New Delhi, Aug 14 (UNI) A National Fisheries Development Board to implement welfare measures for workers in the sector will start working from next month, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today said.

The Hyderabad office of the Board will be launched in the first week of September, Mr Pawar told the Lok Sabha during Question Hour.

The statement came after Communist Party of India's C K Chandrappan demanded constitution of a separate department in the Ministry for the welfare of the fisher men based on the recommendation of the M S Swaminath an Commission.

The government will also convene a meeting of state ministers of fisheries this year to discuss various issues related to the sector, Mr Pawar said.

The Minister said there was no proposal before the government to increase the housing assistance of Rs 40,000 for fishermen affected by natural calamities.

The government is, however, ready to give a ''serious thought'' about increasing the amount, he added.

Lakhs of fishermen had lost their homes in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Pondicherry and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the killer tsunami in 2004.

UNI FZ VA KP1242