In a bid to promote coastal security and improve business opportunities for fishermen across the coastal areas of India, the government has announced that they will be issuing 3.5 lakh free two-way communication transponders. These transponders have been manufactured by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). In the first phase, one lakh transponders will be fitted on boats which are less than 20-metres size, under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana.
The transponders not only allow tracking of the fishermen, but also provide two-way communication. This would also allow the agencies and fishermen to communicate in case of distress, as well as receive warnings about cyclones or other adverse weather conditions. The pilot project has already begun in Tamil Nadu, and going ahead, various government organisations along with the National Security Council, will implement the project across the entire coastal area.
Furthermore, the National Maritime Security Coordinator, Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have been working to reduce the obstructions of doing business for fishermen. They are allowing them to take photocopies of identity documents such as Aadhar cards as carrying the originals would prove difficult for them.
An Automatic Identification System (AIS) was made compulsory for fishing vessels after the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008. Terrorists had sneaked into Indian waters in a stolen boat and had launched a coordinated attack on multiple targets.
The primary aim of this project is to allow easy communication between the fishing communities and the agencies, as well as regulating the various benefits and services associated with the schemes available to the fishing community. This is seen as an important step towards a more secure fishing industry, which will have greater opportunities for business growth.
