Interest-free loans for women fish-workers in Kerala

Women fish-workers in Kerala will soon get to avail of a scheme through which they can get interest-free loans, thanks to the intervention of the government to ensure better livelihood for them.

Accordingly, each woman will get loans ranging from Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000 under the sceme.

State minister for fisheries S Sarma announced this after consultations with the Kerala State Cooperative Consumers' Federation for Fisheries Development (Matsyafed) here.

The minister also said that the government would ensure a one-time settlement of Rs 20 crore loans taken by fishermen through the Matsyafed.

Though fish worth Rs 1,200 crore is currently part of the Kerala's annual export basket and annual domestic sales stood at Rs 600 crore, the fish-workers stand to gain very little.

"The government's initiatives are aimed at correcting this situation and making sure that the fish-workers play a far greater role in the whole process," he added.

The government would also make sure that the exploitation by middlemen in fish trade would be ended by all means and the fisherfolk's share in the business would be pushed up to at least 50 per cent.

With this in mind, the government would rejig the activities of Matsyafed and cooperatives affiliated to it would be strengthened , he added.