Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Minister Pradeep Maharathy on Wednesday informed the Assembly that a total of 1,36,611 fishermen have enrolled their names at 628 Primary Fishermen Cooperative Societies (PFCSs) in the State while as many as 11,11,111 fishermen have been insured in the current fiscal. The Minister informed that a sum of Rs1,47,58,000 has been disbursed to the insured fishermen between 2004-2014 under the group accident insurance scheme.
Replying to a query of Congress MlA Naba Kishore Das, the Minister informed the House that while a total of Rs669.92 crore has been given to fishermen under saving-cum-relief scheme between 2004 and 2014 around Rs1,285 crore has been given under Adarsh Matsyajibi Gram Nirman scheme.While Rs1,307.59 crore has been disbursed for installing engine in country boat between 2003 and 2004 and 2014 and 2015, Rs1,575 crore has been provided to fishermen for construction of house during 2013-14 and 2014-15 fiscal, the Minister informed.
The Minister further stated in the House that the State Government has been providing 25 kg rice monthly to 10,183 affected fishermen families during prohibition period for fishing for breeding of Olive Ridley turtles.