Port Blair, Mar 13: The Coast Guard Region (A&N), as part of Coastal Security Initiative conducted second Mass Awareness Drive for the fishing community on 12 March 13 in associations with the Department of Fisheries at 06 places viz. Havelock Island, Burmanallah, Hope Town, Hutbay, Mayabunder and Kadamtala.
A total of 235 fishermen participated during interaction programme. This awareness drive was conducted with an aim to spread awareness in run up to prepare for Coastal Security Exercise ‘Tatsuraksha” TSX -01/13 during 09-11 Apr 13.
The main objective of this drive was to re-emphasize the responsibility of fishing community towards the Coastal Security setup and their role as “Eyes and Ears” of the security agencies. The first mass awareness drive was conducted on 22 Feb 13 at five places across the islands which was participated by 200 fishermen.
The opportunity was also utilized to educate fishermen on safety and security aspects while operating at sea. The importance of toll free SAR No. 1554 and Coastal Security No. 1093 and method of reporting suspicious activity to Coastal Security Agencies was also highlighted. Similar programmes are also planned during Mar and Apr 13 at various places across the A&N Islands, a communiqué received from Headquarters Coast Guard Region (A&N).
