TN Govt waives Rs 19.56 cr loans availed by fishermen

Chennai, Apr 27 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu government today waived loan and interest amount to the tune of Rs 19.56 crore, availed by the fishermen through the 147 fishermen cooperatives, Fisheries Minister K P P Samy announced in the State Assembly.

Replying to the demand for grants for his department, he said the loan amount and the interest outstanding, which included the principal, interest, penal interest and share capital, as on July 31, 2005 had been waived after the funds were received from the Prime Minister National Relief fund.

A total of 5,635 marine fishermen, who had availed loans from 147 fishermen cooperatives, would be benefitted by this waiver, Mr Samy said, amid thumping of desks by the treasury benches.

The Tamil Nadu State Apex Fisheries Cooperative Federation Limited (TAFCOFED), under the Phase I and II of the Integrated Marine Fisheries Development Project, obtained loans from the National Cooperative Development Corporation and issued loans to fishermen through Fishermen cooperative societies for fishing inputs like fishing crafts, engines and gears.

Mr Sami also announced that the government would take steps to waive the Rs 9.07 crore loan availed by the fishermen through the Primary Fishermen Cooperative Socieites, prior to the constitution of TAFCOFED.

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