Port Blair, Aug 28: The Coast Guard has been interacting with fishermen and tribal population on islands in A&N for last 25 years as part of their programme for developing social connect with coastal community. These interactions aimed at educating and encouraging the fisher and coastal population about safety and security issues and instilling a sense of security among the coastal population. Coast guard conduct about 70-80 such interactions annual and covers the remotest islands and tribal villages in the region.
During these interactions the fishermen and tribal are informed on various safety aspects at sea while fishing such as use of life jackets, life buoys, safety equipments and functioning of distress alerts transmitters (DATs). The fishermen are trained and demonstrated on life saving techniques and procedures for passing distress message. Basic first aid tactics are also taught during such interactions. Medical camps are also conducted in remote tribal areas during such community interactions by coast guard doctors. The coastal populations are sensitized on various security issues such as whom to inform when foreign poaches are sighted are how to report any suspicious activity at sea. The fishermen are informed about toll free helpline numbers of coast guard maritime rescue coordination center (1554 and police marine force center 1093) to pass safety are security information without any delay.
These interactions have enabled establishing relation between the fishermen, security agencies and administration. In many of these interactions officials from fisheries department and PMF participate alongwith Coast Guard. Issues raised by fishermen, during such interactions are takenup with concerned department for early resolution. In the year 2015, 85 such interaction were conducted by coast guard and in the present year 2016, 69 such interactions have been conducted till date covering the remotest of villages in northern and southern group of islands.
Coast Guard District Headquarters No-14 Port Blair conducted a special community interaction programme at Chouldhari on 26 Aug 16 in coordination with the Panchayt Pradhan and the fisheries department. Similar Community interaction programme was conducted on 09 Aug 16 by CGRPS and CGRSD at Panighat and fishermen were demonstrated various life saving equipment and techniques. Fishermen were sensitized of being the first live of information related to security and being the “Eyes and Ears” of coast guard.
Community interaction programmes have also been conducted at Pilopilo (Kamorta), Aerial Bay(Digilpur), Rkpur (Hutbay), Baratand, Karmatang, Bompoka (Little Nicobar) and fishing chalets around Port Blair in the last month.
