The Puducherry government has announced a slew of welfare measures for the fisherfolk community. Tourism and Fisheries Minister Malladi Krishna Rao told the Assembly on Tuesday that the government would provide a lump sum compensation to fishermen from Puducherry who were stranded in Kerala and Gujarat during the Cyclone Ockhi. The compensation would be provided after a detailed enquiry and would be on par with the relief announced by the Tamil Nadu government. Mr. Rao said the Centre and the Central Institute of Coastal Engineering for Fishery (CICEF) had inspected the Karaikal fishing harbour for the second phase expansion. A detailed project report (DPR) would be prepared by the Public Works Department and submitted to the Centre by November 2018. The first phase of the Yanam fishing harbour would become operational in August 2018. Enumeration of vendors The government would rope in a private agency for the enumeration of fish vendors. A special welfare package would be prepared based on the daily needs of the fish vendors. The Pondicherry Union Territory Fisheries and Fisheries Development Corporation (Puffdco) would be established on August 15, he said. The government announced an increase in financial assistance to the kin of fishermen who die while at sea. The ex gratia to the kin of fishermen had been increased to Rs.10 lakh from Rs.2 lakh. Similarly, the government would provide Rs.5 lakh for accidental death of fishermen.