Kerala   

Debt relief for fishermen from next month: Sarma

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Fisheries Minister S. Sarma told the Assembly on Tuesday that the Kerala Fishermen Debt Relief Commission Act would come into force next month.

Replying to the debate on the demand for grants for Fisheries, the Minister said the Law Department was drafting the rules for implementing the law.

The Minister said the Kerala Fishermen’s and Allied Workers’ Welfare Cess Act would also be enforced shortly. The rules had been issued and officers for assessing the cess had been appointed.

Mr. Sarma said the government would be taking up work on five more fishing harbours in a year’s time. It had already taken up work on five fishing harbours. This was a record considering the fact that only eight harbours had been built during the last 50 years in the State.

He said the government had given administrative sanction for most of the schemes under the Tsunami Rehabilitation Project funded by the Asian Development Bank and the Central government. However, some tenders had no takers. The total outlay of the scheme was Rs.1,441 crore. Sanction had been given for schemes costing Rs.1,276 crore. The scheme would be integrated with the Rs.3,000-crore coastal development programme proposed by the government. The National Institute of Rural Development, Hyderabad, was preparing the project report.

The government, he said, is looking into the demand for scholarships to children of fishermen under the Tsunami Project. While the Centre had sanctioned only 30,000 scholarships, the government received one lakh applications.

He said the Cabinet would soon decide on the compensation for fishing nets to be removed for development of the National Waterways in the State. A committee headed by the Additional Chief Secretary was expected to submit a report on it by July 15.

The Minister said the proposed Matsya Keralam project would promote aqua culture in 10,000 hectares at a cost of Rs.71.5 crore. The subsidy under the scheme would come to about Rs.24 crore. The project was expected to increase inland fish production from 75,000 tonnes to two lakh tonnes a year.

Mr. Sarma said the government had set apart Rs.1 crore for implementation of a insurance scheme for fishermen from next month. The government would provide 50 per cent of the premium as subsidy.

Fishermen could claim 75 per cent of the estimated cost of their equipment lost in natural calamities under the scheme.

He said that interest-free loans of Rs.5,000 each would be disbursed to 40,000 fisherwomen selling fish through cooperatives. Besides, workers of peeling sheds would be given Rs.10,000 towards working capital for finding self-employment. The scheme would be carried out in Alappuzha, Kollam and Ernakulam districts.

After the Minister’s reply, the House voted the demand for Rs.106.36 crores.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Debt relief for fishermen from next month: Sarma
VHP calls for hartal in Kerala tomorrow
peoplespeak
Citizens’ charter to tackle corruption
No recommendation on nunhood
Malabar to get Central university
State honour
Education needs
CAMPUS NOTES
Under the same roof
Minister criticises Left parties

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu