Kollam : The centre has instructed for downsizing beneficiaries of the fish workers’ Savings Welfare Scheme. The massive multiple times cut in number of beneficiaries comes over and above centre's halting of funds to the scheme for three years now. Over 1,88,000 fish workers in the state are beneficiaries of the scheme. The scheme presently falls under Neelivillayam project. The cut in beneficiaries is being effected by taking it under Pradhan Mantri Matysa Sampadya Yojana that will limit the benefits to just 40,000 below-poverty-line members.
The scheme, aimed to foster savings among fisher folks and ease poverty in their midst, was started in 1992. The centre halte the schemes funding from 2018 – 2020. Pending from the centre on this account is Rs 83.8 cr for 2018-19, Rs 281 core in 2019-20, Rs 267.4 crore in 2020 -21 and Rs 95.31. With centre failing on its remittances, the state stepped in with its own added funds for the scheme to prevent it from lapsing. Also, the state government kept the scheme alive without discrimination as to APL, BPL beneficiaries.
As part of the scheme, fish workers of the sea are paid Rs 4500 between the offseason months of May to July, while inland fishermen received their money between July to September. Both centre state contribute Rs 1500 each per payment, the remaining comes from savings deposits by the beneficiary himself.
