Fishing boat owners urge TN government to provide them with financial support

Boat owners in Kasimedu say they have been forced to take huge loans; high diesel costs and exporters not paying adequately for fish, are contributing to their problems

Bogged down by loans, boat owners in Kasimedu have urged the State government to provide them with financial support. With banks not stepping in, many of them have been forced to take loans of up to ₹10 lakh to go on fishing. “Last year, the then State government had attempted to get us loans through Kisan credit cards. However, the banks refused to cooperate and the scheme did not take off in the fisheries sector. Those exporters, who buy fish from Kasimedu pay much lesser than what is due to the boat owners, citing various reasons including the loans taken by them,” said community leader M. E. Raghupathi.