The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Rameswaram): A group of fishermen from Rameswaram is set to meet Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin, in Chennai on Tuesday, 27 February. This meeting, as announced by the fishermen’s leader, P. Jesu Raja, aims to address the ongoing issue of the Sri Lankan Navy’s frequent arrests of Indian fishermen. The delegation intends to seek CM Stalin’s intervention and help in formulating a lasting resolution to this problem that has been impacting the livelihoods and well-being of the fishing community and their families.
The fishermen’s primary demand is the prompt liberation of five Rameswaram fishermen currently detained in Sri Lankan prisons. Another significant concern they plan to raise is the retrieval of their mechanized boats, which have been seized by the Sri Lankan Navy.
Jesu Raja emphasized in his statement the need for a permanent solution from both the Indian and Sri Lankan governments, particularly for those fishing along the Palk Bay.
This situation was further aggravated in early February when a Sri Lankan court sentenced five fishermen to prison terms of six months to two years for allegedly repeated poaching offenses. The same court ordered the release of 37 other fishermen who had been in judicial custody since 2 February in Sri Lanka.
In response to these ongoing issues, Tamil Nadu’s coastal fishermen’s associations declared a fishing boycott starting 17 February. The local DMK MLA from Rameswaram, Katharbatcha Muthumarilingam, played a pivotal role in addressing their grievances. He assured the fishermen of securing an early appointment with CM Stalin, which led to the withdrawal of their relay hunger strike.
Additionally, Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister Anitha Radhakrishnan has committed to exploring alternative solutions for the fishermen. These include encouraging deep-sea fishing, for which the Union and state governments are offering subsidies.
The Rameswaram fishermen’s delegation’s impending meeting with CM Stalin represents their earnest effort to find a sustainable solution to the recurring detentions by the Sri Lankan Navy. It highlights the broader challenges faced by the fishing communities in the region and their pursuit of government intervention for a secure and stable fishing environment in the Palk Bay.