K'taka Govt soon to make life jackets compulsory for fishermen

Udupi, Karnataka, June 11 (UNI) The Karnataka Government will soon come out with a policy to make use of life jackets by fishermen mandatory during fishing activities on sea, Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa announced.

Addressing a press conference before visiting the Malpe fisheries harbour, near here yesterday, he said the Government had also decided to construct 10,000 houses for the fishermen community during the current financial year, besides providing Rs 10,000 loan to fisherwomen groups under 'Matsya Mahila Swawalamban Yojna'.

Releasing a Government Order here, Mr Yediyurappa said that for the first time in the country, the JD(S)-BJP coalition Government in the state had implemented loan facility through cooperative and urban cooperative banks for fishermen and weavers at four per cent interest on par with famers.

The Government had also implemented a novel scheme from yesterday to provide Rs 1,000 assistance in case of death in a below poverty line (BPL) family and a fund of Rs five crore had been released for this scheme under 'Funeral Grant Fund'.

The Deputy Commissioner concerned would take the responsibility for the scheme and respective Tahsildar would be authorised as drawing official to draw the amount from treasury and disburse to the family, he added.

He said the coalition Government had decided to bring Karnataka to the forefront in development and had drawn plans and programmes on the basis of the vision given by President A P J Abdul Kalam during his address to the joint session of the Legislature during the inauguration of Swarna Karnataka celebrations.

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