Officials of the Department of Fisheries have geared up to extend annual fishing ban period relief and lean fishing period relief to active fishermen in the district. The 45-day annual ban on fishing by mechanised boats would come into effect from April 15 and remain till May 29 along the east coast of Tamil Nadu. Collector M. Ravikumar has appealed to officials to ensure that all eligible fishermen were provided with assistance in time.
The ban is to facilitate the breeding of fish and to conserve fish stock in the marine ecology and fishermen would be instructed not to venture out to sea so as to avoid disturbances caused by trawlers during the breeding season.
During the last year, the ban period relief of Rs.2,000 was provided to each of the 16,433 fishermen families in the district. Relief assistance of Rs. 3.28 crore was given. Besides, assistance of Rs.4,000 towards lean period of fishing was extended to 17, 193 beneficiaries. Totally, a sum of Rs. 6.87 crore was given to them, he said on Tuesday. Fisheries Department sources said applications for assistance were being issued to fishermen. Relief amount would be deposited directly into their bank accounts through National Electronic Fund Transfer. Eligible fisherman should have bank account, possess identity card issued by the department, family card and a proof of being a member of fishermen cooperative society.
There were 30, 265 members enrolled in 25 cooperative societies, sources added. C. Parthiban, president, Tuticorin Mechanised Boat Fisherme/Labourers Association, said families of fishermen had been waiting to receive the benefits during the ban period itself. Since there was no source of income during the ban period, provision of relief to all fishermen within May would be of immense help. In the past, fishermen received the relief either in June or July, he said.
