Olive Ridley turtle

Paradip, July 22: After a prolonged wait, traditional marine fishermen families, identified under Rice for Olive Ridley Conservation scheme, have now become recipients of the public distribution scheme grants.

Officials said that 2,200 families, who are being affected by a seven-month-long prohibition on marine fishing for turtle protection measures every year, were recently distributed special eligibility cards that would entitle them to have the benefit of subsidised rice.

The cards will entitle them to receive subsidised rice every month from the retailers of the public distribution scheme in the food supplies and consumer welfare department, said Ranjit Dash, additional fisheries officer, Paradip.

Under the public distribution scheme, each family will be provided with 25kg rice at a subsidised rate of Re 1 a kg every month.

It is a livelihood stakes package for poor fishermen communities that will ensure their food security. The fishermen and their families are adversely affected because of the ban on fishing in the areas between November 1 and July 31 every year.

In the state, 10,133 fishermen families have been targeted to get coverage under the public distribution scheme to make up for their livelihood loss in Kendrapara, Puri, Ganjam and Bhadrak districts, where turtles arrive for nesting each winter and are prevented from fishing.

The bulk of the affected families are from Kendrapara as most of the restricted sea corridors of the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary falls in this coastal district.

“We are happy to be included in the public distribution scheme. Subsidised rice will relieve us during the lean season,” said Rahash Manna, a traditional marine fisherman from Ramnagar village.