Pondy Admn failed to construct houses for fishermen: JACFO

Puducherry, Feb 23 (UNI) The Joint Action Committee of Puducherry State Fishermen Organisations (JACFO) today charged the Puducherry administration with failure to provide a permanent rehabilitation to the fishermen even after three years of Tsunami.

Addressing a press conference here, JACFO convener M Ellango said after paying homage to the tsunami victims on December 24, it had urged the administration to construct houses to the affected fishermen within one month.

If the administration failed to take steps, JACFO leaders would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi in this regard, he said and pointed out that the government had not taken any action so far.

Leaders of JACFO would leave for New Delhi on March one and camp there for ten days. They would meet PM, HM and UPA chairperson and apprise them of the sufferings by the fishermen, he added.

Mr Ellango said if the government failed to provide pension pending for two years to aged fishermen, implementation of age relaxation to 55 years for receiving pension, polyster dhotis and shirts and monthly financial assistance of Rs 1080 during lean periods to them, the JACFO would organise agitations next month.

UNI PAB ROY 1609