Fish sales dip, 40, 000 fishers lose livelihood

Several families here are dependent on fishing for their livelihood. Traders from neighbouring areas and even from Kerala buy fish at Rameswaram and transactions are carried out using only cash. But after the ban there is a stagnation in the sale of fish. As a result, over 3,000 boats (mechanised and country craft) have not ventured into the sea for three days. Bose, a fishermen leader, claimed that as they do not accept Rs.500 and Rs. 1,000 notes and as there is a shortage of notes of other denominations, flow of money has reduced drastically. Some of the big fishing companies utilise the opportunity to buy fish at a very low cost. The cash that fishermen receive is less than the amount they spend. “A number of families have been put to hardship. If the situation does not improve they would have to starve,” claimed Bose.