Welfare board for six lakh workers in fishig industry

Rameswaram, Feb 23 (UNI) About six lakh workers, including fishermen depending on fishing industry, will benefit by the Fishermen Welfare Board set up by the Tamil Nadu Government.

Talking to UNI Deputy Director, Fisheries Department, G.Arumugham said as part of the government's initiatives to protect the interests of fishermen, the welfare board constituted by the state government last year would immediately provide financial assistance of Rs one lakh to the families of fishermen who had gone into sea for fishing and were found missing.

Earlier, the authorities used to issue death certificates to the next to kin of missing fishermen after seven years from the date of missing. This resulted in inordinate delay in getting the financial assistance from the government.

However, as per the new law of the Board, the next of kin of the missing fishermen would get the assistance, without any delay, he said.

Besides this, fishermen who died during fishing in mid sea either due to firing or cardiac arrests would also get Rs one lakh. A permanent disability would fetch Rs 50,000, while fishermen who died due to illness would be given an assistance of Rs 20,000.

UNI GSM VV RL DS1541