Stating that the State government is keen on including 39 sub-castes of fishermen into the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah here on Sunday said that his government is working on a comprehensive fisheries policy, on the lines of the one in Andhra Pradesh and Haryana, to ensure the development of the fishermen community. He was addressing a State-level convention of Gangaamatastha (inland fish farmers) at the government college grounds, off Bengaluru-Mysuru highway, here. Mr. Siddaramaiah claimed that twice, he had sent proposals to the Centre seeking inclusion of sub-castes of fishermen under the ST category. However, they were rejected. Another proposal would be sent to the Centre, after obtaining a research report from the Kannada University, Hampi, shortly, he said. The government is committed to form boards and implement schemes to ensure increase in the income of fishermen as well as to uplift them, he said. A sum of Rs.32 crore has been released for the development of the gadduge’ (samadhi) of Ambigara Chowdaiah, a social reformer and vachanakara from the fishermen community, and will allocate Rs.5 crore for Ambigara Chowdaiah Development Authority, he said. The Chief Minister said that the government would provide land for construction of educational institutions and hostels for the backward classes across the State. Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Empowerment and Sports, Housing Minster M. Krishnappa, some MLAs, and zilla panchayat and taluks panchayat members were present. Inland fish farmers from different parts of the State attended the programme.