The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Rehabilitation of fishermen stares Government in the face

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 09, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Rehabilitation of fishermen stares Government in the face

By S. Vydhianathan

CHENNAI, JAN. 8. The rehabilitation of 1.5 lakh tsunami-affected fishermen families in the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu is one of the major tasks before the government machinery.

The fishermen, who lost one relative or the other, houses and fishing materials, depend entirely on external assistance to restart their life. Unlike as in other community, where rehabilitation would not cost much, massive help is required for fishermen to go to the sea again, according to official sources. A simple catamaran costs between Rs. 20,000 and 70,000 and the cost of an ordinary net is Rs. 20,000.

Fishermen in the State were having various types of craft, including wooden catamaran or fibre-reinforced boats fitted with motors. These country craft will cost between Rs. 70,000 and 1.2 lakhs depending on attachments. For a mechanised boat, the cost varies between Rs. 5 and 16 lakhs.

The officials say each fisherman has more than one net. He needs different nets, as the variety of fish varies from season to season. Nets can cost anywhere from Rs. 15,000 to 2 lakhs. By a recent government assessment about 5,000 mechanised boats, 45,000 country craft, including catamarans and "vallam," and one lakh nets were damaged in the tragedy. The Collectors are still assessing the damage. The final tally will be available by the middle of next week.

To help the fishermen resume their vocation, the Government has deployed engineering teams to the affected areas. To start with, boats and mechanised boats with minor repairs will be attended to. Once the fishermen resume fishing, the government's burden will ease.

For repairing country craft, mechanised boats with outboard motors and trawlers, the Army engineers are being deployed.

The officials say fishermen knew nothing but fishing. Every member of the family is actively engaged in fishing and allied activities, including drying and selling of fish.

Central Government officials attached to the Fisheries Department are expected here by the middle of next week and tour affected seashore villages to provide assistance and also guide the fishermen in resuming their trade.

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