The Hindu Business Line : Tsunami and fishing communities

THE fact that fishing communities forever exist in the margins of society — even as "developed" a society as Kerala, which has supposedly delivered the blessings of a superior physical quality of life to its myriad citizens— comes into painfully sharp relief, whenever a natural calamity strikes.

That was what happened in the two fishing villages of Arattupuzha in Alappuzha district and Alappad in Kollam district when the disastrous earthquake-spawned tsunami travelled all the way from Sumatra in Indonesia to wreak unprecedented damage on the fishing communities after Christmas day.

This was a totally unexpected event, one in which fishing communities bore the brunt of the resultant havoc. As Mr V. Vivekanandan, Chief Executive of the South Indian Federation of Fishermen Societies (SIFFS), points out, even seasoned actors in the area were caught unawares — and remain fairly uncertain how to respond with alacrity and purposefulness.

"In its long, 24-year history of work on the coast, SIFFS has never really been called upon to do any relief work. This is because our membership has entirely been from the Arabian sea coast and the Gulf of Mannar, which are not cyclone-prone areas. Only in the last couple of years have we started working in the cyclone-prone Bay of Bengal coast. So, it was a big challenge for SIFFS to do something when a disaster of this magnitude hit the coast," says Mr Vivekanandan.

As in the case of all exigencies, especially disasters, it is easy to be wise after the event. Thus we see "experts" accusing all and sundry for all kinds of failures — from the lack of a tsunami warning system to the tardy response from government and the inexcusable false warnings triggered by some hideously inept intelligence gathering.

On all these counts, the critics have a point. But to criticise without understanding or empathy is vain.

It is more important, perhaps, to ask the right questions so that such a tragedy can be avoided in the future.

Some of these have been expressed by social scientist John Kurien, a long-time analyst of Kerala fisheries: "Could thousands of lives been saved if proper Coastal Regulation Zone plans had been implemented without pleading for numerous exemptions? If all fisherfolk were given housing sites on the landward side of coastal roads would not the death toll have been less? If the many long-term coastal zone rehabilitation plans — which include reviving natural barriers such as mangroves, wind breaker trees, sea safety signalling systems, community disaster training and so forth— had been in place, would the damage and the death toll have been reduced?

If the communities and the coastal panchayat had been given the prime responsibility as well as the finances and material resources for safety, rescue and disaster management, would the response time to the crisis have been more rapid and the damage greatly mitigated?"

The priority of the moment, John Kurien continues, is certainly to attend to the immediate and urgent needs of the many thousands whose lives have been shattered in an unexpected moment. But we should give thought to these important long-term issues. The aftermath of the tragedy is an opportune moment to initiate joint efforts between State authorities and communities. States like Andhra Pradesh once had a Shore Area Authority under which such efforts were planned. In Kerala plans for a participatory Coastal Area Development Authority still remains on paper. Revival of such spatially focused bodies may be appropriate, he says.

As relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts attempt to bring back some semblance of normalcy to the lives of the affected fishing communities, it is time to look ahead — with hindsight, compassion and foresight.

The author can be contacted at kg@gmail.com

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