Debt relief Act for fishing community in January: Minister

The Kerala government would enact the Debt Relief Act for fishermen in January next, and come out with a health insurance programme for the community, State fisheries minister S Sarma said today.

The health insurance scheme would be launched for all categories of fishermen, and would introduce insurance coverage for fishing equipment. The government would bear 75% of the premium, Sarma said inaugurating a new building and parking lot built at the Beypore fishing harbour near here.

It had been decided to install safety beacons operated with the assistance of Indian Space Research Organisation to track the fishing boats held up in troubled waters or in any other mishaps in the waters, he said.

Services of speedboats would be made available at the Beypore fishing harbour to provide prompt rescue and relief operations to boats involved in mishaps, he said.