The fishermen's protest in Vizhinjam aims to protect their livelihoods and in that sense it is in the right direction. The unscientific construction of "pulimutt" as part of the port of Vizhinjam, will deprive their workplace. Without a seaside, how could fishermen go to sea?
The reason why the leaders of the Latin Catholic Archdiocese have taken up the issue is the following: the political parties have turned a deaf ear to the demands of the fishermen.
The recent trend that has been seen in the coastal belts is that the resort mafia, in collusion with tourism sponsors, are buying up the seaside at a high price, pushing the poor out of the belt. This will actually make the lives of fishermen miserable.
Due to repeated weather forecasts, fishermen are denied employment several days a year. However, no compensatory measures have been taken by the government for the loss of employment. For a storm in Kozhikode It has become a practice to prevent fishermen from going to sea throughout the entire coastal belt. And without an alternative arrangement, it is detrimental to prohibit fishermen from going fishing.
Fishing is the sole source of income for the poor living in the coastal belts of Kerala. And without seaside and work how they could survive. Hence, there are enough chances for a strong protest on the sea coasts of Kerala.
Kerala Port Minister Ahamed Devarkovil criticizing protesters alleging people from outside the district are demonstrating in Vizhinjam is in bad taste. Sea fishing is not restricted within a district. It's cross-district, cross-state work. Even fishermen from Tamilnadu reach the sea of Kerala for seasonal fishing. The dispute will therefore also be inter-district.
If the government has a concrete rehabilitation project, tell the fighters what exactly it is. They should be adequately compensated for loss of work and loss of property.
K.A. Solaman
