Kerala: Missing fishers workaholics, sole breadwinners

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The fishermen who went missing were among the most hardworking in their areas and were mostly sole breadwinners of the family. This makes speedy compensation all the more important. The state government had doubled the compensation for deceased fishermen on Wednesday; however, the bodies of many were still missing. For instance, Marlin, 38 who went missing along with his boat was not only supporting wife Nirmala and their two small children. Nirmala’s younger sister had recently succumbed to dengue leaving two of her children at Marlin’s protection.

“Since, he was hardworking lad we gave him the house for rent for '1,000 as against original Rs 1,500. Now, there is no one to look after the family,” said a relative of Marlin’s landlord. Unlike others, Moses of Poonthura, a father of three girls had built a good house that he earned battling with the sea. With him going missing, the studies of daughters Femina, Monisha and Femi who were pursuing graduation, plus two and Class VII respectively has been threatened.

“The day he went, he purchased a new fishing worth net worth Rs 10,000. He went away in a boat worth Rs 15 lakh, the only asset the family had apart from their house. Now, their life has been thrown into uncertainty. The government must consider the future of dependents of those affected,” said Margine, his sister.

Elsewhere at Poonthura, Vinesh Vincent, 16, was supporting his father Vincent who has an acute kidney condition. Vinesh saved the life of an elderly crew member who was sucked in by a whirlpool. He said adieu to his crew before disappearing into turbulent seas. “His brother Steben has gone to Medical College to give blood for DNA tests. The body was yet to be found,” said his neighbours. Vinesh was the only earning member of his family comprising three brothers. During each monsoon season, high waves used to hit his house leaving cracks on them.