Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Matsyafed to restore relief fund

Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Matsyafed has decided to reinstate its `chairman's relief fund' for providing assistance to the next of kin of fishermen who die in accidents or are injured and for those whose houses are partially or completely destroyed in natural disasters.

This was stated by Matsyafed chairman V. Dinakaran at a press conference here on Monday.

The newly reconstituted administrative committee of the Matsyafed also decided to disburse interest free loans worth Rs.4.8 crores to fishermen in view of the rise in the price of kerosene. The committee put together an aid package of Rs.36.8 lakhs for women engaged in making various produce from trash fish.

Aid worth Rs.2.07 crores would be disbursed via self-help groups (SHGs) for the implementation of employment-generation schemes, Mr. Dinakaran said. The SHGs will also be given Rs.150.44 lakhs for providing loans to fishermen groups. The Matsyafed would give subsidies to the fishermen and share capital to SHGs for the loans given in the period 2002-05. The federation would also purchase and distribute outboard motors.

It has been decided to begin the construction of a headquarters for the Matsyafed. SHGs that possess property would be given a loan Rs.3.5 lakhs each and grants to set up offices of their own. The Matsyafed in collaboration with the National Cooperatives Development Corporation (NCDC) would implement projects worth Rs.15.07 crores during 2006-07.

The Matysafed would also request a Rs.11-crore grant from the Government for providing compensation for those who lost fishing equipment in sea surges during May-June 2004 and for Rs.15 crores grant for providing fishing nets for those who lost it during the tsunami. The federation will also ask the Government to write off the housing loans taken by fishermen from the Matsyafed, from other financial agencies and from cooperative societies, he added.

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