The state cabinet has decided to implement a comprehensive plan to ensure the safety of fishermen from natural calamities. Equipping fishing boats with GPS system and providing insurance for life and their assets are part of the plan that will be implemented immediately. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that in future it will be made mandatory that fishermen should record their names in the registry that will be kept by the fisheries department. “Even though a few boats are already using GPS facilities, they are not doing it regularly. A decision has been taken to make GPS mandatory for all fishing boats. Also, a facility will be provided to transmit messages from satellites to the mobile phones of fishermen when they are out at sea. This will be used as a two-way communication. It will also send messages to Coast Guard on the developments occurring at sea,” said the chief minister.The executive committee of Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) – headed by the chief secretary – has been asked to take steps to equip boats with these facilities. The state government will bear all expenses to improve the technology for getting regular updates on climatic changes and passing the information to fishermen, he added. The state cabinet also decided to revamp KSDMA and a state disaster relief force will also be formed to tackle emergency situation. A state-level emergency operation centre will be set up in the capital and a regional operation centre will be set up in Ernakulam. The government has decided to utilize the service of Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, police, fire and rescue wing and fisheries departments at emergency operation centres. As part of augmenting the coastal police force, more boats will be purchased. More recruitments will happen at coastal police stations and all fishing harbours will come under a police station. The chief minister said that the state had witnessed an unforeseen disaster and steps will have to be taken to tackle such situations in future. Hence a committee has been constituted to outline a process and when such situations arise. The committee will have former DGP Raman Srivastava, additional chief secretaries of revenue and home, fisheries principal secretary, Dr Abhilash, assistant professor, Cusat and member secretary, state disaster management authority.
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