|
Government of India on 27.01.2005 advised CMDs of all Public Sector Banks to expeditiously implement the Rajiv Gandhi Rehabilitation package for Tsunami affected areas and a revised relief package including bank loan alongwith guidelines dated 24th February, 2005 was issued to the respective States/Union Territories i.e. Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Andaman & Nicobar Islands for immediate implementation. Data relating to the number of applications received under the package are not available at present. The Life Insurance Companies and Public Sector General Insurance Companies have also been advised to simplify claims procedures and settle claims quickly to mitigate the sufferings of the Tsunami affected persons.
The salient features of the revised special relief package for fishermen community are given below:-
Rajiv Gandhi Rehabilitation Package
The brunt of the Tsunami have been borne by the fishermen community. As such, a special package has been approved for replacement of boats and nets with the following norms (for Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Pondicherry).
a) Replacement of Cataraman Boats Full Subsidy
plus nets upto unit cost of Rs. 32,000
b) Replacement of Boats plus motor and 50% subsidy and 50% loan
nets upto unit cost of Rs. 1.5 lakh
c) Replacement of Mechanized boats 35% subsidy (with a ceiling of
plus nets upto unit cost of Rs. 20 Rs. 5 lakh) and balance as loans
lakh
d) Repair of Mechanized boats 60% subsidy (with a ceiling of Rs.
3 lakh) and balance as loan
e) Repairs of all other types of boats Full subsidy upto Rs. 10,000
Rajiv Gandhi Rehabilitation Package for Andaman & Nicobar Islands
An assistance of Rs. 15.01 crore has been approved for the fishery sector, which includes Rs. 2.53 crore for construction of cold storage. On the lines of the package for the fishery sector for the mainland, it has been agreed that the cost of country boats in the lowest category may be fully reimbursed. Keeping in view the high cost of transportation as most of these boats are to be fabricated in the mainland and then transported, the following package has been approved (for Andaman & Nicobar Islands):-
a) Replacement of country Boats (Dongies) Full Subsidy
plus nets upto unit cost of Rs. 65,000
including transportation cost from main
land
b) Replacement/upgradation of Boats 50% subsidy and balance as loan
plus motor and nets upto unit cost of
Rs. 1.5 lakh
c) Repair of boats with motors 60% subsidy (with a ceiling of Rs.
65,000/-) and balance as loan
d) Repairs of country boats (Dongies) Full subsidy upto Rs. 10,000
e) Repairs of cold storage As per damage assessment
There are no fibre glass or big mechanised boats in the Islands.
In both the above packages, fishermen covered by the package indicated at (a) will have the option to opt for package indicated at (b) above. Bank loans will carry interest at 7%. Interest subsidy of 2% will be paid in case of prompt repayment. The moratorium for the loan payment will be one and a half years and repayment period will be seven years after that. Affected fishermen will be entitled to get loans, even if earlier loans are outstanding.
The Rajiv Gandhi Rehabilitation Package includes the following estimates for housing:
(Rs. In crore)
Sl. No.
Name of State/Uts
Amount
1.
Pondicherry
50.00
2.
Andhra Pradesh
2.30
3.
Tamil Nadu
650.00
4.
Kerala
50.00
The total number of people affected by Tsunami is reported to be 27.92 lakh. The information in respect of people who have been fully resettled is not available as yet.
This information was given by Shri S.S. Palanimanickam, Minister of State for Finance in reply to a question raised by Dr. T. Subbarami Reddy and Shri Gireesh Kumar Sanghi in Rajya Sabha today.
BSC/DN-164/05
|
