This is an archive article published on April 24, 2020
Coronavirus lockdown: Gujarat govt hires cargo ships to send Andhra fishermen home
The fishermen, who hail from Andhra’s coastal districts of Srikakulam and Vizianagaram, had been working on fishing boats in Gujarat’s Veraval, Mangrol and Porbandar as well as Diu since July 2019.
The owners of the boats and the fishermen’s association have pooled money to provide food to the fishermen. (File Photo/Representational)
The Gujarat government has hired three cargo ships to evacuate around 2,700 fishermen from Andhra Pradesh, who have been stranded at the Veraval fishing harbour since the nationwide lockdown began.
The fishermen, who hail from Andhra’s coastal districts of Srikakulam and Vizianagaram, had been working on fishing boats in Gujarat’s Veraval, Mangrol and Porbandar as well as Diu since July 2019. Usually, they return home every June – the end of the fishing season.
However, due to the lockdown, all fishing activity has ceased and the fishermen are stranded on their boats anchored at Veraval harbour.
Andhra Pradesh Information and Public Relations Minister P Venkataramaiah said that 8-10 fishermen are living in each boat. “The harbour is closed and they cannot go out… After living (on the boat) for nearly one month they are all very eager to return home. After the lockdown was extended on April 14, they approached the CMs of Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat to allow them to return home,” he said.
The owners of the boats and the fishermen’s association have pooled money to provide food to the fishermen. “Most of them are very poor and they come this far to earn their livelihood. In this crisis, it is our duty to take care of them… We have sent letters to the Gujarat CM as well as the Centre to help them go home,’’ said Kishorebhai Kuhada, president of the Veraval Fishermen’s Association.
After several rounds of talks between Andhra Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and his Gujarat counterpart Vijay Rupani, it was decided Thursday morning to evacuate the fishermen by sea route using three cargo ships.
“As they cannot come by land or air routes, we thought we should evacuate them by sea route. They may not even get their wages because the boat owners suffered losses too. CM has directed officials here to provide Rs 2,000 per fisherman as immediate relief to them…,’’ Venkataramaiah said.
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The Gujarat government has hired three cargo ships from Salaya port near Jamnagar to accommodate the fishermen and sail them to Andhra Pradesh. Each ship can accommodate 900-1000 persons.
Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance.
Expertise and Experience
Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues:
High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules.
Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes.
Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak.
Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More
The owners of the boats and the fishermen’s association have pooled money to provide food to the fishermen. (File Photo/Representational)
