The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Mutt to donate 240 fibreglass boats for Nagapattinam fishermen

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 14, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Mutt to donate 240 fibreglass boats for Nagapattinam fishermen

By Our Staff Reporter

NAGAPATTINAM, FEB. 13. Sri Ramakrishna Mutt and Mission, Chennai, will provide 240 fibreglass boats to select fishermen at the tsunami-affected villages of Kallar, Akkaraipettai, Keechankuppam and Ariya Nattu on the Nagapattinam coast and at Velankanni.

Swami Smaranananda, general secretary, Sri Ramakrishna Mutt and Mission, Kolkatta, and Swami Gowthamananda, president, Sri Ramakrishna Mutt, Mylapore, Chennai, disclosed this while handing over the first instalment of 11 fibreglass boats to fishermen at Keechankuppam near here today.

Swami Gowthamananda said each fibreglass boat, fitted with a 10-HP outboard motor, cost Rs.1.27 lakhs. The Mutt entrusted the work on making 240 fibreglass boats to nine boat-making units. This work was being carried out in coordination with panchayat chiefs and representatives of fishermen association.

He said the Mutt was carrying out relief and rehabilitation work in the tsunami affected areas of Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Kalpakkam, Chennai and Kanyakumari. It distributed materials worth Rs.2.50 crores and provided assistance to seven physically disabled persons for restarting their business.

Swami Smaranananda spoke.

J. Radhakrishnan, Nagapattinam Collector, said the donation of fibreglass boats was a milestone in the rehabilitation of fishermen.

The Collector, along with the Superintendent of Police, K.A. Abdul Rahuf, and the swamijis of Sri Ramakrishna Mutt, ventured into the sea from Keechankuppam for 200 metres in one of the boats presented by the Mutt. The function started with prayer. The Collector and the Swamijis flagged off the boats.

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