Fishermen in coastal Karnataka, who have opposed the scheme to transfer diesel subsidy to the bank accounts of fishing boat owners, have said they want a discussion with the Karnataka government before implementing the scheme next season.

The Karnataka government had implemented the scheme with effect from April 1 this year. Following pressure from various fishermen associations, Karnataka Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, had assured them that the scheme will not be implemented during the current fishing season.

Addressing presspersons in Mangaluru on Monday, Naveen Bangera, president of the Karnataka Purse-Seine Fishermen Association, said fishermen along coastal Karnataka had gone on a fishing holiday from March 31 to April 8 opposing the scheme.

He said the Government had introduced such a scheme 15 years ago. In that scheme, the beneficiaries were given subsidy through cheques. However, the scheme did not continue as the government failed to disburse subsidy through cheques in a timely manner. Fishermen do not want a repetition of such a process again, he said.

The Chief Minister has agreed to continue the old system of subsidy distribution at the delivery point at the time of filling diesel in fishing boats till the fishing season ends in June.

Bangera said fishermen leaders want a discussion with the government before implementation of the scheme next season. They are ready for the direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme provided they get a commitment from the government that problems related to DBT will be rectified, he said.

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