THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Cyclone Ockhi that shattered the lives of many fishermen and caused widespread destruction has, however, left the general public cold. Their response to the havoc has been lukewarm as it has not touched their lives and it is business as usual for them. On the contrary, even for minor political issues the capital often turns a battlefield. This time, there are only routine press statements or comments even from political leaders.
Civil society has not woken up to the plight of fishermen, who are at the mercy of the seas. Sonia George, secretary of SEWA Union, told DC that the cyclone had hit the SEWA. Their fish workers’ group convener Mercy is still waiting for her husband Antony to return along with 10 other members from the sea. “There is still hope that majority of the missing fishermen will come back. But the civil society has not reacted to the tragedy,” she said.
Dr J. Devika, women’s activist and academic, told DC that Rushabh Mohan, 20, first year BA political science student, had come forward to help the affected community and raised Rs 7,000 to get blankets for the fishermen. Rushabh Mohan is the son of Mohan Kumar Nair, managing director of Clinical Diagnostic Research Centre, and Rekha Mohan Nair. He had dislocated his shoulder, but he visited Poonthura and other coastal areas on the second day after the cyclone hit.
“While touring the coastal areas, the affected families told me that they wanted blankets and not rice. When I spoke to the taluk supply officers there, they also spoke of the same need. I distributed 39 blankets worth Rs 7000 to the fishermen admitted to the General Hospital on December 2,” said Rushabh who is the DYFI Vellayambalam unit joint secretary and SFI Kaudiar local committee joint secretary.
Poet K. Satchidanandan rued that the middleclass people were apathetic to what’s happening around. “The politicians are looking for political advantage. Their general approach is marked by indifference,” he said.
