The Fisheries Department has established 23 exclusive e-Seva centres in coastal hamlets across the district to facilitate fishermen submit online applications and avail subsidy during the fishing ban period (April 15 to June 15).
According to a Fisheries Department official, the district has 26 e-Seva centres. In addition to these, 23 exclusive e-Seva centres have been set up for this purpose. The department has started receiving applications from the beneficiaries.
The beneficiaries can visit the nearest e-Seva centre and submit the required documents, including copies of Aadhaar card, family ration card, bank savings book, biometric identity cards and a passport size photograph. The facility will be available till June 15.
After submitting the application with required documents, the fishermen would be given a Citizen Account Number (CAN) for future references.
The biometric details of the beneficiaries would be registered and the subsidy of ₹5,000 would be directly credited in their bank accounts.
The scheme was first rolled out as a pilot project in a few districts, including Villupuram and has now been extended to all the 13 coastal districts in the State. Earlier, the fishermen had to visit the department for availing the subsidy.
Cuddalore district has 245 mechanised fishing boats and 2,300 country boats and the scheme would benefit around 12,000 families.