Nagercoil: The seashell collectors, affected by the tsunami, living in more than 36 villages in Kanyakumari district here have appealed the Government to extend all kind of assistance to them on par with the assistance rendered to the tsunami-affected fishermen community.
There are 2,996 people living in 14 villages including Michiyaanvilai, Agastheeswaram, Thamaraiputhur, Puthukudiyruppu, Sethupathiyur, Kovilvilai, Kattukadai etc., who were running 59-limestone chulai in different parts of the district.
Even as they were also affected indirectly by the tsunami, they were yet to given compensation on par with the fishermen community.
Hence they have urged the Government to include the seashell activity in the Government schedule of cottage industry and to amend 1972 marine animals protection act so that they could get all the benefits announced by the Government.
Among the most affected, the fishermen living in the coastal villages got adequate relief, whereas the sea dependent seashell collectors who were living a little interior were left out.
25 villages affected
In Kanyakumari district 25 villages consisting of 65,322 persons were affected after tsunami hit the coastal areas of the district few years ago.
The occupation wise, the seashell collector’s community depended on the sea like the sea going fishermen community. But the Government declared only the coastal fishermen affected for relief and rehabilitation.
Human Education and Action for Liberation Movement, a non-governmental organisation based at Nagercoil, which interacted with residents of two of the 14 villages, and pointed out the negligence of the Government to categorise the seashell workers under the affected community in its schedule.
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