Govts. urged to rescue fishermen held in Sri Lanka
Fishermen in Tamil Nadu have urged the government to secure the release of colleagues imprisoned in Sri Lanka and requested improved infrastructure and subsidies for the fishing industry. Officials have committed to conducting feasibility studies for requested projects and improving administrative grievance processes.
Why it matters
The issue highlights the ongoing diplomatic and economic challenges faced by fishermen operating in contested maritime borders.
Fishermen during the grievance redress meeting held here on Friday urged the Union and State governments to take steps to rescue fishermen held in Sri Lankan prisons.
During the meeting, the fishermen said: Steps should be taken to rescue and bring back Tamil Nadu fishermen imprisoned in Sri Lanka.
Further, schemes such as fishermen relief assistance, fishermen savings-cum-relief assistance, setting up landing centres in fishing villages, providing fishing ban period relief assistance, cancelling penal interest, and providing diesel at subsidised rates should be implemented swiftly.
They also put forward demands such as establishing breakwaters, roads, and drinking water facilities for fishing villages.
Regarding the demand of the fishermen to construct groynes in the fishing villages of Ervadi, Sadaiamuniyanvalasai, and Keelamoondal, Collector M. Sivaguru Prabhakaran instructed the concerned officials to conduct a study and prepare a project report.
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