Boat tragedy: Families of missing fishermen decide to sign indemnity bond

Malpe, 13 May 2019 [Fik/News Sources]: The state government has sanctioned a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the missing fishermen of the doomed deep sea trawler Suvarna Tribhuja and it is learnt that all the families have taken their decision regarding the signing of the indemnity bond which is mandatory for the release of the compensation amount.

The family members of the missing fishermen from Uttara Kannada and Malpe will visit the Fisheries Department office and sign the indemnity bond on Monday.

They were hesitant?

It was being said that the families of the missing fishermen were hesitant to sign he indemnity bond out of fear that what if after signing the bond and providing the compensation, the state as well as the union government backtrack from conducting a thorough investigation into the incident? Therefore the families were insisted that the real reason behind the tragedy was more important to them than the compensation. They demanded that the wreckage of the boat be brought to the surface and an answer be found to what happened of the fishermen aboard the vessel.

The state had released a total of Rs 10 lakh as compensation to each family including Rs 6 lakh from Karnataka State Fishermen’s Calamity Relief Fund and Rs 4 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. But it has demanded that the indemnity bond be signed before the releasing of the amount to the families. If incase, the missing fishermen return back, Rs 6 lakh from Karnataka State Fishermen’s Calamity Relief Fund will have to be returned back in accordance to one of the conditions stated in the indemnity bond.

Delegation to New Delhi

Post May 16th, the fishermen leaders and the representatives of the people have assured to take a delegation including the families of the missing fishermen to New Delhi and hold a meeting with the Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. There, our doubts are expected to be cleared, inform the members of the missing fishermen.