The budget presented on Monday set aside Rs 389 crore to provide special allowance to fishermen in lean months, ban period relief and savings-cum-relief schemes. Another announcement was to create artificial reefs in Palk Bay for Rs 79 crore. Under environment, climate change and forests head, the finance minister also announced Tamil Nadu Coastal Restoration Mission to prevent sea erosion, marine pollution and conserve marine biodiversity. The mission is to be implemented with World Bank Assistance at an estimated cost of Rs 2,000 crores in the next five years.
Coordinator of National Traditional Fishers Federation Senathipathi Chinnathambi said bank for fishermen, Rs 8,000 relief for ban period, increase in subsidized diesel from 1,500 litres to 2,000 litres, and groynes to protect coastal villages from sea erosion. “We don’t see any mention of them. The World Bank-assisted project appears dicey since it could include windmills in the sea too,” he added.
R M P Rajendran, Nagapattinam district president of Indian National Fishermen Association, said the government seems to have forgotten fisher folk altogether. “The fact is that the sea has turned barren and there are no fish for 72 kilometres from the coast. Fishermen are struggling for survival on a day-today-basis but the government talks about a five-year scheme. The lean period assistance looks like alms,” he rued. Meenavar Orunginaippu Sangam secretary Johnson Charles hoped that the government will consider their demand to expand the Colachel fishing harbour. Fishermen from Kooduthazhai, Erayumanthurai and Amali Nagar are on hunger strike because sea erosion is threatening their existence, but the government does not seem to care, fishermen leaders added.