Fisherfolk hit by TN port project to get jobs: Jaya

Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa said on Sunday that the state government has made arrangements in cooperation with construction and engineering company Larsen & Toubro to provide employment to the fisherfolk in the Minjur and Kattuppalli areas near Chennai where a Rs4,000 crore ship building yard and water desalination plants – a joint project between the state government and L&T – are coming up.

''The company has agreed to provide jobs to 120 fishermen, including direct employment to 60 persons. Besides, 60 others would be absorbed after undergoing training with a monthly stipend of Rs6,000,'' she said in a press release.

She said the decision was taken at a recent mee­ting between L&T officials and ministers following her instructions. ''The training facility would be set up in three months' period where another 600 persons would be imparted training for which my government will spend Rs60 lakh,'' she said.

Criticising the previous government, she said, ''An agreement to provide jobs to 1,750 residents of 15 villages was reached during the DMK regime, which did not happen. Due to my efforts,  jobs were provided to 131 persons after the AIADMK assumed power.''

The chief minister said she has also taken steps to increase the daily wages of those employed in the L&T project. ''An increase of Rs20 to Rs30 would be given to the employees. Some 900 fishermen in the Kattupalli vicinity would be trained in fisheries and tourism training centres,'' she said, adding, ''Bus facility to Chennai would be provided from Pulicat.''

Meanwhile, the Kattupalli Port Project is expected to be inaugurated soon, as it is in final stages of completion, Tamil Nadu government officials said.