John Wilbert & Sarthak Kanjilall
Port Blair, May 17: Nearly 200 odd fishermen from different parts of South India who are stranded in Port Blair since the first lock down are now crying for help as they have already exhausted all money they had and are unable to return home due to lockdowns.
The fishermen allege that they had also sought permission on moving to Thoothukudi (formerly known as Tuticorin), in their own boats, but even that permission was not given to them.
“We are here in these Islands since January and we’re working till March but due to COVID-19 issue since March neither we are allowed to work nor we have been shifted to our hometown,” said a stranded fisherman of Tamil Nadu.
The fisherman further said that till date they didn’t get any major support from the government but few people, colleagues have helped them by giving ration articles and money.
“Now we have no money left even to buy a bottle of water, hence, we request the administration to take some calls and get us out of this situation, we will manage things by own, in our hometown,” said the fisherman of Tamil Nadu.
Around 200 odd, fishermen of Tamilnadu and Kerala are stranded in Port Blair since the first lockdown.
When Andaman Sheekha contacted the Director, Fisheries Department, Dr. Utpal Kumar Sar, he said that they are trying all possible efforts to send back the stranded Tamil Nadu and Kerala state Fishermen and the department has also made a list of stranded fishermen in which “125 fishermen are willing to go back”.
“Medical tests of all the fishermen have been already done and the report has been sent to appropriate agencies to allow them to travel in the ship but because of the lack of quarantine facilities, the Tamil Nadu Government is not giving us permission to send their fishermen back,” said Dr. Sar.
Dr. Sar has also said that he had a telephonic conversation with the Member of Parliament, Kanyakumari, Mr. Vasanth Kumar who discussed the topic of the stranded fishermen and the department in return has requested him to arrange a quarantine centers for the fishermen in Chennai.
“The MP has assured us to be taking up this matter with the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu,” Dr. Sar added.
The Director Fisheries Department has finally requested the stranded fishermen to call Assistant Director Fisheries Department, Mr. SK Talukdar at mobile number 9474241101 if at all they need any assistance.
The matter of the stranded mainland fishermen was earlier taken up by Mr. Abdul Rehman, Media Incharge of the All India People Welfare Association wherein he requested the administration to give the fishermen permission to sail on their own boat till Thoothukudi as Chennai is badly hit by COVID19 pandemic but his demand has not been considered yet.
