Politics
Here’s Why Hundreds of Fisherfolk in Tamil Nadu Have Decided to Boycott Elections
Fishermen arrange their fishing net as the sun sets on Marina beach in the southern Indian city of Chennai. REUTERS/Babu
Fisherfolk belonging to Chandrapadi and Thirumullaivasal villages in Mayiladuthurai district have announced that they would boycott the April 6 assembly polls.
- PTI Nagapattinam
- Last Updated:March 22, 2021, 22:53 IST
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Hundreds of fisherfolk belonging to Chandrapadi and Thirumullaivasal villages in Mayiladuthurai district have announced that they would boycott the April 6 assembly polls in protest against the ban on purse seine nets. With a view to preserving the fishing resources, the Tamil Nadu government banned fishing using purse seine nets in the year 2000 under the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulations Act, 1983.
The ban was upheld by the Madras High Court in 2018. Since then fisheries authorities are strictly enforcing the ban.
Stating that the ban was affecting their livelihood, fishermen of the two villages have long been demanding lifting of the ban. Pressing the demand, hundreds of people, including a large number of women, resorted to a hunger strike at Chandrapadi and Thirumullaivasal separately on Monday.
They have announced that they would boycott the assembly polls. Chandrapadi belongs to the Poompuhar assembly constituency and Thirumullaivasal falls under Sirkazhi segment.
