Rameswaram Fishermen Seek CM’s Intervention For Permits, Subsidised Diesel
The fishermen of Rameswaram who converted their wooden boats into fibre and steel boats have appealed to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to provide fishing permit tokens and diesel subsidy.
Rameshwaram: The fishermen of Rameswaram who converted their wooden boats into fibre and steel boats have appealed to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to have “mercy on the fishermen” and provide fishing permit tokens and diesel subsidy for their new boats.
Their appeal is a fallout of the fisheries department stating that such modified boats are not eligible for permits and subsidised diesel in Rameswaram. Recently, the affected fishermen held a protest in front of the fisheries department token office, stressing their demands.
During the protest, they said they will intensify their struggle, including the holding of road blockades, to demand that the government accept their demands and take action.
Explaining the situation, district fishermen’s association president V.P. Sesuraj said they have been fishing in Rameswaram port for more than 40 years with more than 600 fishing boats.
All these boats are made of wood. Since these boats are 40 years old, many of them have deteriorated and are no longer suitable for fishing. Fishermen are also afraid to fish using the boats where their safety is not guaranteed, he added.
Therefore, more than 50 boats in the Rameswaram area have been converted into fibre boats. But the fishing permits and subsidised diesel provided by the fisheries department for these fishermen have been stopped. The reason is that they say that fibre boats are not allowed in the port, said Sesuraj.
Sesuraj continued that for their livelihood and to save the lives of the fishermen, they converted the wooden boats into fibre boats. He also pointed out that the government has given permission for fibre boats and steel boats in all ports of Tamil Nadu.
He said, “We have requested that our log book be changed and fishing permits and subsidised diesel be provided. This has been going on for a long time.” In addition, when these fibre boats are captured by the Sri Lankan navy, the relief assistance provided by the government is not available to these fishermen. So, Sesuraj argues that due to this, there is a danger that the families that own these boats may be destroyed.
“Therefore, we request Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to have mercy on the fishermen and provide fishing permits and subsidised diesel for fibre boats in the Rameswaram area and save the livelihood of the fishermen,” he urged.