Fishermen demand swift disbursal of compensation

The fishing ban period is observed to enable fish breeding without any disturbance and during that time, mechanised boats are banned from fishing. This applies to all the 13 coastal districts in the State and Rs 5,000 as compensation is distributed to the fishermen for survival. 

As the compensation amount is generally distributed towards the end of the ban period, the fishermen demanded that the government and the Fisheries Department give away the amount as early as possible. 

Justin, a fisherman from Rameswaram, claimed that there is always a delay in disbursal of compensation amount to the fishermen. During the ban period, fishermen go to other parts of the country in search of work and return only towards the end of the ban period. 

If the compensation amount is given earlier they would hand over a part of the amount to their family and take the rest along with them to a new town,” said Justin. 

CR Senthil, State General Secretary, Fishing Workers Union (CITU), said fishermen have been demanding that the State government increase the compensation amount to Rs 10,000 for quite some time. “A labourer would spend at least Rs 200 a day for his family on food and Rs 5,000 for 45 days would definitely be not enough. Hence, the State government should definitely increase the compensation amount,” he added. 

The state government released a solatium of Rs 1 lakh each to the next of kin of 11 fishermen who died in tragic circumstances recently. Among the dead, Joseph Suganthan, George Antony and Arul Neville, all of Rajakamangalam fishermen’s village in Kanniyakumari district were killed when they fell into the sea following their fishing boat capsizing off the Saudi Arabian coast, the body of Arul Neville is yet to be recovered. 

All three were contract fishermen for a Saudi firm, a release added. Similarly, Francis of Punnakayal and Roshan of Therespuram both in Toothukudi district were killed when they drowned following their catamaran capsizing.