Govt sends more families away

JAKARTA: Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Rokhmin Dahuri sent off on Tuesday 35 families from the Banten regencies of Pandeglang and Serang to Majene in South Sulawesi, marking the start of a transmigration program geared toward areas with abundant fishing resources.

Rokhmin said the government expected to move some 500,000 families to help the country exploit its fishing resources more and develop the industry.

Each migrant family will receive a house and 500 square meters of land, plus soft loans to purchase boats. The transmigrants have undergone a two-week training course to improve their fish catching skills before leaving for their resettlement areas. -- Antara