In Tamilnadu, the State Government today commenced the disbursement of relief amount under the National Fishermen Savings – cum- relief scheme to help them during the lean months.The scheme helps 1,82,646 fishermen and 1,45,060 fisher women who are not able to put to sea for three months in the monsoon period every year.For the current year, Government has sanctioned a total sum of Rs. 39,32,47,000 for the relief. An official press release said the relief amount has been raised from Rs.1200/- in 2008 to Rs 1800/- per fisherman since 2009. Fishermen who are actively engaged in marine fishing and who are members of the Fishermen Cooperative Societies are benefited under this scheme.