UDF leaders visit families of missing fishers

Thiruvananthapuram: On the eighth day after Cyclone Ockhi hit the Kerala coast, heartbreaking moments from missing fishermen’s family was witnessed by UDF leaders who visited Poonthura and Vizhinjam. Members led by Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala first visited Poonthura parish priest Father Justin Judin before visiting the family members of the missing fishermen. A day after the LDF government gave a compensation package of Rs 20 lakh to the victims’ family members, free ration, sustenance allowance, free education and job-oriented skill development to the children of the fishermen who were killed, the UDF leaders visited the coastal areas of Poonthura and Vizhinjam.

The missing fishermen’s family members complained to the UDF leadership about the laxity by the Government. The family members rued that the compensation package announced by the LDF Government was inadequate considering that they lost the  lives of their kin.  “The demands of the fishermen raised before us will be brought to the notice of the all party meet on Friday”, said Chennithala. Later when the UDF leadership reached Vizhinjam, the local people alleged that the Coast Guard did not rise to the occasion in tackling Cyclone Ockhi.

They also alleged that the police team working the under coastal police is already embroiled in controversies. The locals urged the UDF leadership that they should be provided with Government jobs. Another major demand they raised before the Opposition was that those fishermen who are currently not members in the fishermen welfare boards should also be provided with financial help. The UDF delegation was led by former chief minister Oommen Chandy, KPCC president M. M. Hassan, Muslim League leader P. K. Kunhalikutty MP, JD (U) leader Varughese George, RSP leader A. A. Azeez, KC (J) chairman Johnny Nellore and Anoop Jacob and Congress MLAs V. S. Sivakumar and M. Vincent.