The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Now, technology ensures smooth sailing for them

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Monday, Dec 25, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Now, technology ensures smooth sailing for them

Ramya Kannan

TWOYEARSAFTER Before they venture into the sea, they know exactly how high the waves will be and where fish abound

A HANDY DEVICE: The Global Positioning System guides these fishermen of Cuddalore to the right fishing spot. — Photo: S. R. Raghunathan

CHENNAI: In Tamil Nadu, fishermen are an informed lot these days. Before they chart out their path to the sea, they know exactly how high the waves will be, where fish abound and what prices they will get for their catch. Once at sea, they have the Global Positioning System (GPS) to guide them. But they venture into the sea only when the wireless system has not sounded the siren, announcing an impending storm.

In the fishing villages of the State, technology has come to the aid of the people. Be it early warning systems, GPS or Internet, the facilities at the grassroots are enough to stun an outsider. What's more, these people are so used to all the technology that it has stopped being an intrusion; instead, it has seamlessly integrated itself into the everyday life of a coastal hamlet. In Cuddalore, the last mile in the early warning systems has been put in place. With assistance from the United Nations Development Programme, wireless systems are set to occupy a key position in the panchayat offices of 50 coastal habitations. The sets will be installed soon. Accessories such as sirens and public address systems have already been erected. With this system, as demonstrated recently by Cuddalore Collector Gagandeep Singh Bedi during the visit of Bill Clinton, UN Special Envoy on Tsunami, information about high tidal waves, floods or storms can be communicated from a central location to all the villages. The receivers in the villages pick up the message and activate the sirens and public address systems that broadcast the information to the people.

Also in Cuddalore, World Vision, a non-governmental organisation involved in rehabilitation, has distributed 200 GPS to fishermen in 13 villages. "This will facilitate easy navigation for the fishermen, both on land and at sea," says Samuel Jesudasan, information technology co-ordinator of World Vision. "Once they mark a fishing spot on the equipment, they can get back the next day. This will save fuel, time and manpower."

"This has been a great boon for us. We know just where our nets have been cast and can reach the same spot the next day. Earlier, it was not easy finding the spot, and sometimes we would be going round in circles," says Sathyaseelan, a fisherman in Thalanguda. Information technology comes in handy to retrace the route to a spot where fish are available in plenty, and for boats travelling far out into the sea and during cloudy days, says Jayakumar, co-ordinator, Cuddalore Tsunami Rehabilitation Project, World Vision.

It is the village knowledge centres, however, that are closest to the large group of people. In the centre set up in Nagapattinam by the M.S.Swaminathan Research Centre, children are taking time off their lunch break to check out the computers. T. Prakash, who is busy learning to type Tamil on the keyboard, says he comes as often as he can to familiarize himself with computers. The centre offers an adult learning programme sponsored by Tata Consultancy Services, says I. Babiya, who is the co-ordinator at the centre.

The adult learning programme is popular. MS office training programmes are being conducted for students and basic training for women of self-help groups. Information on government schemes, the height of waves, fish catching areas, price, weather position and the like are communicated to the people on weekdays through the public address system. The Pondicherry Multipurpose Social Service Society has established village information centres at Pondicherry, Karaikal and Cuddalore. These centres display the information in each village, says R. Ratchagar, executive director of the organisation.

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