Alleging that the state government was indifferent to the problems faced by fishermen community especially at a time when annual trawling ban was in force, CPI-M led LDF Opposition members walked out of the Kerala Assembly today.
Moving the notice for an adjournment motion on the matter, P K Gurudasan (CPI-M) said fishermen were in great difficulty as the government had not implemented any of the programmes and the assistance extended by government to fishermen was very limited.
Fishermen had lost houses and fishing equipment in sea erosion and government had not extended any relief measures to help them overcome the crisis, he charged.
Free ration food items promised were also yet to be received by them, Gurudasan alleged.
Intervening, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the government was aware of the issues related to fishermen and would do everything needed.
Replying to the notice, State Fisheries Minister K Babu admitted that fishermen were facing certain problems and government could not take forward the functioning of FIshermen's Debt Relief Commission as it wanted.
He said pension arrears for fishermen workers would be given during Onam festival season as usual.
The grant and scholarship amount for the students of fishermen also would be given shortly, he added.
After the reply of Chief Minister and Babu, Speaker G Karthikeyan disallowed the leave for motion leading to walkout by LDF members.
Before walkout, Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan said government had not done anything for fishermen and only saying that 'we will do...We will do'.
