MVR 10.8 million was disbursed as fisherman

Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Ahmed Shafeeu has said that out of MVR 100 million budgeted to provide subsidies for fisherman, an amount of MVR 10.8 was disbursed last year.

Parliament Committee on the Oversight of the Government summoned Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shafeeu, along with the chairman of National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) Thoriq Ali, and senior officials of the Environment Ministry alleging that the money allocated in the state budget to provide subsidies was withheld.

Speaking at the committee meeting, Fisheries Minister Shafeeu said that the subsidy can only be disbursed according to a guidelines set by the Parliament Public Accounts Committee and that the delay in disbursing the subsidy amounts was caused by a delay by the public accounts committee in setting up the guidelines.

Parliament Public Accounts Committee had determined the guidelines of disbursing subsidy during October last year. Fisheries Ministry had subsequently started disbursing the money during November, and an amount of MVR 10,881,402 was disbursed by the end of last year.

“The MVR 100 million that was allocated for fisherman’s subsidies was to be spent by the 31st of December last year. But we were informed that according to the guidelines, that we cannot fully disburse the money,” said Shafeeu.

The guidelines for fisherman’s subsidies include; for oil subsidies, a certain amount to be disbursed to owner of boats with 72 horsepower engines, a certain amount for boats with engines between 72 to 300 horsepower, and a certain amount for owners of vessels with engines of 150 horsepower. A total of 124 vessels had registered for oil subsidy last year.

An amount of MVR 100 million has been allocated for fisherman’s subsidy this year well. Minister said that the matter of disbursing the funds will be presented to the parliament public accounts committee sometime next week.

An amount of MVR 50 million has been budgeted to provide subsidies for farmers this year. The amount is to be disbursed after amending the farmer’s registry.

Registry of farmers at the Fisheries and Agriculture Ministry’s shows that a total of 7,453 farmers had registered for subsidies last year. The Ministry, amidst complaints, has said that they will contact the island councils to clarify the exact number of farmers who deserve the subsidies, and disburse the funds accordingly.