“As fishing was banned for majority of the lockdown period, livelihood of traditional fishermen, who rely completely on fishing had been affected. Many fishermen are yet to receive the monetary compensation announced by the state,” said K Bharathi of CCTFA. To highlight their plight, fishermen staged protest in Chepauk by observing social distancing norms. They raised slogans against the officials of Fisheries Department and urged the state to protest the traditional fishermen. Bharathi said that in the last three years no new fishermen were added in the welfare board due to which many fishermen families are struggling during the lockdown period. “We urge the state to include all the fishermen who are 18 years and above in the welfare boards immediately,” he demanded.
