KOCHI: The wrong policies that the current NDA Government have formulated are against the people-friendly initiatives launched by the State Government to uplift the fisheries sector, Minister for Fisheries, Excise and Ports K Babu said here on Thursday.
He was speaking after inaugurating the state-wide ‘Livelihood Support Scheme for Fishermen’ under the Integrated Development of Fishing Villages Scheme here.
The Minister also urged the Union Government to roll back a series of recent policies and decisions he said will adversely affect the livelihood of the state’s fishing community.
Babu also expressed his dissatisfaction over the Central government’s move to cut the fund allocation for the development of basic amenities under the National Fisheries Development Board in coastal areas to 40 per cent from the previously allotted 90 per cent.
“The reduction in the allotment of kerosene from the Central pool to 40 per cent from 90 per cent is also a matter of concern.
“The Union Government should restore the 75 per cent grant to harbour schemes and should not implement the Meena Kumari Commission Report,” he added.
He said the state government had taken the issue seriously and the Chief Minister would apprise the Prime Minister of this matter during his upcoming visit to the national capital and will also convey the state’s objection in this regard.
Under the first phase of the Livelihood Support Scheme for the fishermen, 1,940 beneficiaries would get a total assistance of Rs7.70 crore. At the inauguration of the scheme, 54 beneficiaries from Kumbalam and Udayamperur villages were handed over Rs36,000 each as grant for developing fishing units.
This amounts to 90 per cent of the Rs40,000 estimated cost of a unit, with the remaining borne by the individuals.
The Kerala government has lined up projects worth Rs 530 crore for the development of coastal areas and to improve the livelihoods of the fishermen community, the Minister added.
The Integrated Development of Fishing Villages Scheme focuses on basic infrastructure development, provision of drinking water, sanitation, electrification, setting up of libraries and other livelihood support programmes.
The government has given approval for a total of Rs112.36 crore for the Integrated Development of Fishing Villages Scheme in 57 selected fishing villages across the state.
“We began the pilot project in Thiruvananthapuram and surrounding areas and are now expanding it to other districts,” the Minister said.
MLAs Benny Behanan, Hibi Eden, Dominic Presentation and Ludy Luis and Mayor Tony Chammany also spoke at the function.