Fishermen to migrate after Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu

RAMESWARAM: Nearly 30% of the workforce in fishing hamlets of Rameswaram migrates to other places during the 45-day fishing ban period. They look out for jobs in the fishing harbours of Mangalore, Kollam, Colachel to eke out a living. But with the elections due in the state, the fishing community has decided to wait for the election day, before starting their journey.
B Jesuraja, district secretary of Tamil Nadu Mechanised Boat Fishermen Association in Rameswaram says that a sizeable number of fishermen migrate to the western coast. But, some of stay put in the region to find alternate jobs. While the owners of mechanised boats carry out repair works, the fishermen look to work with the country boat fishermen. The ones who have migrated from the inland of the district to fishing will go back to their villages in this season.
"Majority of those migrating are the youngsters. They go to places like Mangalore, fishing harbours of Kerala and the western coast of Kanyakumari district. Some of them have left but many are waiting for the elections to be completed," he said.
M Patric, panchayat president of Pamban says that it is usual for the fishermen to look out for jobs in other places during this season. "Our fishermen will migrate to the western coast and come back few before the fishing season begins in June," he said.