Bhubaneswar, March 29: Sujata Bhuyan, a fish farmer from Sambalpur, Odisha, expressed immense joy after Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned her work in the 132nd episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’. Sujata described the moment as a proud and emotional milestone for her family, feeling both honoured and motivated by the recognition.
Sujata’s journey began in 2022, inspired by a visit to the Hirakud Reservoir. With training from the Fisheries Department and a bank loan, she overcame initial hurdles such as managing household duties, weather changes, and sourcing fish feed. Despite these challenges, she built a successful enterprise, earning around Rs 6 lakh in her first year and later expanding her business to produce 25-30 tonnes of fish annually.
Her success, supported by government training and financial assistance, has made her a role model, especially for women in her community. Sujata now supplies fish to markets in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal.
Encouraged by PM Modi’s praise, Sujata urges other women to pursue self-reliance in fisheries. “If I can do it, others can too,” she said, expressing her desire to further expand her business and contribute to both her family’s income and the national economy.
