CM presents Rs 1 lakh to 18 TN fishermen who survived Phailin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today handed over cheques of Rs 1 lakh each to 18 fishermen from the state, who survived cyclone Phailin, which hit their boats off Odisha coast.

The fishermen, who arrived here yesterday from Bhubaneshwar by air, as arranged by the state government, met the Chief Minister at the secretariat, where she presented the cheques, and thanked her.

"Considering their poverty-stricken family situation, the Chief Minister handed over cheques of Rs 1 lakh to each 18 fishermen from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund," a state government press release said.

The fishermen, belonging to Kanyakumari district, were stranded at sea as the cyclone hit Odisha on Saturday. With their boat unable to withstand the rough sea, they jumped into the waters and swam to the shore at Ersama in Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha.
 
They were later taken to the district headquarters after being given medical aid, food, water and clothing.

The Chief Minister had directed the officials to take the necessary steps to help the fishermen.