A Helping Hand For The Fisher Folks

The community directly affected by the Tsunami were the fisher-folk. The Murugappa Team was all set to do something long-term for them too. On wide-spread request high-mast lamps were set up at various crucial places along the coast-line to enable the fisher-men to bring in their catch easily even in the night. It psychologically made them feel better too they said. Akkarikodi, Singara Topu and Sonakuppam were some of the villages in which high mast lamps were put up. In Akkaraikodi where more than 1000 people died hurricane lamps were distributed.

Arcot Durai in Nagapattinam, one of the badly affected areas, is where we headed next. A remote fishermen's hamlet, home to almost 4000 fishermen of the 'Padaiachi' clan, lost almost everything when the Tsunami hit. As we trudged along the coast-line we were shown how each fisherman had on the shore his bundles of nets, each of different sizes depending on the size of the catch, his boat etc. "These are the only assets we have and we take to the sea only the appropriate nets, the rest are left on the shore. When the Tsunami struck everything was swept away," said the fishermen.

The Group learnt that though there was a large supply of boats, outboard motors were in shortage. So motors worth a total of Rs 28 lakhs were given to these fishermen. Manoharan, the Panchayat Head said that they were able to get a better catch now since it was possible to go deeper into the sea with these motor boats. These boats were a better substitute to the catamaran. "This is one of the biggest fishermen communities in this area and the government is planning to construct a fishing harbour here. We plan to bring in several improvements and develop the markets for these fishermen," said Soundararajan, Inspector, Fisheries. This particular coast-line boasts of lobsters for export to Singapore. Says Raja, another fisherman, "I had a boat in which I has invested Rs 5 lakhs but the Tsunami destroyed it completely. It is with this motor boats that I am able to feed my family."

This stretch of the beach was dotted with tents put up by customers – buyers of this fish both big and small. Small time customers take their fish on cycles while companies exporting them to Kerala and Andhra Pradesh call for their vans as soon as the fishermen come with their catch. Putting behind them the hardships they had undergone these fishermen were the picture of hospitality even taking the THINK Team for a ride on their motor boats. While we bade farewell, the fisher-folk requested us to re-visit them and join them for lunch the next time!