Massive scam in life jacket distribution, allege fishermen

A scheme to provide life jackets was introduced by the State government as part of efforts to protect fishermen who face a lot of risk while at sea and to guard themselves against rough seas and deep sea cyclones.

According to the government records, in the last two years, 49,500 life jackets have been provided to fishermen in 13 coastal districts in the state. However, fishermen say that only a meagre number of fishermen have received the jackets from the Fisheries Department and the rest have been stocked inside fisheries offices.

“This is a huge scam as several lakh of rupees are spent for procuring the life jackets.

Therefore, a detailed inquiry should be ordered, demanded, CR Senthil, State General Secretary, Fishing Workers Union (CITU).

Sesu, President of Rameswaram Mechanised Boat Fishermen Association, said that he has not seen any life jacket distributed by the officials to the fishermen and had they been provided in time, lives of many fishermen would have been saved.

Officials of the fisheries department stoutly denied the accusations levelled by the members of the fishermen unions.

Speaking to DTNEXT, Sameeran, Additional Director, Fisheries Department, Rameswaram, said that life jackets were distributed on time. However, he also assured that action would be taken in those places where the jackets had not been distributed .