Tamil Nadu - Tirunelveli   

Rs.5.5 crores disbursed as tsunami relief so far

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUNELVELI, MARCH 28. Tirunelveli district administration has so far disbursed financial assistance of Rs.5.50 crores to the tsunami-hit fishermen and dependents of fishing industry.

Official sources told The Hindu , of the total population of 27,948 people in ten coastal villages, 11,170 persons of 6,002 families were evacuated to safer places following the catastrophe on December 26 last. As many as 630 houses were damaged in the tsunami.

The relocated population were kept in 20 relief camps in the southern parts of the district, where new clothes, medicines and food were provided to them. Since a significant number of fishermen had lost their boats and gear in the natural calamity, top priority was accorded to compensate the fisherfolk to start their vocation at the earliest.

Of the Rs.5.50 crore-assistance, a major portion of Rs.1.89 crore was disbursed to the fishermen to procure new boats and implements.

Another major portion of Rs.1.56 crore was disbursed to 313 self-help groups in the affected villages.

"The assistance is in the form of 50 per cent subsidised loan of Rs. 50,000 for each group."

For 810 partly damaged catamarans and fishnets, the government has allotted Rs.1.08 crores while Rs. 55.95 lakhs was awarded for 215 fully damaged ones. For 82 fully damaged country boats and fishnets, Rs. 25.54 lakhs was given as compensation.

Each of the 630 families, which lost their houses, received 60 kg of rice, three litres of kerosene, Rs.1,000 to procure cooking vessels, Rs.2,000 to construct new hut, Rs.1,000 to purchase provisions and Rs.912-worth commodities — totally worth Rs.30.94 lakhs.

As many as 6,002 families, which lost their belongings other than their houses, received Rs.1.56 crore-worth rice, kerosene, bed sheets, a pair of saree and dhoti etc.

While Rs. 1 lakh each was given to four kin of the victims killed in the disaster, Rs.5,000 each was given to six who were injured.

Since the natural calamity took a toll of 257 sheep and goat and 642 poultry birds, Rs.89 lakh was given as damages.

"Besides adequately compensating the directly affected population, the government has also ordered for disbursal of relief measures to 2,512 families, which are relying upon the fisherfolk for their livelihood," the sources said.

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