Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NR) 

Mangalore, Aug 16: About sixty fishermen were donated free life-saving equipments, including lifejackets and floats in Mangalore at a function held under the aegis of Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation (KFDC) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), here at the Mangalore Trawl Boat Fishermen Co-operative Society auditorium on Wednesday August 15.

The safety aspect of the fishermen at sea was highlighted probably for the first time, on Independence Day, when K Lakshminarayana, chairman, KFDC after the distribution ceremony, stressed on the need for protecting the lives of fishermen. He urged corporate entities to come forward and donate valuable lifesaving gear to the fishermen. 

Lakshminarayan informed that state government has already allotted Rs 10 crore for the revival of KFDC and claimed that the fisheries sector at this point in time was poised for high growth and could become a top foreign exchange earner for the country. 

The government would soon take up a comprehensive development plan for fisheries in the State, the chairman added. Mangalore Trawl Boat Association president Seetharama Suvarna, KFDC managing director V K Shetty and deputy director of the Fisheries Department, Suresh Kumar also spoke on the occasion.