Fishermen demands financial assistance from Gujarat govt

The Fishermen Association of Porbander has urged Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi to extend financial support to the fishermen whose fishing boats were seized by Pakistani marine agency after they had strayed into Pakistani waters while fishing.

Pakistan Marine Security agency has seized about 490 boats of fishermen from Saurashtra of which nearly 300 boats belong to fishermen from Porbander, secretary of National Fish Forum Manish Lodhari said.

He said that two years back, union government had devised a scheme for the affected fishermen offering financial help to them and few fishermen have already received Rs 12 lakh each, Lodhari said urging Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi also to follow the centre's move.

A boat costs about Rs28/30 lakh and assistance of Rs12 lakh given by the centre is not enough. If the state government also extends similar assistance, fishermen would be able to build new boats, Lodhari said.