Almost a year after Cyclone Ockhi hit the coasts of Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan has allocated funds from the CM's Disaster Relief Fund towards the education of the children of the fisherfolk who had died or went missing in the disaster. As part of this new project, Vijayan on Monday announced the release of Rs 13.92 crores, which will fund the education of 194 students.
However, the fishermen in the state who were also instrumental during the flood relief activities questions the government for a delay in releasing the funds. "Ockhi hit us a year ago and caused a lot of devastation and we were in immediate need of relief. But until now, I know no one in Ernakulam who has received any relief," says Shiji Thayil, Ernakulam District President, Kerala Swatantra Matsyathozhilali Federation. Shiji says that even though the fisherfolk appreciates the project, it had to be done much earlier.
The project will also fund the skill development of 124 graduates who've been affected by the cyclone. "The bank passbooks for the beneficiaries of this scheme who are eligible for the skill development courses were distributed today," Vijayan wrote on Facebook on Wednesday. According to the project that extends until 2037, students from LKG to Grade V will receive Rs 10,000, VI to X graders will receive Rs 25,000, XI and XII graders will receive Rs 30,000 and the Under Graduate students will receive Rs 1,00,000 per year.
The tropical cyclone that spread over a week from November 29 to December 6, 2017, caused huge destruction in Sri Lanka, Maldives and parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep. According to the official statistics, 79 fishermen were declared dead and 140 went missing in Kerala alone. To combat the losses, the Kerala Government had previously sought a special package of Rs Rs 7,340 crore from the centre.
