Union Minister of State for Fisheries, L Murugan, announced during his visit to Tiruchendur that the Ministry of Fisheries will seriously consider the request made by fishermen to operate marine ambulances for the rescue of distressed fishermen at sea. This declaration was made while he was addressing reporters in the company of Union Fisheries Minister Parshottam Rupala during their ongoing visit to coastal villages in the Tuticorin and Ramanathapuram districts as part of Sagar Parikrama Phase VIII.
Murugan explained that this initiative had commenced five months ago on the Gujarat coast with the aim of engaging with the public and gathering input from stakeholders regarding fisheries sector projects. Having successfully completed their survey of the western coast, they have now entered Tamil Nadu, where they will continue their visit along the coastline all the way to the Bangladesh border. It was during their interactions with fishermen in Kanyakumari that they were made aware of the urgent need for marine ambulances, and Murugan assured them that their request would be given due consideration. He also highlighted the government’s commitment to implementing numerous fisheries projects, particularly in Tuticorin, Kanyakumari, and Ramanathapuram districts.
Murugan pointed out that historically, the fisheries sector had received only Rs 3,500 crore in funding between Independence and 2014, but in the last nine years, the government had allocated a substantial sum of Rs 38,500 crore for the welfare of fishermen. Regarding the issue of Katchatheevu, he mentioned that a decision regarding the reclamation of the islet would be made after a comprehensive evaluation of all relevant factors. Furthermore, amendments to the Coastal Regulation Zone Act were underway to include provisions for fisheries-related activities along the coast to safeguard the interests of fishermen. Additionally, the Union Government was actively exploring strategies to dissuade fishermen from venturing into the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).
During their visit, both Union ministers engaged with the fishing community in Tirunelveli coastal villages, particularly in Uvari. The fishermen raised various demands, including the establishment of more fisheries infrastructure in Uvari, the inclusion of the Paravar (fishermen) community among scheduled tribes, and the creation of an exclusive bank tailored to the needs of fishermen. The ministers also visited Mukkaiyur in Ramanathapuram district, where they continued their interactions with local fishermen.