Enhanced aid for fishing families

CHENNAI: Fulfilling yet another election promise of the AIADMK, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday announced that fishing families would be paid a consolidated assistance of Rs 4,000 during the three ‘lean months’ every year to compensate the loss of income during trawling ban.  The new scheme would be implemented at a cost of  Rs 70 crore, benefiting 1.70 lakh fishing families.In the coastal districts from Tiruvallur to Ramanathapuram, the period between October and December is considered as ‘lean months’. Similarly, in Kanyakumari district, the period between January and March is considered as ‘lean months’ while the period between April and June is termed ‘lean months’ in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts. Apart from this new scheme, the National Savings-cum-Relief Scheme for marine fishermen would be implemented. Under the scheme, Rs 600 would be collected from them as premium. The Central and State governments would pay Rs 600 each and Rs 1,800 would be given to the fishermen in 13 coastal districts during the three lean months.   The scheme would benefit two lakh fishermen and the government has earmarked Rs 24 crore towards this.Under the National Savings- cum-Relief Scheme for Marine Fisherwomen, the Central government would pay Rs 600 and the State government would pay Rs 1,200 and the fisherwomen would get Rs 1,800 during the lean months. As many as 1.62 lakh fisherwomen would be benefited and the government has allocated Rs 19.42 crore. The CM also recalled that as soon as she assumed office of Chief Minister for the third time, she had hiked the financial assistance for fishing families during the fish-breeding season, from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000.