Recalled & uncharged: Sat phones fail dist fishermen

T'puram: A critical safety mechanism introduced after Cyclone Ockhi has effectively collapsed along the Thiruvananthapuram coast. Around 110 satellite phones distributed to local fishermen have become defunct due to a lack of recharge support, while authorities have begun recalling unused devices, raising fresh concerns about safety at sea. The devices were issued as emergency distress communication tools for deep-sea fishing. Fishermen say they became unusable after the first year when renewal services were not provided. The recall of inactive phones has compounded anxiety among coastal communities, who fear being left without any reliable communication system during emergencies.Ashok Kumar, a fisherman operating along the Thiruvananthapuram coast, described his experience firsthand. "We were given a one-year recharge plan. After that, the department did not renew it. I approached fisheries officials several times, but nothing happened. Now they want the phone back, but without recharge, it is useless to us," he said. RTI documents accessed by TOI reveal that the state had originally planned to procure 1,000 satellite phones, but only 250 were purchased and distributed, including 110 in Thiruvananthapuram. The original agreement proposed waiving spectrum charges, with users paying only minimal call costs, a provision that was never implemented. Annual renewal, including spectrum charges and GST, now costs nearly Rs 30,000 per device, an amount well beyond most fishermen's means. Compounding the problem, users are not permitted to independently recharge the devices, leaving them entirely dependent on the department. Fishing union representatives said the issue is widespread. Jackson Pollayil of the Kerala Swatantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation said most distributed phones in the district are lying idle. "Many fishermen either don't know how to recharge them or simply cannot afford it. Most have shifted back to mobile phones or walkie-talkies, which are unreliable for deep-sea communication," he said. Fisheries department officials, however, maintain that recharge facilities are being provided. They have instructed fishermen to bring devices to the deputy director's office for verification and renewal. Authorities also said that phones found unused are being recalled, citing security concerns.