KFDC gives loan to 150 fisherwomen

Responding to the financial woes of fisherwomen in the region, Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation (KFDC) has distributed loans ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh to as many as 150 fisherwomen selling dry fishes in specific, at Central maidan fish market.

Addressing a news conference on Thursday, KFDC Chairman Ramachandra Baikampady said that though there are several banks in the region, they do not give adequate financial help to the fisherwomen, especially those running dry fish business.

“Coming to the rescue of these fisherwomen, we have provided loan at 9 per cent interest without surety,” he said and added that there is no example of any nationalised banks providing Rs 1 lakh loan to women without surety so far.

He informed that the State Government has made provision for providing loans at 3 per cent interest in 2009-10 budget from commercial and rural banks. Fisheries department has agreed to provide an additional subsidy of 6 per cent, he added.

“The advances will be recovered in pigmy format, where the collectors will go to the fisherwomen and collect the amount on daily basis from them. The amount thus collected will be deducted from their loan amount,” he said and added that the loan scheme will be extended to Uttara Kannada soon.

Buses

Baikampady informed that the buses for fisherwomen will be started within two months. The formalities with the RTA will be completed by a month or so and 2 buses will be on road for fisherwomen in specific.

These buses will ply en route Sasihithlu-Surathkal-Hosabettu-Panambur- Bunder and from Bolur-Hoige Bazaar- Thokkottu-Someshwara to Bunder.