Fisherfolk struggle to avail housing scheme due to lack of documents

MANY fishermen families who are in need of a housing facility, are unable to avail the benefit of the state government's Matsyashraya scheme due to a lack of documents.

- DIVYA CUTINHO @ Mangaluru

According to D. Siddaiah, Joint Director, Department of Fisheries, Dakshina Kannada, though there is good demand for the scheme, many fishermen are unable to apply for it, as they need to have their site to avail it.

"Even though there is demand for the scheme, a good number of fishermen are unable to provide the necessary documents. For example, in the Bengre area, many fishermen have built temporary houses on the seashore or the riverside and have been living there for several decades. These fishermen do not have the necessary documents, due to which they are unable to avail the scheme," Siddaiah told The New Indian Express.