Rameswaram Fishermen Seek CM Vijay's Help for Permits and Subsidised Diesel
Fishermen in Rameswaram who converted their deteriorated wooden vessels into fibre and steel boats have appealed to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to intervene and provide them with fishing permit tokens and subsidised diesel. The appeal comes after the fisheries department ruled that modified boats are not eligible to receive permits or subsidised fuel at Rameswaram.
Recently, affected fishermen gathered to stage a protest outside the fisheries department token office in Rameswaram to press their demands. During the demonstration, the fishermen warned that they would intensify their agitation and stage road blockades across the region if the state government does not accept their demands and take immediate action.
District Fishermen's Association President V.P. Sesuraj explained that fishermen have operated from Rameswaram port for more than 40 years with a fleet of over 600 fishing boats, all originally constructed from wood. Because the vessels are four decades old, many have deteriorated significantly and are no longer suitable or safe for fishing expeditions, leaving workers fearful of venturing out to sea without safety guarantees.
To safeguard their lives and preserve their livelihoods, owners converted more than 50 wooden boats into fibre boats in the Rameswaram area. However, the fisheries department subsequently stopped issuing fishing permits and subsidised diesel for these vessels on the grounds that fibre boats are not permitted at the port. Sesuraj noted that this policy contradicts the government's stance elsewhere, as fibre and steel boats are permitted in all other ports across Tamil Nadu.
Sesuraj stated that the association has long requested authorities to update boat logbooks and issue the required permits and subsidised diesel. He added that whenever these fibre boats are captured by the Sri Lankan navy, the fishermen are excluded from government relief assistance, placing the families who own the vessels in danger of financial ruin.
Urging the Chief Minister to show mercy, Sesuraj called on the government to authorise fibre boats in the Rameswaram area, issue tokens and subsidised fuel, and protect the community's livelihood.
