The government will include 1,000 more fishermen under the old age pension scheme in 2025-26, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy informed the Assembly on Wednesday.
Presenting the annual Budget, the Chief Minister said that the government has set aside ₹36.4 crore in the Budget for providing old age pension to the elderly people of fishermen community.
Otter Boards (fishing device), with a unit cost of ₹70,000, would be provided to owners of registered mechanised fishing boats (trawlers) at a 50% subsidised rate. Further, portable fish holding box (ice box) with a unit cost of ₹7,500 would be supplied at free of cost, he said.
The government has taken up development of fish landing centres at Periakalapet, Nallavadu and Thengaithittu under the Central government’s PMMSY scheme. The fish landing centres would be developed in these three places at a cost of ₹86.42 crore. The government also proposed to take up development of Karaikal fishing harbour at a cost of ₹119. 94 crore, the Chief Minister said.