With just a day to go for Deepavali, fishermen in the city are upset that they received the dole for the fishing lean period just two days before the festival. The Fisheries Department released Rs. 88.54 crore towards payment of Rs. 5,000 each to 1.77 lakh fishermen families in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday. K. Bharathi, of the South Indian Fishermen Welfare Association, said that during the previous years, the Department ensured that they had at least four working days before the festival. This year, we have just two working days, and it is pouring. Many of us were unable to withdraw the amount since banks were crowded. Considering the pandemic, the government could have released the amount at least at the beginning of the week so that the families would have time to shop. This year, the amount is more important to us since not many were able to earn, he said. The government also released Rs. 68 crore from the fisherwomen cooperative societies to around 2.13 lakh fisherwomen who are their members. Each would get Rs. 4,500 from the amount saved by them in monthly instalments. This is the amount we have saved. Even this was delayed. Some banks do not issue ATM cards, forcing us to wait in queues. Hopefully, at least next year, they will return our savings and pay the dole on time, said Chandra, a fisherwoman.
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