Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, May 20: Former minister Pramod Madhwaraj expressed his unhappiness over the exclusion of fishing sector in the financial package announcement by chief minister B S Yediyurappa on May 19.

Addressing media here on Thursday May 20, he said, “Dakshina Kannada district has turned worse in terms of Covid cases and affected due to economic crisis. All sections of the society except hospitals and medical are under economic crisis. Due to the second wave, the chief minister has announced a package worth Rs 1,250 crore for unorganized workers and those engaged in petty trades or operating auto rickshaw, cab, taxi drivers, artists, vegetable vendors and farmers.

“I doubt if the package will reach the beneficiaries at the right time. The package looks biased as some sections are completely neglected like the fisherman community. Several families are dependent on fishing and nothing has been announced for them. If government had considered the fishing sector while announcing packages, it would have helped them. The government has not released diesel subsidy since December.

“I, Abhayachandra Jain and Mithun Rai have faced losses despite working, while the BJP gained the votes of fishermen community speaking about religion and other emotional factors,” he said.

Former minister Abhayachandra Jain, former district Youth Congress president Mithun Rai and others were present.