Centre to compensate for boats: Fishermen

This was disclosed by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to a 13-member fishermen’s delegation from Rameswaram, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Nagapattinam, and Karaikal who called on her in New Delhi on Wednesday. 

The team was led by Rajya Sabha DMK MP Tiruchy Siva. As on date, nearly 94 boats (106 if boats belonging to fishermen from Puducherry are included) have been seized by the Sri Lankan maritime authorities and are yet to be released. The Indo-Sri Lanka talks committee member N. Devadoss, a participant in today’s meeting, said, “The Minister assured us that the compensation would be paid immediately” he said. 

“We are happy with her announcements as finally, the Centre seems to have realised the plight of fishermen who are constantly harassed by the Sri Lankan navy,” he added. Swaraj also said that Rs.1000 crore was sought by the Tamil Nadu government to encourage deep sea fishing. This amount would be doubled with immediate effect, she said. 

It may be recalled that at the end of the Indo-Sri Lanka fishermen’s meeting in Chennai in March 2015, it was said that that the Tamil Nadu government had provided Rs.52 crore to convert fishing trawlers into deep sea fishing vessels for which another Rs.975 crore was sought from the Centre. This would be a boon to Rameswaram fishermen who will have to sail more than 80 nautical miles northeast or south for deep sea fishing. 

Swaraj also said meetings would be held immediately with related agencies including the Fisheries Department, External Affairs Ministry, Coast Guard and the Navy to ensure that Indian fishermen were not needlessly harassed by the island nation’s navy.