Puducherry:
The Puducherry Fishermen Association has expressed strong protest against the government's "delay" in disbursing relief to fishermen affected by natural calamities.
General Secretary of the Association M Veeramani said in a release today that the government had, under a scheme, mobilised a deposit of Rs 600 from each of the fishermen towards relief fund and the Centre and State governments had contributed equal amount towards the fund during 2013-2014.
Mr Veeramani added that the government should have disbursed relief to the fishermen hit by cyclone but nothing had been done in this regard.
He also criticised the government's failure to disburse monthly pension to each of the fishermen covered under the scheme for payment of pension amount after the beneficiary turned 50 years. Although applications were received from the fishermen who are fifty years and above nothing had been done to pay the cash assistance every month.
The government should come forward and disburse the amount, he said.