Demand to Provide GPS Facility to Fishermen for their Boats

 Dated: 19.09.2020

 Dr. T. Sumathy (a) Thamizhachi Thangapandian (Chennai South):My constituency, South Chennai is a coastal constituency. In July, 10 fishermen had went on a fishing expedition. What was to be a 10-day fishing expedition turned out to be a two-month nightmare and ordeal, where they were starving off the coast of Myanmar. Luckily, these 10 fishermen were found.

Earlier, there was a similar incident where seven people had gone fishing and they have not yet been traced. The boat was found washed up in some other part of our country.

Sir, our country has one of the longest coastlines. It is about 7000 kilometres. The fishermen’s efforts have put India on the world map where India is the second largest fishing nation in the world. When so much is being done by about 40 lakh fishermen, I feel it is the responsibility of the Government to ensure the safety of these fishermen. It has not happened in my constituency of Tamil Nadu alone, other States like Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Maharashtra are facing similar problems.

Therefore, I request the Government to at least provide GPS to these fishermen for their boats so that even if they are lost at sea, they will be identified and located. I request the Department of Fisheries to look into this matter and do the needful. Thank you very much.