Pondy Govt to provide free garments to fisherfolks

Puducherry, Apr 22 (UNI) The Puducherry Administration would provide free garments to the fishermen community here for the current year before May 15, Industries Minister V Vaithilingam told the Assembly today.

Replying to a question on behalf of M O H F Shajahan, Minister for Fisheries, Mr Vaithilingam said due to processing problems the supply was delayed. The administration would consider to entrust a single department to provide free garments in the Union Territory as suggested by the members, he added.

To another question, Labour Minister E Valsaraj said the administration would take necessary steps to conduct a survey on the domestic maid-servants and women working in shops and other establishments. An initiative was taken in this regard when several households refused to provide certificates, he added.

Mr Valsaraj further said women working in more than one house was complicating the issue and the administration was finding ways and means to conduct a survey on them. A minimum wage was fixed as Rs 65 here, he added.

The members pointed out that only Rs 30 to 40 was being paid for 12-hour work and the Government should initiate action against the Labour Officers, who failed to ensure that the minimum wage was implemented.

AIADMK member A Anbazhagan further said a 13-year-old boy was working in the Assembly canteen for Rs 30 a day. To this the Speaker asked the Minister concerned to verify and initiate action on the issue. As the discussion dragged on, the Speaker informed the members to speak in the debate and passed on to other questions.

UNI PAB KVV PY AS1556