Ramanathapuaram Assembly constituency is famous for the century-old, India’s first cantilever rail bridge, world’s largest corridor at Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram and the richest biosphere reserve in the Gulf of Mannar, but continues to be in the shackles of backwardness.
History of
royal family
History has it that the royal family of Sethupathis sponsored the visit of Swami Vivekananda to Chicago, and the son of the soil, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, rose to become the President of India. But the constituency, the district headquarters, struggles to catch up with other developing Assembly segments in the absence of industries and employment opportunities.
The southeast coastal district has topped the State in fish production with an annual catch of more than 85,000 tonnes, with Rameswaram fishermen making significant contribution, but the fisherlfolk are bogged down with a serious threat to their livelihood.
The fishermen problem tops an array of issues in the constituency. Fishermen, who get arrested and attacked by Sri Lankan navy for “poaching in their waters” for fishing, have been fighting to protect their traditional fishing rights in the Palk Bay for over three decades, but a solution still eludes them.
Katchatheevu issue
The retrieval of Katchatheevu islet remains a distant dream and, no doubt, political parties have earned their wrath.
“The entire fishing community in the island may boycott the election to catch the attention of the rulers,” a fishermen leader said.
Legend has it that Lord Rama built the Rameswaram temple, but the island of historic and religious importance, which attracts pilgrims from all parts of the world, lacks basic facilities for several years.
Memorial
for Kalam
With a memorial coming up at the burial site of former President Abdul Kalam, the island could emerge as a major tourist destination.
Danushkodi, the once flourishing town which was devastated in the 1964 cyclonic storm, could gain its lost glory as the Centre has promised to build a bridge, connecting this part with Talaimannar in Sri Lanka.
Road connectivity
The Highways has already provided road connectivity to the ‘ghost town’.
Though the constituency is seen as a Muslim-dominated one, the minority community constitutes only about 15 per cent of the total electorate. Mukkulathors (Kallar, Thevar and Ahamudaiyars) constitute 21 per cent, followed by Scheduled Castes (14 per cent), Nadars (10 per cent) and Yadavas (8 per cent).
The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has fielded M. Manikandan, a medical practitioner from the dominant Mukkulathor community, against incumbent M.H. Jawahirullah, who is seeking re-election in alliance with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
Also in the fray are Singai Jinnah of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam, Durai Kannan of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Sivakumar, also a medical practitioner, of the Naam Tamizhar Katchi.
