Housing scheme for tsunami-affected fisherfolk in Puducherry

Soon houses will be built for those not covered under Tsunami Rehabilitation project

Lieutenant Governor, Ajay Kumar Singh handing over education assistance to a student on the occasion of World Fishermen Day on Friday. Chief Minister N. Rangasamy other Ministers,seen in the picture. .Photo: T.Singaravelou

Chief Minister N. Rangasamy on Friday announced that the Puducherry government would soon launch a housing scheme and construct houses for fishermen who were not covered under the Tsunami Rehabilitation project in the Union Territory.

Assistance

Speaking at the World Fisheries Day celebrations, Mr. Rangasamy said that the government had been extending all assistance for rehabilitation of fishermen whose livelihoods were ravaged by the tsunami and the cyclone ‘Thane’.

Although a majority of the fishermen who were affected by the tsunami were provided with houses fishermen in some coastal villages were yet to be covered. The government would soon launch a scheme to rehabilitate fishermen who were left out.

As many as 1,000 houses would be constructed with financial assistance from World Bank and the works would commence shortly, he said.

Lieutenant Governor A.K. Singh said World Fisheries Day was an occasion to draw attention to overfishing and habitat destruction and move towards finding a long term solution in sustaining the stocks.

He said that fish processing industries in the country are gaining importance due to increase in demand for processed food.

Increased income, better purchasing power, awareness and consciousness of health and hygiene are some of the reasons attributed towards increased demand of these value added products.

The fisheries sector should evolve new ideas and ways to improve the industry in the Union Territory, he added.