PM sanctions grant to next of kin of fishermen held captive in Pakistan

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today sanctioned a one-time ex-gratia payment of three lakh rupees to the next of kin of each fisherman being held captive in Pakistan.

New Delhi, Sept 27 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today sanctioned a one-time ex-gratia payment of three lakh rupees to the next of kin of each fisherman being held captive in Pakistan.

He has also sanctioned an out-right grant of 30,000 rupees for smaller fishing boats, and a grant of five lakh rupees for trawlers to the owners of each boat or trawler seized.

A Prime Minister's Office (PMO) release said the grant is being made to ameliorate the hardships caused due to the continued retention of bread winners in captivity, and to address the livelihood problems due to seizure of boats. The assistance will be provided from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF).

The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) will be designated as the implementation agency. The Finance Ministry will also liaise with the implementation agency and the Department of Animal Husbandry to develop a suitable soft loan package for the replacement of fishing craft.

The Prime Minster's relief package will be in addition to all existing benefits, including those made by the Gujarat Government.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had received several representations from Gujarat regarding the problems being faced by the families of fishermen held in captivity in Pakistan, along with a number of memoranda regarding the problems faced by the fishermen community due to the seizure of fishing craft.

ANI