This includes the assistance of ₹10 lakh declared earlier and ₹5 lakh each from the Fisheries Department and the Fishermen's Welfare Fund Board. The government also decided to compensate fishermen who had lost their boats and fishing equipment to the cyclone fury. Plea for special packageMr. Vijayan said the State would urge the Centre to declare a national disaster in Kerala and announce a special package for reconstruction activities. Mr. Vijayan said the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) would be reconstituted and steps would be taken to create a State Disaster Response Force. As many as 200 persons from fishermen families would be recruited into the force.

Source: The Hindu December 06, 2017 13:07 UTC