The South Asian Fishermen Fraternity (SAFF) has urged the Government to provide compensation to the fishermen who lost their boat, catch and fishnets at mid-sea.
In a memorandum to the Fisheries Minister, the general secretary of SAFF, Fr. Churchill, said that nine fishermen from the villages of Erayumanthurai, Poothurai and Mekkamandapam of the district went for deep sea fishing in the mechanised boat ‘Manal Matha’ (with registration No. TN 15/MFV/566) from Thengapattinam fisheries harbour on November 28. The boat belonged to Jabo, son of Siluvaipitchai. While the fishermen were engaged in fishing in the sea off Kollam in Kerala on December 7, the boat sunk due to heavy wind.
While the nine fishermen were fighting for their lives, Rajesh and Savariyar of Erayumanthurai rescued them and brought them in their mechanised boats to the fisheries harbour at Kollam. All the fishermen were safe. The fishermen lost the mechanised boat, fishing materials and fish which cost around Rs. 15 lakh. Since the fishermen did not have any other source of income, the Government should provide immediate relief to them to sustain their livelihood.
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The names of the rescued fishermen were given as Jeebo, Jeilson, Antony, Justin and Jinu of Erayammanthurai, Dhasan and Siluvaipillai of Poothurai, Gilbert of Mekkamandapam and Suresh of Pozhiyur.