The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Helping fisherfolk to set sail

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 27, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Helping fisherfolk to set sail

Staff Reporter

Fishermen encouraged to keep track of their earnings A workshop to ensure alternate employment for youngsters and a crèche to house toddlers has also been planned.

CHENNAI: Lakshmanan, Mani, Kumar and Baskaran remember the huge waves that battered their catamarans and flung rocks many a feet ashore on December 26 last. They remember struggling to save their catamarans and then themselves and nearly losing the battle to the sea.

"After the waves receded the nets were in tatters. The boats were broken and all the huts along the shore gone," said Baskaran. "That day there was a medical camp and our children were there. So nobody died."

Twenty days later, the fishermen of Chinnandi Kuppam considered returning to fishing. Though the hamlet, which has 96 families, has received 32 motorised fibre boats some of them have not returned to the sea.

The Catalyst Trust will ensure that all fishermen return to sea, said R. Desikan, chairman. The fishermen are being encouraged to maintain a roster and log in details of the money earned for their catch. Each family will contribute towards maintenance of boats and nets.

Rotarians will train youngsters on repair and maintenance of boats. A workshop to ensure alternate employment for youngsters and a crèche to house toddlers has also been planned.

Architect-designed earthquake and cyclone-resistant houses have been proposed. Fish waste is being segregated to prepare manure for the saplings being planted along the one-and-a-half km coastal stretch.

On Tuesday, the foundation stone for a community centre was laid. The villagers will use the centre as a marriage hall for a nominal fee.

The fishermen are excited. "A kilo of jelly fish used to sell for Rs. 60 last year. This year it sells for Rs.1,200. There is plenty of potential but we did not have the boats to go to the sea," said Baskaran. "We have seven sets of fishing nets now to catch a variety of fish. We also have fishing rods. When the engines fail we can use the sail we have been provided," said Sekar.

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