Tamil Nadu: The DMK’s election manifesto announced that the special relief amount for the fishing ban period will be increased to ₹12,000.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin released the DMK’s election manifesto today ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections scheduled for April 23. Among the many new announcements are 12 related to “fisheries and fishermen’s welfare.”
They are:
- The special relief amount for the fishing ban period will be increased from ₹8,000 to ₹12,000.
- The special relief amount for the fishing season will be increased from ₹6,000 to ₹9,000.
- Fishermen will be provided with modern infrastructure facilities so that they can fully utilize fishing ports and fishing grounds and increase their income.
- Steps will be taken to promote seaweed farming among women fishermen and make them entrepreneurs. This will provide them with an opportunity to earn additional income and increase seaweed production by 30,000 metric tons. 5. Coastal aquaculture zones (aqua zones) will be created to increase fish production.
- We will promote sea cage fish farming and increase production from 200 tons to 400 tons.
- New fish farms will be established to produce 1 billion fish fry. 8. Fish markets with modern facilities will be established in major cities to improve the livelihoods of women fishermen.
- A fish and shrimp farming policy will be developed, and a special fish and shrimp farming program will be implemented based on it.
- Tamil Nadu’s domestic fish production will double from its current level in the next five years. 11. Identity cards will be issued to women engaged in small businesses such as fish retailing, egg retailing, and seaweed farming.
- Despite Tamil Nadu’s opposition, the transfer of Kachchatheevu to Sri Lanka in the name of the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement is causing immense hardship to our fishermen, including the arrest of Tamil Nadu fishermen and the confiscation of their boats. We will continue to appeal to the central government to find a permanent solution to this problem and review the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement to reclaim Kachchatheevu, while creating alternative sources of livelihood for them.
