Port Blair, Sep 03: Mr Kuldeep Rai Sharma, President, PCC has requested a minister to waive off the loan amount (both principal and the interest) for the 270 fisherman who were extended financial assistance in the form of loan from banks under Rajiv Gandhi Rehabilitation Package to buy new/repair fishing implements such as mechanised boat/dinghy, nets etc. on the recommendation of the Fisheries department of the Andaman & Nicobar Administration.
In a letter addressed to the home minister Mr Sharma has highlighted the grievances of the fishermen community residing in these Islands who probably were amongst the worst affected by the Tsunami.
“Likewise other parts of India, the fishermen of Andaman and Nicobar Islands also belong to very poor community and these Islands being relatively much costlier to live when compared to mainland of India, their financial condition becomes still worse. Moreover, in these Islands, these fishermen have to venture for their livelihood in the most unpredictable Cyclonic weather condition and for which reason they have to remain idle for most part of the year without earning. Further, during the course of their repayment of loan, owing to cyclonic and rough sea state in the Bay of Bengal , the fishing crafts and nets of most of these fishermen have again got damaged thereby again causing financial loss to them,” he said in his letter.
Mr. Sharma added that under the above stated circumstances, these fishermen due to their poor financial condition find no way out as to how to pay off the loan amount with interest and that too for the crafts which have been subsequently destroyed necessitating additional expenditure on repairs and maintenance.
