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Title: Need to waive off interest on loans borrowed by fishermen in the coastal belt of Uttar Kannada district, Karnataka.
SHRIMATI MARGARET ALVA (CANARA): Uttara Kannada District has been facing a fish famine for the last 4 years. This year there is an unprecedented famine in the district. Fishermen find it difficult to support themselves through any type of fishing in view of lack of fish catches. Their boats stand idle and they sit watching the sea on empty stomachs while their families starve.
The loans, they took from Banks and other financial institutions remain unpaid with accumulating interest. These institutions especially nationalised and co-operative Banks are threatening to confiscate their meagre assets including their boats and fishing nets.
As the representative of this poverty stricken fishermen community, I appeal to the Government to declare the coastal belt of Uttara Kannada district an area of fish famine, waive off interest on their loans, reschedule the installments for repayment of loans and extend the time suitably. Each family may also be granted famine compensation to help them tide over their desperate situation.