The Tamil Nadu government has sanctioned Rs 39.32 crore as relief amount under the national fishermen savings cum relief scheme. The scheme is meant to help fishermen who are unable to venture into the sea for fishing during the monsoon season.
As part of the scheme, each fisherman gets Rs 1,800 as relief amount, which was Rs 1,200 in 2008. Fishermen who are actively engaged in marine fishing and who are members of the Fishermen's Cooperative Societies benefit under this scheme.
A sum of Rs 600 is collected from each fisherman as beneficiary contribution, which is matched by an equal amount of Rs 600 each by state and central governments and a total sum of Rs 1,800 per fisherman is being paid as relief amount. Likewise, a relief amount is also paid to the fisherwomen who are engaged in allied activities in fisheries sector, under the state scheme.
The contributory amount is entirely borne by the state government. For the current year, the government has a sanctioned a total sum of Rs 39.32 crore towards disbursement of relief amount of Rs 21.91 crore to marine fishermen and Rs 17.4 crore to marine fisherwomen, respectively. Under the scheme, 1,82,646 marine fishermen and 1,45,060 marine fisherwomen are expected to benefit.
The relief amount is disbursed in cash, as per the assurance given in the Legislative Assembly. The fishermen of 10 coastal districts, Thiruvallur, Chennai, Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram will be benefited at present.
The fishermen of Kanyakumari, Thirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts will be given relief amount in January 2011 and April 2011 respectively.
