Puducherry: The Joint Action Committee of fishermen organisations here has urged the Government to ensure that all fishing families, who lost their houses in the 2004 tsunami, were provided houses.

Addressing reporters here on Saturday, the committee's convener and former legislator, M. Ilango, said that the committee was formed on January 13 after reviewing the "chaotic approach the administration had adopted in meeting the housing requirements of fishermen" and to evolve a charter of their demands.

Although a number of non-governmental organisations and Government of Maharashtra and other institutions had constructed houses in some of the tsunami-hit villages, the number of houses were, however, insufficient. Either the administration should construct the houses on its own or get them ready through NGOs.

He said that nearly 30 coastal villages bore the brunt of the tsunami and 5,000 more houses were needed to meet the requirements. Contributions from the Centre, the World Bank, State Governments, institutions, philanthropists and NGOs had poured in the wake of the tragedy for relief and rehabilitation works.

He said that the Government should have evolved proper approach to get the houses ready.

A detailed memorandum would be submitted next week to the Lt. Governor, the Chief Minister, the Fisheries Minister, the legislators elected from constituencies having coastal pockets and municipal and panchayat leaders. He alleged that there was diversion of funds to various other programmes from out of the Tsunami Relief Fund.

Where the administration could not construct houses, the fishing families could be granted cash assistance of Rs.5 lakh a family to build houses on their own.

The committee also wanted waiver of all loans fishermen had borrowed from Cooperative Fishermen Federation, Housing Societies, nationalised or private banks for purchase of boats and other accessories.

Separate Board

Mr. Ilango said that the committee wanted the Government to set up a Fishermen Development Corporation to take care of their welfare. He said that the committee would wait for a week after submitting the memorandum to the authorities.

If there was no response, the committee would finalise its plans to launch agitations.

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