PARADIP: A group of fishermen, belonging to both Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara districts, staged demonstration at Paradip on Tuesday protesting embezzlement of funds sanctioned by Government for post-cyclone Phailin assistance.
Department of Fishery had identified the beneficiaries to get the benefit under Rashtriya Krushi Vikash Yojana (RKVY) in post-Phailin period and forwarded their loan applications to the bank for sanction. Apparently, the Government had entrusted a private bank to provide loan to the Phailin-hit fishermen under the RKVY scheme.
As per the provision, the bank would sanction loan amount of `1,43,825 for purchase of a boat and net to each beneficiary. Of it, `one lakh was the subsidy and beneficiaries were to repay the rest amount `43,825 to the bank in a year. Several fishermen in the district were severely affected in the Phailin hit the district on October 12, 2013.
The agitators complained that they did not know about sanction of loan in their names even though money had been sanctioned. They demanded a CBI probe into the scam.
Additional Fishery Officer of Kujang, Biraja Mohapatra said the department is yet to get any written complaint in this regard. If the allegation is found to be true, stringent action will be taken against anyone found guilty, he added.