Fisherfolk from the district were an excited lot. It was, perhaps, for the first time in their lives that any government agency organised a boat race exclusively for them at the picturesque R.K. Beach here on Sunday.
Organised by the Coast Guard to commemorate its 40th Raising Day, the objective of the event is to inculcate a feeling of brotherhood among fishermen community and the Coast Guard.
A large number of fishermen and their families gathered to cheer the teams as they took off from the beach.
A Coast Guard ship came close to the coast, while a chopper hovered above even as speed boats kept a constant vigil. The crowd cheered the participants from the shore waving and calling out to them. The participants used all their might to take their boats from the start line towards the deep and competed with one another to return first. The tides seemed to be strong and they had a tough time in rowing the boat. A member of boat no. 7, held a placard aloft, as they came to the finish line in the shallow waters.
The winners V. Tataji, M. China Appalaraju, M. Joganna and Muttiraju, of Pudimadaka in Atchutapuram mandal, seemed to have no word to express their joy at securing the first prize in the event. “Though we go for fishing every day right from our childhood day, this is the first time that we are participating in a competition. It’s a different experience for us and we thank the Coast Guard for giving us this unique opportunity,” they told this correspondent after receiving the prize.
Police Commissioner T. Yoganand handed over a trophy and a cheque for ₹25,000 to the winners. The first Runners Up and the second Runners Up received cheques for ₹15,000 and ₹10,000 respectively. He commended the Coast Guard for conducting the boat race for fishermen for the first time.
Coast Guard DIG A.K. Harbola described fishermen as the ‘eyes and ears’ of the Coast Guard as they would be the first to spot suspicious persons and strangers in their areas of operation. They could be trained to tip off the Coast Guard of any such movements.
Inspector General Suryaprakash and Visakhapatnam West MLA P.G.V.R. Naidu were present.
