Date:17/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/17/stories/2007091759390300.htm

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Andhra Pradesh

All set to net a huge catch

S Ramu

Fishermen make widest net weighing 1.2 quintals for fishing in big tanks

PHOTO: R.Biksham Ruther

For the big haul: Fishermen preparing the fishing net at Tekumatla of Suryapet mandal in Nalgonda district

TEKUMATLA (NALGONDA DT.): They are literally fishing in troubled waters. In an attempt to tide over their financial problems, a group of fishermen of this village in Suryapet mandal are making the widest net they ever used for fishing.

Forty out of 200 fishermen families are involved in the gigantic exercise of preparing 1.2 quintals of net to be used in big tanks for the first time. They have already borrowed more than Rs.1 lakh for the purpose and it’s like a last-ditch effort to improve their earnings.

“We brought four wide nets from Vijayawada and are assembling them to make the widest net,” Sandra Satyam, who leads the team, told The Hindu. They had contributed Rs.4,000 each and efforts are on to collect another Rs.1,000 per head to finish the task.

Low income

Unlike their counterparts in Andhra region, fishermen of this village use small nets for fishing. Contractors, who engage them for two to three months during summer, pay Rs.2.5 per every kilogram of fish they catch. “We earn Rs.5,000 per person during the season. Since we can’t run our families with that meagre amount, we are in mad search of work on daily-wage during off season. Now we trust this largest net would earn more money for us,” Nakka Lakshmaiah said.

These fishermen believe that they could get more number of contracts, if they possess the biggest net. “We can catch two quintals of fish at a go, by using this net. In addition to our 40 member team, we have to engage another 10 persons to use it in big tanks,” Satyam maintained.

Skeptical

However womenfolk such as Veeramalla Lingamma are skeptical about their grand plan.

“These people borrowed huge sum on hefty interest rate to make this net. We don’t know how much they would earn, but moneylenders have already started nagging us to return their money,” she rued.

These fishermen request the Government agencies to come to their rescue and lend a helping hand in this hour of crisis. “Somebody should study and understand our struggle to be in the age-old profession.

We don’t want to switch over to other professions. What we need is some financial assistance from the Government,” they said.