After the Eelam War of 2009, quietness may be prevailing in parts of the Northern Province, but there are clear signs of growing uneasiness among sections of people, particularly women who are struggling to take care of their families.
Reasons are not far to seek. Lack of durable houses, shrinking income and the rising habit of alcoholism are some of the key issues affecting people in the region.
Anne Mary of Victory’s Village in Pesalai, near Mannar town, lives in a house constructed about 15 years ago by a local fishermen’s cooperative society. The quality of materials supplied was so poor that many houses developed huge cracks. A couple of houses have even collapsed, she says.
When the War assumed serious proportions, she and all her neighbours had to abandon the village and they lived in a number of places.
It’s with great difficulty that Mary and some of her neighbours have managed to rebuild their “poorly-built” houses. But “not everyone can afford”, she says, adding the news that there would not be any extension of the Indian government-assisted housing scheme has only saddened people in the area.
Swarna, a resident of another fishing village near Talaimannar, says there are several cases of women struggling hard to get temporary shelters. “Can’t the Indian government be some more compassionate?” she asks.
Housing is only one problem. The fishermen in this part of the Mannar district are among the worst hit because of “illegal fishing” by Indian (Tamil Nadu) fishermen.
“These days, our authorities appear to be helpless. They have conveyed to us that they cannot come to our rescue now,” says J. Sebastin Charles, chairperson of the Pesalai fishermen’s cooperative society. Besides, the method of fishing by the Indians causes enormous damage to the ecosystem, he adds, referring to the rampant use of trawlers.
As a result, the Sri Lankan fishermen are not being able to get their catch adequately, leading to a sharp fall in their income.
“Many of us sold our modest collection of jewels so that the men in our families could do fishing smoothly. But, all our hopes have dashed,” Mary laments.
To top it all, the problem of alcoholism persists. Boys, at the age of 16 years, have started taking to this habit. “Three-fourths of the household income is spent for this,” Mary points out.
M.Y.S. Deshapriya, Mannar District’s top official, acknowledges the housing problem. After the Indian government, no other donor has come forward, he says. On the problem of alcoholism, the district administration is making efforts to contain it, he adds.
