Fishermen to get biometric I-cards in Kasargod

Kasargod, March 17: The Kasargod district administration has decided to issue bio-metric identity cards to all fishermen as part of strengthening surveillance and to ensure effective functioning of the Coastal Vigilance Committee in the 80-km-long stretch from Thrikaripur to Manjeshwar in the district.

A decision to this effect was taken by the district-level vigilance committee involving senior personnel of various security agencies. It had been decided to distribute bio-metric identity cards to over 10,000 fishermen by April, as 9,238 of the total 10,381 fishermen in the district had applied for the cards, official sources said.

The identity cards were being prepared under the supervision of the Kerala Matsya Thozhilali Welfare Board and the process was in the final stage, they said.

Added thrust would be given to ensure that the functioning of the Coastal Vigilance Committee, falling under six coast police stations, was made effective.

Re-charge mobile phone coupons had been provided to 25 fishermen residing under the limits of each coastal police stations to provide prompt information to the police on spotting ships and boats in deep seas under suspicious circumstances.

The decision appeared to have yielded results with inputs on ships and boats found under mysterious circumstances are being promptly passed on to the police. The inputs received from the Coastal Vigilance Committees would be assessed and deliberated by the district-level vigilance committee.

The meeting was attended by officials from the Navy, Coast Guard, Customs Department, Coastal Police, and Marine Enforcement and Fisheries Department.

The Coast Guard had mooted the idea of implementing unified colour code to all fishing boats across the State so as to help identify the vessels easily.

The meeting was presided over by District Collector V.N. Jithendran.