Chavakkad fishermen heave a sigh of relief

Rahul Gandhi visits colony; CM announces a series of welfare measures

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi being presented a memento at a fishermen’s convention at Chavakkad in Thrissur on Wednesday.– Photo: PTI

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Wednesday announced a series of welfare measures for the fishermen at Chavakkad.

The announcement came in response to the demands put forward by the fishermen to All India Congress Committee vice-president Rahul Gandhi when he visited their colony on Wednesday.

An amount of Rs. 2 lakh will be given to people, who do not have independent houses. The government will give Rs. 50,000 to repair houses. Those who need financial help for medical treatment can seek assistance from the Chief Minister’s relief fund. The government will construct a building to run an anganvadi in three cents of land in the colony.

Mr. Gandhi visited the fishermen’s colony at Chavakkad before attending the fish workers’ union protest meeting at Chavakkad beach.

He had a sumptuous lunch at the fishermen’s colony. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president V.M. Sudheeran, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala accompanied him.

Fish Workers Union president T.N. Prathapan, MLA, welcomed him to the venue of the meeting.

Hundreds of people thronged the beach to attend the function. The protest meet was to press for the demands of the fishermen, including the withdrawal of Dr. Meenakumari and Dr. Syda Rao committee reports.