Karwar: The Kisan Cards which were launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be made available to the eligible beneficiaries said Fisheries, Ports, and Endowment Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary.
Addressing a press briefing at the Karwar District Commissioner’s office, he said that 5 thousand applications have been received for Kisan Cards in the district, out of which 2500 applications have been recommended to the government. There are complaints from the fisherman community that funds have been not released to those eligible applicants. He assured that the lead bank and Nationalised bank managers will verify the applications and the card benefits will be made available to the needy in the next two months. Also, measures will be taken to include all the applicants under this programme he said.
There are also complaints regarding the non-availablilty of 0% interest loans as promised by the government. 1100 applications have been received from fishermen and loans have only been sanctioned for 1800 people. Steps will be taken to verify the loan applications in the next two months and loans will be provided to all eligible applicants. Lead and Nationalised bank managers have agreed to this. Fishermen’s problems will be addressed on priority he said.
The central government has announced a special package of 20 lakh crores for various departments. State Fisheries department is expecting to get 3500 crores from this package. Using these funds, all basic infrastructure works such as minor jetty’s, minor ports, a modern fish oil unit, and a processing unit are planned to be established in the Karwar – Ullal belt of 320 km. Leaving Udupi, Mangalore, and Uttara Kannada, other districts have more than 24 thousand lakes and inland fishing, fish hatchling collection will be given priority he added.
