Dismayed over the repeated arrests by the Sri Lankan Navy and alleged exploitation by exporters who procure their catch, the 4,000-odd local fishermen struck work on Monday, seeking the intervention of the Centre and State government. This is only a token strike to register our protest against the arrest and exporters who fix low price for prawns after forming a cartel, fishermen leader P. Sesu Raja said. They would resume fishing after a couple of days, but would launch an indefinite strike later this month after mobilising support of fishermen in other districts. Leaders of eleven fishermen associations discussed the issue before deciding to launch the strike. Unlike in the past when Rameswaram fishermen bore the brunt, fishermen of Pudukottai, Nagapattinam and Tuticorin districts were equally affected by the actions of the Sri Lankan Navy and export companies. The export companies procured prawns at the rate of up to Rs. 600 per kg last month, but offered only Rs 420 on Sunday, he pointed out. Exploited Taking advantage of the fact that the fishermen had no cold storage facilities and there was no government intervention to fix the price, exporters formed a cartel and exploited fishermen, he said. Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had taken up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi several times. More than 100 boats worth Rs 2.5 crore were impounded by Sri Lanka Navy and there was no sign of government securing the release of the boats, a fisherman said. Threaten to go on indefinite strike if the Centre and State government fail to intervene.
2016, The Hindu