Collector M. Sivaguru Prabhakaran at the fishermen grievance redress meeting held at Ramanathapuram Collectorate on Friday.
| Photo Credit: BALACHANDAR L
Fishermen during the grievance redress meeting held here on Friday urged the Union and State governments to take steps to rescue fishermen held in Sri Lankan prisons.During the meeting, the fishermen said: Steps should be taken to rescue and bring back Tamil Nadu fishermen imprisoned in Sri Lanka.Further, schemes such as fishermen relief assistance, fishermen savings-cum-relief assistance, setting up landing centres in fishing villages, providing fishing ban period relief assistance, cancelling penal interest, and providing diesel at subsidised rates should be implemented swiftly.They also put forward demands such as establishing breakwaters, roads, and drinking water facilities for fishing villages.Regarding the demand of the fishermen to construct groynes in the fishing villages of Ervadi, Sadaiamuniyanvalasai, and Keelamoondal, Collector M. Sivaguru Prabhakaran instructed the concerned officials to conduct a study and prepare a project report.He instructed officials to conduct feasibility studies and prepare detailed project reports for structural needs like groynes, while local body authorities were tasked with upgrading civic infrastructure in settlements including Thirumalaiyampuram, Thangachimadam, Pamban, and Thonithurai.Proposals for sports complexes will also be reviewed for suitable site allocations, he added.Highlighting an administrative shift directed by the Minister for Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare, it was announced that grievance meetings would now be convened at sub-divisional levels once every 15 days, with district-level sessions chaired by the Collector held once every three months. Published - August 28, 2026 08:08 pm IST
