Tamil Nadu announces ₹1.86 crore solatium for fishermen with boats held in Sri Lanka
Tamil Nadu announces ₹1.86 crore solatium for boats held in Sri Lanka, raises daily aid to ₹600 for affected fishermen families.
The Tamil Nadu government will distribute a solatium of ₹1.86 crore to fishermen whose boats have been detained in Sri Lanka for over a year. The announcement was made by Fisheries Minister A. Srinath during the demand for grants for his department in the State Assembly on Wednesday.
The affected boats belong to fishermen from Ramanathapuram, Mayiladuthurai, and Nagapattinam districts. In a related move, the Minister said the daily assistance for families of fishermen missing at sea will be increased from ₹350 to ₹600 per person. A similar hike to ₹600 per person per day was announced for families of fishermen currently lodged in Sri Lankan prisons.
Srinath also outlined plans to strengthen fishermen's cooperatives to enable them to generate revenue. A project management committee will be constituted to oversee the implementation of various departmental projects.
In separate announcements during the Assembly session, Animal Husbandry Minister S. Kamali said a scheme to rear broiler rabbits at subsidised rates for small and medium farmers would be launched at a cost of ₹0.28 crore. The initiative aims to boost farmer incomes and improve protein availability in rural areas. The Minister added that pig rearing would be encouraged among economically backward sections, with an initial 50% subsidy provided to 50 beneficiaries at a cost of ₹0.70 crore.
Dairy Development Minister C. Vijayalakshmi said a white paper on Aavin's functioning would be released soon. A committee will be set up to investigate past scams, and action will be taken against those found responsible. The Minister also said the cheese and chocolate factory at Ooty would commence operations shortly, and steps are being taken to extend the shelf life of Aavin products.