KANYAKUMARI: The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami today announced Rs 20 lakh compensation for the kin of fishermen who died in the cyclone that devastated the coastal areas of the state recently.
Palaniswami, who visited the cyclone-hit areas of the district, also said search operations would continue for the state's fishermen missing in Ockhi cyclone's aftermath.
"The government has accepted the demand for a compensation of Rs.20 lakh for those who had lost their kin in the cyclone," the chief minister said.
Earlier, the government had declared a Rs ten lakh solatium to the bereaved families.
Fishermen associations in parts of Kanyakumari and in Tirunelveli district have been staging protests demanding that the Centre and state expedite efforts to rescue missing fishermen besides a higher compensation package.
Among their demands were that the chief minister visit cyclone-hit areas and make an on-the-spot assessment of the damage, compensation of Rs 25 lakh for next of kin of deceased fishermen and Rs five lakh for affected families.
"The government is working very sincerely and with extreme care to help the affected fishermen in the district," Palaniswami said, addressing fisherfolk at Thuthur.
The government has spoken to the Union Home minister also to take steps to trace the fishermen who were missing, Palaniswami said.
He also assured jobs for one member from each family who had lost their kin in the cyclone.
The Kerala government recently announced a relief amount of Rs 20 lakh each to the next of kin of deceased fishermen.