Tamil Nadu assembly polls: Parties offer aid, but fishers seek better infra, livelihood

TRICHY: In the battle to woo the fishing community, both DMK and AIADMK have been promising enhanced dole, but the community’s real expectations are infrastructure development, coastal protection, calamity rehabilitation, societal uplift and permanent solution to maritime disputes MGR portrayed fishermen in films such as ‘Padagotti’ and ‘Meenava Nanban,’ leaving a lasting impression on the community. The result: Voters in Tamil Nadu's coastal districts strongly backed AIADMK. But, in the mid-1990s, DMK began making inroads into these constituencies. Today, there are around 40 coastal assembly segments spread across 14 districts. In 2016, AIADMK and its allies won 22 of these seats and DMK alliance 18. However, in 2021, DMK and its allies surged ahead, capturing 34 of them. This year, both parties have promised to increase aid to fishermen during the 61-day fishing ban, from ₹8,000 to ₹12,000 per family. DMK has pledged to raise lean-season relief from ₹6,000 to ₹9,000.However, fishing villages lack modern fish landing centres, auction halls, net mending sheds, and approach roads. “Infrastructure development is necessary to support fishing, improve livelihoods, and boost economic status and not financial aid,” said RMP Rajendira Nattar, a fisherfolk leader from Nagapattinam.Several villages also urgently need protective structures such as short groynes and sea walls to combat coastal erosion. Cycloneprone districts such as Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, and Cuddalore lack adequate storm shelters.Above all, the community stresses the need for a permanent solution to the conflicts with Sri Lanka.