Nod for debt relief Bill for fishermen
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The Cabinet on Wednesday night approved a Bill to provide debt relief for fishermen in the coastal areas of the State. The Bill will provide for waiver of loans taken by fishermen from moneylenders and interest thereon. Private moneylenders, who have lent to fishermen, will get no compensation. However, provision will be made for Government agencies, which have loaned money to fishermen, to recoup the amount from funds earmarked for tsunami relief. Briefing mediapersons on the Cabinet decisions, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said that a commission would be appointed under the law to decide on waivers. The measure would benefit fishermen who could not repay their loans. The Chief Minister said that the Kollam Industrial Training Centre would be upgraded as a first grade centre. Aid sanctioned The next of kin of Ambalappuzha panchayat president P. Lalkumar, who was killed in an accident, would be paid Rs.3 lakh as assistance. The next of kin of Pranav, who was killed in a fireworks accident, would be given Rs.50,000. The injured, numbering 18, would be given Rs.10,000 each towards medical treatment. Assistance would also be provided to victims of other recent accidents. Musician Saratchandra Maratta would be paid Rs.25,000 for his medical treatment. Mr. Achuthanandan confirmed that an inquiry would be conducted into the diversion of tsunami funds reported by Vijayanunni Commission. The report and action proposed by it would be tabled in the Assembly. Earlier in the day, Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac told the Assembly that a debt relief scheme for fishermen would be implemented during the next financial year. Replying to the debate on the general discussion on the budget for 2007-08, the Minister said loans taken by fishermen from private moneylenders would be waived without providing compensation to the moneylenders. Legislation for this would be introduced in the House during the current or next session. Dr. Isaac said the proposed stamp duty on power of attorney for property transactions would not apply to power of attorney granted to family members. He said the capital expenditure would be a record this year. As the revenue gap was being brought down, capital expenditure would increase in the coming years. One of the specialties of his budget was the effort to integrate Central schemes into the State budget. Integration was also needed with State projects and schemes of the local bodies. |