Chief minister Pramod Sawant’s decision to direct boat owners to give Rs 25 lakh financial compensation to families of labourers who die on duty has sparked strong objections from the fishing community.
The Cutbona boat owners argued that the compensation amount is exorbitant and it could lead to unintended consequences, such as deliberate attempts at self-harm among labourers seeking financial gain for their families.
Patrick D’Silva, chairman of the Cutbona Boat Owners Society, criticised the decision, stating, “Rs 25 lakh is totally unexpected. Many of us have taken loans to run our boats and are struggling to recover our investments. This new requirement is financially unfeasible.”
“What if our labourers from Odisha circulate messages in their hometown about this? Those who need the money might deliberately plunge into the sea to end their lives to secure the Rs 25 lakh for their families,” said boat owner Mahendra Zuwarkar.