India’s six notified minority communities. The scheme places special emphasis on empowering youth and women through market-relevant training, capacity building, and entrepreneurial support.