Bengal: Government announces cash assistance to fishermen for ‘restriction months’ in budget

Bengal: The government budget on Thursday announced Rs 5,000 per month assistance for fishermen during the period of sea fishing ban, apparently to woo the community which is a key vote bank in the three coastal districts. Is.

A source said the state has allocated Rs 200 crore for this new scheme, Samudra Sathi, which was a long-standing demand of fishermen as their earnings suffered during the fishing ban from mid-April to mid-June. Is affected.

There are two lakh registered fishermen in East Midnapore, North and South 24-Parganas in the state. Everyone will get the benefit of the scheme.

“Our fishermen from the coastal districts… go deep into the troubled sea to earn their livelihood. Since there is a ban on fishing for two months from mid-April to mid-June, the livelihood of fishermen is adversely affected… I am happy to announce a new scheme, Samudra Sathi, to provide financial assistance of Rs 5,000. per month for two months to every registered fisherman in the three districts,” Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said during her budget speech.

A Trinamool source said this is a political masterstroke by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Many fishermen live in East Midnapore, the home constituency of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari.