The Trinamul Congress has activated its trade union INTTUC in the coastal districts of East Midnapore, North 24-Parganas and South 24-Parganas to consolidate the support of thousands of fishermen and their families by highlighting the new financial scheme for them.
In the budget for the next fiscal (2024-25), minister of state for finance Chandrima Bhattacharya had announced “Samudra Sathi,” a scheme under which fishermen living in those three districts would get monthly assistance of Rs 5,000 for two months every year.
In the coastal areas, there is a ban on fishing for two months, that is, from mid-April to mid-June.
“The scheme will benefit nearly two lakh fishermen. I propose to allocate Rs 200 crore for this purpose,” Chandrima had said.
The announcement has made the INTTUC form the Sara Bangla Trinamul Matsyajibi Union — a trade union of fishermen.
“During the ban, the livelihood of fishermen is adversely impacted. The assistance will largely benefit them. We are moving across the coastal districts and apprising fishermen about the scheme,” said state INTTUC president Ritabrata Banerjee.
On Friday, Ritabrata, along with East Midnapore district Trinamul leaders, held a public meeting at Haripur in Contai, East Midnapore.
“We explained to the fishermen and their families how the state government is supporting them through the new scheme and other social welfare schemes. We also told them how BJP leaders, including Suvendu Adhikari, are instrumental in halting central funds meant for Bengal,” the INTTUC leader said.
According to an estimate of the Centre in 2022, there are around 32.36 lakh fishermen in Bengal.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), the Centre provides Rs 4,500 (Rs 1,500 each for three months) to fishermen during the period when there is either a ban on fishing or is a lean season for them. In the PMMSY, the beneficiary has to pay Rs 1,500 to get Rs 4,500.
But in the state’s scheme, a fisherman doesn’t need to pay a penny and the total assistance is Rs 10,000 (Rs 5,000 for two months).
