Tamil Nadu fishermen yet to get Distress Alert Transmitter

The State government some months back announced the procurement of 30,000 DATs at an estimated Rs.36 crore to be given to fishermen as part of a Centre’s scheme. It was planned to issue 1,600 initially at a cost of Rs 2 crore for which the State provided the initial share of Rs.38.40 lakh. Tenders for DATs were called for in December last by TAFCOFED (Tamil Nadu apex Fisheries Cooperative Federation). 

DATs, manufactured with knowhow from ISRO’s Ahmedabad based Space Applications Centre (SAC) are small devices, which are sealed, waterproof and floatable having a series of buttons earmarked for crises like fire, crew health issues and boat flooding. The press of a button alerts Coast Guard (CG) HQ in Chennai. 

Inquiries reveal that Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka had started issuing DATs by October 2015. But in Rameswaram, not many are aware of DAT or its use. NJ Bose president of the Tamil Nadu Kadalora mechanised boat owners association said that Rs. 1200 per DAT was paid for nearly 2000 boats in Pamban and Mandapam areas by individual boat owners. “We expect to get them before the polls,” he said.