Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s announcement of a ₹926.88-crore package for fishermen is a big boost, fishermen leaders in Ramanathapuram district said on Friday.
Mr. Stalin, who was at Mandapam to speak at a conference organised by the fishermen, said the government would enhance the financial assistance for fishermen during the annual fishing ban from ₹5,000 to ₹8,000. Around 15,000 fishermen, aged above 60, would also benefit from the package. Considering the appeals made in the past, the government would give loans to 45,000 fishermen through cooperative societies for buying fishing gear. About 5,000 fishermen would be given house pattas soon.
The Chief Minister said that for long, the fishermen had urged the government to enhance the subsidy on diesel and kerosene. The government has proposed to give 3,700 litres of subsidised kerosene, as against 3,400 litres, to registered fishermen in Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Kanniyakumari. For fishermen with mechanised boats, 19,000 litres of diesel would be given as against 18,000 litres earlier. The country-boat fishermen, who fitted their boats with motors, would get 4,400 litres of diesel as against 4,000 litres earlier.
