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FINANCE
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STATE AID TO FISHERIES
The Ratnagiri district has a coast-line of about 250 miles and fishing is one of
the major industries of the district, especially in the southern parts, where '
Mackerel' is found in plenty. The district has about 119 fishing villages with a
population of 70,000. The average fishing season lasts from August to May, and
about 3,600 fishing boats ply along the coast. The total investment in the
industry is about Rs. 46 lakhs, and the annual catch of fish in this district
averages about 3,500 maunds.
Loans are granted by Government under the State-aid to Industries Rules, 1935,
to needy fishermen for mechanisation of fishing equipment and accessories. Loans
are also given to fisheries co-operative societies and private undertakings for
such development projects as establishment of ice and cold storage plants and
purchase of trucks and launches for transport of fish, etc. The loans are
recovered in 27 equal instalments spread over a period of three years. The
months of June, July and August are excluded while computing the interval
between instalments. During the First Plan period, loans amounting to Rs.
1,00,000 were granted to the societies in this district.
The growing importance of fisheries was recognised by the Government as far back
as 1945 and a full-fledged Directorate of Fisheries was set up.
Terms and Conditions for Financial Assistance.
The Department through various schemes grants loans and sub-sidies under certain
terms and conditions to fishermen and their co-operative societies for various
purposes such as purchasing of engines, mechanisation of fishing crafts,
purchasing or repairing of fishing equipment such as boats, nets, engines,
trucks and ice-plant.
The principal terms and conditions governing the financial assistance are set on
the following basis:—
(1) Tangible security to the extent of 1½ times the loan amount has to be
furnished by the loanee. If not, a personal surety solvent to the extent of
twice the amount of the loan with a letter of consent from the surety has to be
furnished.
(2) The loan exceeding Rs. 1,000 is generally paid in two equal instalments, the
first instalment being payable immediately after a mortgage deed is executed and
the second instalment after vouchers for the expenditure from the first
instalments are produced.
(3) Loan for engine is granted in one instalment.
Fishermen are granted subsidy on the specific condition that they form a group
of five to ten fishermen. The latter should be members of a local fishermen's
co-operative society and do fishing collectively. The amount of subsidy in each
case is generally 33 to 50 per cent. The repayment of the loan commences three
months after the loan is disbursed. The loan is repayable in equal monthly
instalments over a period of five years. The debtors are required to furnish
securities either collateral, or equal to 1½ times the loan amount or both
personal and collateral each equivalent in value to the loan amounts.
The following table gives the total amount of loans advanced to fishermen and
their co-operative societies in Ratnagiri district, for a period from 1952-53 to
1956-57. These amounts include loans granted for purchase of engines.
TABLE No. 19.
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Year. |
Amount. |
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1952-53 |
19,750.00 |
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1953-54 |
36,350.00 |
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1954-55 |
20,300.00 |
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1955-56 |
23,000.00 |
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1956-57 |
7,983.84 |
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Total |
1,07,383.84 |
Over and above this, large amounts of subsidies were also granted to fishermen
for mechanisation of fishing crafts and for purchase of engines.
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