<p>The state witnessed a devastating impact of cyclone Phyan two years back, in which 60 fishermen were killed, largely due to lack of safety gear.<br /><br />Deputy Director of Fisheries Department, Nandkishor Verlekar, said the lifejackets have been made mandatory from February this year.<br /><br />"The government has launched a financial assistant scheme for the fishermen to procure these jackets," he said, adding that 75 per cent of the cost of the jackets would be reimbursed by the state government.<br /><br />As per a rough estimate, there are around 10,000 fishermen in the state.<br /><br />Verlekar said fishermen were "rattled and now fear going off the coast without lifejackets," after the cyclone.<br /><br />As per the state directive, there has to be a set of five lifejackets and one life-buoy on the fishing canoes, while on trawlers, each crew member will have to wear a jacket and there has to be four life buoys.</p>
<p>The state witnessed a devastating impact of cyclone Phyan two years back, in which 60 fishermen were killed, largely due to lack of safety gear.<br /><br />Deputy Director of Fisheries Department, Nandkishor Verlekar, said the lifejackets have been made mandatory from February this year.<br /><br />"The government has launched a financial assistant scheme for the fishermen to procure these jackets," he said, adding that 75 per cent of the cost of the jackets would be reimbursed by the state government.<br /><br />As per a rough estimate, there are around 10,000 fishermen in the state.<br /><br />Verlekar said fishermen were "rattled and now fear going off the coast without lifejackets," after the cyclone.<br /><br />As per the state directive, there has to be a set of five lifejackets and one life-buoy on the fishing canoes, while on trawlers, each crew member will have to wear a jacket and there has to be four life buoys.</p>