Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, May 13: It has been learnt that the families of all the seven members of the fishing boat 'Suvarna Tribhuja' that sank off Malvan port in December last, have decided to sign indemnity bonds so as to claim the compensation of Rs 10 lac each sanctioned by the state government.
The families, which hail from Malpe here and Bhatkal in Uttara Kannada district, will be visiting the office of the fisheries department here today and sign the necessary forms. It is said that the families had dithered from signing the papers earlier, as they said their concern is to know about the reason for the boat to get drowned than claiming the compensation, and also as they suspected that once the compensation is disbursed, the government and agencies may not seriously follow the case.
There was also apprehension that the families would be asked to refund the money if the formalities connected with conclusively proving that the fishermen had actually died are not complied with. The indemnity bond wants the families to refund fishermen distress compensation amount of Rs 6 lac each if the fishermen come back alive at a future date.
The fishermen leaders, people's representatives etc have promised to accompany the family members to Delhi to discuss the matter with defence minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, after May 16 where they are likely to get a clearer picture of what had happened, a member of a fisherman family said.