World Fisheries Day celebrated

The Puducherry government has implemented several progressive schemes for the educational, economic and social betterment of the fishermen community in the Union Territory, Fisheries Minister P R Siva today said.
He was speaking after inaugurating a day-long celebration of the World Fisheries Day, organised by Department of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare here.
Siva, who assumed charge of the Ministry last month, said government had covered a large number of aged fishermen under the monthly pension scheme ranging between Rs 1575 to Rs 3135 depending upon the age of the beneficiary.
The government was also paying Rs 4000 to each of the fishermen families to enable them to eke out their livelihood during the ban on fishing in the Bay of Bengal every year in May. In addition to distribution of garments free of cost to the fishermen community, the government was also providing a relief of Rs 200 during the rainy season.

He said construction of houses to tsunami hit families of fishermen was another aspect of the steps the government took for the welfare of the fishermen families here.
Puducherry Assembly Speaker V.Sabapathy, Electricity Minister T.Thiagarajan, Welfare Minister P.Rajavelu, ruling AINRC legislator P M L Kalyanasundaram were among those who spoke.