THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Tension prevailed at Adimalathura coastal region after the local fishermen community staged a protest demanding hike in compensation amount declared by the state government. The protesters also tried to stop Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac when he visited the coastal hamlet to discuss the new daily wage scheme for fishermen families, which is in the draft stage.
However, the situation was brought under control with the timely intervention of the police. The incident took place around 10.30 am when Thomas Isaac visited the relief camps at Adimalathura after paying a visit to Pozhiyoor to see the family members of those had lost their lives in the cyclone. Soon, a group of fishermen surrounded him and demanded a hike in compensation to the victims’ kin.
For the past one week, tense situation has been prevailing in the coastal areas and the fishermen have been protesting against the VIPs who came to take stock of the situation. Meanwhile, Thomas Isaac in his Facebook post said it was a false news that he was stopped by fishermen. “I was not stopped by anyone. In fact, I visited each and very fishermen and discussed their problems. There will be criticism and anger as the coastline was hit by a big disaster in the history of Kerala. There was criticism on the compensation package. But some sections f media distorted it and reported that I was not even allowed to get down from my car. It is totally untrue,” Isaac said in the post.
CPM to contribute to Ockhi relief fund
T’Puram: The CPM has urged its cadre and party supporters to contribute to the Ockhi relief fund of the state government. In a statement issued here, the CPM state secretariat has asked its various party factions, mass and class organisations to donate to the fund. The party asked its branch committees to collect the funds before December 21. The funds collected should be sent to the disaster relief fund.
Ockhi: Women’s panel extends help
T’Puram: In a bid to help victims of cyclone Ockhi, members of the Kerala Women’s Commission and its employees contributed a day’s salary to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund. The commission chairperson handed over the amount at the Chief Minister’s office. Commission members E M Radha, Shiji Shivaji and M S Thara were among those present.