L Murugan, Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairy, said that the Kisan Credit Card Scheme will be extended to fishermen to provide them loans at low interest rates.

Addressing 'Fishermen Convention' organised by Kerala Pradesh Fishermen Group (BMS) at Munambam in Kochi on Monday, the minister said that the commitment of the Central government towards the fishermen was evident in the fact that it has created a separate department for Fisheries and set apart Rs 20,000 crore for the Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Campaign.

The MoS said, "For the first time in independent India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sanctioned Rs 20,000 crore for fishermen in the Atmanirbhar Bharat project."

He added that the government has earmarked Rs 7.5 crores to set up integrated fishermen villages with schools, healthcare facilities, etc.

He further announced that the fuel subsidy for the fisherman will continue and said that the Union government has sanctioned Rs 246 crore for fishermen in Kerala alone in the last five years. Murugan said that the policy of the government is to develop all fishing harbours in India.

(With PTI inputs)