While Modi is striving to make Rameshwaram a popular place of worship, the fisherfolk in the region are struggling for their survival. CPIML–AICCTU held a public convention at Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu on the problems of fisher-folks and the people involved in associated activities on 20 Feb 2026. In the context of Sagar Mala project and the Blue Economy, fishing population is at the receiving end.
Despite the fact that fisherfolks all over the country are struggling for survival and to earn their livelihood, the problems of Rameshwaram fishermen are particularly pathetic because they are often arrested, boats seized and put behind the bars by the Sri Lankan government for crossing borders, consciously or unconsciously, at the international waters. Handing over of Katcha Theevu (a tiny island at the borders) to Sri Lanka by the Indian government in 1974 and Modi government issuing license to Adani to facilitate the blunder of the sea, its resources and the shores - are other important problems being faced by the Rameshwaram fishermen.
The fisherfolks who were using hooks with baits for catching fish were forced out of the fishing profession now. In the context of increasing domination of motorboats, fishermen using traditional manual boats like Catamaran, etc., unable to compete with motorboats, are being ruined economically. With the entry and growing domination of shipboard fishing industry led by corporate companies, the motor boat fishermen are also suffering because of lack of level playing field.
Small businesses for livelihood are being strangulated by the domination of corporate companies in the fish market in fish selling business. The associations of fishermen and associated businesses are unable to challenge the domination of corporate companies and often erupt in outbursts. While the bottom trawling with the net is prohibited all over the world, including Sri Lanka, it is not prohibited in India benefitting corporate companies, including Adani’s. In such a backdrop, people using traditional and motor boats are pushed to the most disadvantaged situation and are fighting for their survival, often leading to inter-community clashes between traditional and motor boat fishermen. The access to sea resources are practically denied to this section which is powerless while the powerful corporates engaged in shipboard fishing and selling business are able to loot the entire sea, its resources and the wealth.
In such a background, the fishermen convention passed the following resolutions:
- The borders of international waters should be made common to both countries, in this case, India and Sri Lanka, so that the interests of fishermen of both countries are protected. The Government of India should negotiate with the Sri Lankan government and work out an amicable and political solution to the vexed issue.
- The continuing arrests of fishermen, seizing of boats, etc., shall be stopped, the fishermen languishing in Sri Lankan jails shall be immediately released and proper compensation shall be awarded to them to lead a decent life.
- Katcha Theevu (Katcha Island) should also be made common to both countries and the access, as per the mutual agreement in 1974, to the people for fishing and related operations including drying the fishing net and worshipping in the church in the island shall be restored.
- The union government while offering the entire sea and the coastal areas on a platter to corporate companies like Adanis, the native, generations-old fisher folks are being brutally denied pattas to their residential land by the successive governments in the state. All fisher folks shall be awarded pattas to their land immediately.
- Commercialisation and privatisation of water (the sea and the coasts) shall be stopped. Exploration of Methane and Hydro-Carbon shall be banned forthwith and the environment shall be protected. Domination of corporate companies in the sea and the blue economy should be curtailed and the fishing communities shall be protected from unequal competition.
- Sea leeches were declared as rare species and rare food and catching leeches were banned for 10 years from 2001 by the then government. Now, the fishermen demand removal of the ban which is needed to be reviewed.
- The entire fishing community is strangulated by the menace of loans by micro finance companies. The fishing community shall be liberated from the MFCs and interest-free loans shall be granted by the nationalised banks.
The convention was presided by a veteran leader of fishermen movement, comrade S Murugandham and welcomed by Shanmugarajan, the district convener of AICCTU. Comrades S Kumarasami, AICCTU Advisor and Asaithambi, CPIML state secretary, Simpson, DCM delivered special address in the convention. Comrade K Muruganandham, the Rameshwaram block secretary of the party delivered vote of thanks.
(With inputs from Simpson A)
