The Hindu : Opinion / Leader Page Articles : For a long-term solution

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Thursday, Jan 06, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Leader Page Articles

For a long-term solution

By V. Jayanth

Any rehabilitation scheme for fisherfolk affected by the tsunami can be worked out only through democratic consultation and the participation of the fisherfolk themselves in the decision-making process.

THE DECEMBER 26, 2004 tsunami has taken a heavy toll of lives and property along the coast, both in the southern peninsula and in the Andaman and Nicobar islands. Fisherfolk on the mainland and tribes in the islands bore the brunt of the calamity;fishing hamlets and habitations were virtually washed away. It is quite possible that the survivors will soon return to the same locations in order to resume their livelihood and rebuild their lives. Many have already come back to makeshift shelters, although they are being advised to stay away from the coastline on account of further after-shocks and alerts.

With the kind of financial assistance being offered by the Centre and State Governments, it is possible that the more enterprising families may reconstruct their dwellings with available material and resources so that they can return to the sea and start earning a living. "Where else can we go, what else do we do" is the common refrain among the older fishermen. Since tsunamis do not strike every year, the risk may seem worth taking. But learning from this tragedy, the Centre and State Governments must initiate a dialogue with the fishermen associations in all the States to evolve a mutually acceptable housing programme for fisherfolk.

Whatever governments or meteorologists may say, fishermen will not opt to live too far away from the shore. Proximity to the sea and to storing and drying facilities in the vicinity for their boats and nets as well as other implements are key considerations in this decision. It is doubtful if any amount of persuasion can move fisherfolk away from the shores to a slightly interior, `safer' place. Officials are convinced that if they are pressured to shift, they will only let out the dwelling units and return to their huts. So any coercion will only lead to a failure of the scheme. That is why it will be an imperative to involve fisherfolk fully in any official decision-making that relates to their future.

Revenue officials who have made a preliminary survey of the damaged coast in Tamil Nadu say that some of the concrete or pucca constructions have withstood the tsunami, with some damage of course. It is the huts that have been ravaged by the giant waves; if rebuilt, they will be highly vulnerable to cyclone and flood as well. The Central and State Governments must find an enduring solution to this basic need of fishing families who contribute so much to the economy and to society.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P. Chidambaram have made it clear that funds will not be a problem. The Centre has announced a package of Rs. 700 crore and Central teams are visiting the affected States. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands will take some more time to come to grips with the tragedy. Given the configuration and characteristics of this island group and the magnitude of the tsunami calamity, it could take a while to survey all the islands and formulate a detailed scheme for rehabilitation. The conditions in this unique part of the territory of India will vary greatly from the tsunami-hit parts of the southern States. Basically, insurance and housing are the two pillars of the strategy the Centre wants to work on. The States have provided immediate relief and an interim package to enable the tsunami-hit families to restart their lives. They will depend on the Centre for financial assistance to take up any major rehabilitation programme, especially in the field of housing.

By the very nature of their settlement and livelihood, fishermen will want to live as near the sea-front as possible so that they can readily put out to sea and attend to the rest of their work as they think fit. Free spirits, they tend to cherish their independence whatever their existential difficulties. They wish to be left free to go out to sea when they think the weather is fine and the fish are there to be harvested. They are used to the wafting of the waves whether they are asleep or in their boats. They know from the rhythm of the water if it is time to go fishing and for this reason, they want to stay as close to the waters as possible. They cannot be brought together in artificial clusters at some site chosen by outside experts.

Within these parameters, planners will have to come up with a housing programme that will not only provide fisherfolk with robust dwelling units, but also meet their livelihood requirements. And this can be done only through democratic consultation and the participation of fisherfolk in the decision-making process. They must be involved in the discussions if the scheme should succeed.

As for insurance, it should cover their houses, their fishing vessels and other equipment and, of course their lives. Mechanised boats these days cost a small fortune and the motors are the mainstay of these vessels. If these precious possessions are taken care of, perhaps the fishermen may be able to concentrate on their catch. The fishing industry and exporters must contribute to this mammoth task of providing housing facilities and decent insurance cover to all the fisherfolk.

Much is being said about the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and the need to enforce the rules. But it is also being argued that there can be no uniform rule or line drawn along the country's coastline. In a State such as Kerala, 500 metres from the high tide line will mean that a good proportion of the dwelling units and even proper constructions will have to go.

And what is the alternative? This issue needs to be addressed from different angles — the livelihood, the economic, and the environmental. But primacy needs to be given to doing something very substantial to safeguard the future of India's upstanding fisherfolk.

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