The Hindu : Other States / Pondicherry News : Additional cash relief for affected fishermen

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Thursday, Jan 27, 2005

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Additional cash relief for affected fishermen

By Our Staff Reporter

PONDICHERRY, JAN. 26. The Pondicherry Chief Minister, N. Rangasamy, today announced that each of the 17,500 families of fishermen would be given a cash assistance of Rs. 3000. This was in addition to the assistance already given to the families. The amount would be disbursed on February 1.

Talking to reporters here today, Mr. Rangasamy said that the affected fishermen in Pondicherry, Karaikal and Yanam regions would be covered under this special arrangement as the administration wanted to reduce their sufferings. Already the administration had paid Rs. 10,000 to the families to enable them to carry out repairs to the houses.

The Government would provide Rs. 3000 to each of the 19,000 non-fishermen families also as they too suffered losses in the tsunami on December 26. A memorial pillar each in Pondicherry and Karaikal regions would be erected as homage to those killed in the tsunami attack.

The Health Minister, E. Valsaraj, who handed a cheque for Rs. 11 lakhs to the Chief Minister at the press conference said that this amount was collected by holding a mega health camp on January 21. Three hundred patients turned up at the camp and nine specialists from Chennai based hospitals rendered free service in the camp. The fees paid by the patients amounted to Rs. 11 lakhs and it would be utilised for rehabilitation work in the Union Territory.

With this the total amount realised for the Chief Minister's Relief Fund has crossed Rs 10 crores, Mr. Rangasamy said.

Plan outlay

Mr. Rangasamy, who had held discussions with Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia in Delhi on Tuesday for finalising the plan size for the 2005-2006 for Pondicherry, said that the Commission had approved of Rs. 810 crores as plan amount and had asked the Administration to utilise Rs. 100 crores for development of infrastructures such as roads, bridges and other structures that had been damaged during the tsunami strike here.

Mr. Siddhu a member of the Planning Commission would visit Pondicherry for a discussion with the local officials to work out the strategies for rehabilitation and relocation of houses for the fisher folk.

The Chief Minister appreciated the Government employees for their timely help during the rehabilitation work.

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