JOIN USMinister for Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Venkata Rao Nadagouda said that the state government is already offering a loan up to Rs 50,000 at 0% interest for fisherwomen.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the fish market in Udupi, the minister responded to fisherwomen’s demand for a loan up to Rs one lakh at 0% interest.
He said, “In order to ensure that fisherwomen can compete with fish sellers from other districts and states, the government has come up with a plan to introduce cold storage units at a cost of Rs 10 lakh in every fish market. The fisherwomen can make use of the facilities and store the fish and also sell the next day if they get excess fish.”
The minister said that there was a demand for the pension for fishermen and women aged above 60 years.
The minister said that the government has already assured old age pension of up to Rs 1000.
“Under the Mastyashraya scheme, the cost of each house is Rs 1.20 lakh. As work on many houses for the fishermen has remained incomplete, the state government is mulling handing over the responsibility of the construction of the houses to Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation. However, the fishermen community has objected to the proposal as there will be complications when majority fishermen would be out on work for more than two weeks. The government will look into simplifying the rules under the Corporation to accommodate the new proposal,” Nadagouda assured.
He said fisherwomen have demanded health insurance and the state government has already announced Rs two lakh worth health insurance schemes for the poor, which cover the fishing community as well.
Responding to the issue of the problems that exist in the fish market, the minister said that the issues would be discussed with the MLA and the CMC president.