Need to establish a flawless system

The search for three fishermen who went missing at sea has entered its 12th day. There is still no positive news about Kollam Neendakara native Gautham Krishna, Shijin, who went missing after a boat capsized at Muthalapozhi in Thiruvananthapuram, and John Mathias, who went missing at Vizhinjam. After visiting the families of the missing fishermen and offering them support, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan told the media that the state would set up a permanent system to ensure the safety of people going to sea and to search for those who go missing. Although there are several agencies to conduct search operations during such incidents, there is no proper coordination between them. This often leads to complaints from the families of missing fishermen and protests by fishermen living along the coast.

The Coast Guard and coastal police are responsible for rescuing people involved in accidents and emergencies at sea. The Marine Enforcement wing under the Fisheries Department also helps with rescue operations. The Chief Minister has announced plans to bring all these agencies under a permanent coordinated system. However, these agencies do not have adequate infrastructure. There are also complaints that the boats used for search operations are old. The state needs to buy modern boats with advanced equipment for search and rescue operations at sea. The first two days after a fisherman goes missing are very important.

In many cases, fishermen on other boats are the ones who rescue people after a boat capsizes. Fishermen's organisations say the Marine Police under the Fisheries Department use old rental boats that are nearing the end of their service life. The government spends lakhs of rupees on renting such boats. The Marine Ambulance project launched by the government has also failed to deliver the expected results. The agencies concerned are unable to carry out timely and effective rescue operations due to a lack of basic infrastructure, including patrol boats. Experts say search operations can become more effective if these issues are addressed, all agencies are brought under a permanent system, and steps are taken to ensure the Navy can provide assistance whenever needed. The state also needs to develop a system that ensures accurate weather forecasts. Such a system could become a model for the entire country.

Local participation should also be part of the new system. The Chief Minister has said that representatives of fishermen will be included. The first step should be to establish proper communication between fishermen at sea and coastal agencies. Once an emergency alert is received, rescue operations should begin immediately without waiting for further orders from higher authorities. It is natural for coastal communities to react strongly when their loved ones go missing at sea. Authorities must understand their situation. They should also show maturity and avoid mocking or blaming the families and local people.