PM Modi Praises Jharkhand’s Om Prakash Sahu in 'Mann Ki Baat' for His Journey from Conflict to Progress

Gumla – In the latest episode of 'Mann Ki Baat', Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Om Prakash Sahu, a resident of Kumhari village in Basia block, Gumla district, for his inspiring transformation from a region affected by Maoism to a symbol of grassroots development. His success was made possible by the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).

Sahu’s journey was fraught with challenges and threats, but the launch of PMMSY gave him hope. With support from the local administration, he built fish ponds and began fish farming—ushering in positive change and becoming a beacon for others.

“Gumla was once deeply impacted by Maoism. There was fear, no jobs, and no development. After 2008, we began resisting. I lost friends during the struggle,” Sahu said. “Then Jyoti Lakra introduced me to PMMSY and encouraged me to take up fish farming. Today, I earn well and want to urge the youth to stay away from Maoism—there is a better path.”

In 2008, Basia’s farmlands were abandoned, and youth were migrating in large numbers. The area was under PLFI control. But Sahu chose peace over violence and inspired many former extremists to do the same by embracing fisheries.

His transformation was also supported by the administration. Then Deputy Commissioner Aradhana Patnaik empowered locals like Sahu by issuing arms licenses to Peace Committee members to counter Maoist threats.

District Fisheries Officer Kusum Lata expressed pride in the national recognition, saying, “Om Prakash, Jyoti Lakra, and Lakhan show that fisheries can create dignified livelihoods. Their success is inspiring.”

With a ?20,050 crore investment, PMMSY aims to create a sustainable “Blue Revolution” by FY2024–25. An additional ?6,000 crore was allocated in the 2023–24 Union Budget to support fish vendors and small enterprises.

Now, over 150 families in Basia are engaged in fish farming, transforming a once-troubled region into a model of self-reliance and resilience.

With inputs from IANS