Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said that the government is committed to resolve the long-pending demands of the fishermen community in a phased manner.

Taking part in the World Fisheries Day programme at the Banquet Hall in Vidhana Soudha here, Siddaramaiah said that the government would take steps to set up a fisheries university next year. “We are also planning to launch a housing scheme for the fishermen community from next year,” he added. 

He claimed that he has been fighting for the rights of the fishermen ever since he was in Opposition. “I will address your issues one by one,” he assured the community.

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar lauded the efforts of the fisheries department for coming out with a concept of distributing e-vehicles to unemployed youth in Bengaluru. It will help fishermen increase their sales and also reduce the unemployment problem in cities, he added. 

Fisheries Minister Mankal Vaidya said that the government has allocated Rs 370 crore in this fiscal year to help the fishermen.

“The inland and coastal fish production has crossed 10 lakh metric tonnes this year,” he added.