Tsunami Survivors

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Tsunami-hit fishermen in TN still awaiting a big catch

Fishermen going about their work in Chennai. The men of the sea, who had been devastated by the tsunami, have resumed their fishing trips

     Chennai: Woes of the fishermen in Tamil Nadu seem to be unending. Nearly 45 days after the tsunami hit the southern coastline, they are still awaiting a good catch. Fishing community was the worst hit in the killer December 26 tsunami. Officials say over 10,000 fishing boats and thousands of fishing nets worth over one billion rupees, were damaged by the killer waves in Tamil Nadu. The city's Kasimedu fish market wears a deserted look with almost negligent catch. Shekhar, a fisherman, said the 2000-strong fishermen community inthe area is unemployed. "Almost after two months of tsunami we don't have any income. We are going into the sea late at night also for a good catch but do not get any. Nowadays we are able to earn only 20-30 rupees a day. We are having a hard time over here," said Shekhar. Delli, a woman selling fish, said: "I am doing business for the last 35 years. Nowadays very few people are going for fishing. We don't have enough earnings even now. We are about 2000 fishermen in this area. No one has even offered to give us enough rice for our survival."

     Though most fisherman have overcome their fear and have put back the trauma of losing loved ones, yet surmounting the economics of survival is the biggest hurdle now. Fish sales fell sharply in southern India in the wake of the tsunami and fish consumption came down from 50 tonnes to just 2 tonnes in Chennai. The UN food agency, worried about a drop in fish consumption in poor Asian countries, has said fish from the Indian Ocean were safe and had not been made poisonous by the effects of the tsunami. Over 6000 people were killed in Tamil Nadu out of the 16,000 across the country in the tsunami disaster. All along the country's tsunami-damaged coastline, fishermen are beginning to return to the sea. Although many would prefer to adopt a different trade, but know no other work. Government and NGOs have extended aid to fishermen and units building and repairing boats and manufacturing nets have stepped up production to help fishermen rebuild their lives.
- Feb 10, 2005

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