PANJIM, NOV 11
Learning lessons from the disastrous Cyclone Phyan that occurred exactly a year ago on November 11, 2009, Fisheries Department has resolved to make it mandatory that trawler boats and fishermen be covered under insurance.
Speaking to Herald, Director S C Verenkar confirmed that the department will soon release a notice to fishing jetties to ensure that fishing boats and fishermen are insured.
Goa had lost around 69 of fellow fishermen and crew members to Phyan, which had hit western coast last November.
No bodies have been located till date even. A fisherman’s body was found in the middle of the sea though, which was beyond recognition.
The cyclone also resulted in the loss of properties running in several lakhs. The fresh proposal comes after the department encountered that many cyclone victims (dead and alive) and damaged properties were not insured but compensation was demanded.
“We do get complaints that compensation is not paid in full amount. But when we ask for insurance papers and other relevant documents, they fail to furnish us. We even proposed the jetty members that they along with Fisheries department can hold a meeting with the respective insurance companies,” he said.
Goa government had announced Rs one-lakh compensation to each death victim under Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Verenkar said that victims’ families are already compensated of Rs 50,000.
The officer said they are helpless as there is no confirmation of deaths of fishermen. “Government cannot be pressurized every time. We are doing everything possible for all those who were affected by the cyclone,” he added.
The department is meanwhile leaving no stone unturned to avert any further calamity damages and have set up ‘monitoring cell’ at its headquarters that functions 24X7. Through this, alert/warnings can be disseminated immediately to all jetties unlike earlier procedure which was time-consuming.
Besides, 191 boats have been fitted with safety device kit comprising of Global Positioning System (GPS), Very High Frequency (VHF) wireless sets and fish finders. Verenkar stated that the department has received about 600 more proposals for installing safety kits.
At the same time, the officials have advised for safety equipment jackets though a proposal is pending with the Government for cabinet approval.
“Even as the proposal is awaiting cabinet-approval, some trawler owners have already purchased the jackets. Once the scheme is approved, Government will pay 75 percent subsidy,” said the officer.
Government has recommended that six life jackets be commissioned on canoes, eight for trawlers and 25 personnel.
More than 8,500 fishermen, majority of whom belong from South and Eastern parts of the country are employed on several fishing vessels at different fish landing jetties. Out of total 1156 fishing boats registered with the department, around 850 are in operation.
