BJP fisheries cell demands facilities for fishermen

BJP Dakshina Kannada district fisheries cell Vice President Ramachandara Baikampady has urged the chief minister to provide various facilities to the fishermen community.

Addressing reporters here on Wednesday, he said that the government’s move to decrease the budget amount for the fisheries sector, to Rs 218 crore is wrong.

In 2016-17 the budget for fisheries department was Rs 285 crore. Also, the CM has not announced zero per cent loans for fishermen. Moreover, the interest rate under the loan scheme introduced for fisherwomen, by the Yeddyurappa government, to provide surety free loans, has been increased to 12%.

He further said that the fishermen will stage a protest during the chief minister’s visit to Mangaluru, expressing their displeasure with the state government’s move.

Ramachandara meanwhile urged the state government to provide a suitable compensation for the fishermen’s family, at the time of death. Also, the loans availed by a person should be waived-off in case of his death. The additional cess of Rs 1.60 per litre on diesel should be scrapped, he said.

He demanded basic facilities at Mangaluru fish market near State Bank Circle. Dredging should be carried out to desilt the fisheries port, Ramachandra added.

Fisheries cell General Convener Shobhendra Sasihitlu, conveners Premnath Ullal, Yogish Kanchan and Navin Suvarna were present in the press meet.