The Union Government’s policies are creating road blocks in the State government’s efforts to improve the fisheries sector, said Minister for Fisheries K. Babu here on Thursday.
He said that the State government had conveyed to the Prime Minister its strong objections against implementation of the recommendations of the B. Meenakumari Commission and against the reduction of grants for the fisheries sector. The Minister was inaugurating the State-level programme of livelihood assistance to fishermen here at the Town Hall.
The Minister said that the Union Government had slashed the quota of kerosene to the State because the State Government had distributed part of the PDS kerosene for use in fishermen’s boats. The Union Government also reduced the Central grant component for infrastructure development from 70 per cent to 40 per cent. Assistance from National Fisheries Development Board has been reduced to 40 per cent from the previous level of 90 per cent.
The State Coastal Development Corporation is implementing projects worth Rs. 580 crore for the development of the coastal areas in the State. Of this, Ernakulam will see implementation of projects worth Rs. 86.18 crore.
The livelihood assistance programme involves traditional fishermen being provided with grant of 90 per cent of the money needed for a fishing boat. The amount translates into Rs. 36,000. A total of 1,940 fishermen will be given the money, said a communication from the Public Relations Department.
