Chennai: Defaced huts, hiking debts and mounting civic issues. Fishermen on the city’s coast are a demotivated lot, forgetting their heroic acts during the recent floods.
No more are they into humanitarian acts, as they are confined to their own problems, said V. Chandrasekhar who initiated a forum called Senior Citizens Group of Besant Nagar (SCGOBN).
The forum, which recognises fishermen’s acts of bravery, assessed their changed mindset.
With the deaths at sealine escalating, the forum feels it wise to take steps to motivate the fishermen. At a meeting organised on Monday, the forum discussed ways to do the same.
“The damage to our houses are yet to be recovered. We are still compensating the losses we incurred when we did not get into the rough seas for a long time,” said a local fisherman. He does not think of social issues nowadays.
Sometimes, it is the lack of appreciation, which drains fishermen’s spirits, it is learnt. “I had saved close to 10 lives. No one had ever visited us again. Not even when we are suffering,” said K.Rajendran, a resident at Besant Nagar Broken Bridge settlement
“I can no more take risk as I am concerned about my family,” he said. The senior citizens forum promised to counsel the fishermen besides providing incentives to the needy.
“We will educate them about the available safety numbers in coast guard and Corporation. We will collect a sum from senior citizens to address their grievances,” said Wing Commander P.S. Murthy who is also a member of the forum.
