Stalin to reach out to fishermen on August 18 to sort out pressing issues in the sector

Chennai, Aug 3 (BPNS)

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, MK Stalin will be holding a detailed outreach programme with the fishermen community of the state on August 18 to have discussions on the issues faced by the community.

The outreach programme will be held on August 18 at Ramanathapuram. It is to be noted that the fishermen community of Tamil Nadu has been vociferous over the arrests of the fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy and confiscation of mechanized fishing boats.

Chief Minister, according to senior leaders of the DMK will be addressing the issue of the Sri Lankan Navy arresting Tamil Nadu fishermen.

The DMK is also pushing for the retrieval of Katchatheevu island back to India which is presently with the Sri Lankans. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister had just before the recent visit of the Sri Lankan president, Ranil Wickramasinghe written a letter to the Prime Minister of India on this. The Chief Minister had also taken up the issue of the arrest of fishermen also with the Indian Prime Minister.

It may be noted that since 2020, Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 619 fishermen and taken into custody 83 boats. While most of the arrested fishermen are released from jail, 67 boats are still in the custody of Sri Lankan Navy.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister had earlier announced a compensation package of Rs 6 crore for repair works of boats that were damaged in the custody of Sri Lankan Navy.

The Tamil Nadu government is giving a big boost for the infrastructure development and upgradation of fishing infrastructure.  Fishing harbours are being constructed in Arucottuthurai and Vellapalam in Nagapattinam district.  The state government is also holding consultations with Marine Products Exports Development Authority (MPEDA) to boost up marine exports from the state thus helping the fishermen.

The Chief Minister, it may be noted had recently held a meeting with the Delta farmers to try and understand their problems and to provide solutions for this.

Dr. Anandan. K.R, social scientist and thinker based out of Salem while speaking to BPNS said, “ The state government under Stalin is conducting outreach programmes with various communities in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The interaction with the fishermen community on August 18 is part of this and the Chief Minister had already head a meeting with the Delta farmers of Tamil Nadu.”