Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Jan 13: 'Kadalu' happens to be an app developed by Coastal Security Police Force for the safety of the fishermen. Already over 9,000 fishing boats have registered themselves under this app.
'Kadalu' app has been designed to record the boats and labourers on board the boats when they venture out into the sea for fishing. This app will be useful for the fishermen of the three coastal districts, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Dakshina Kannada. As many as 4,000 boats from Udupi, 3,000 from Dakshina Kannada and 2,500 from Uttara Kannada have been registered under this app.
In the past, the force used to collect details of fishermen and their boats before they leave for fishing either orally or through paper documents, at the fishing dock. Most of the time, the records were not completely available. As such, the force faced problem in undertaking rescue activity or when crimes take place at sea. Therefore, the force got the app through the government. Sometimes, when new boats come to the port, no one notices. Therefore, pooling correct information of all the boats and the fishermen is very much necessary. The app does that work.
How it works: Before the boat leaves the shore, the fishermen upload names, Aadhar numbers, date, and photo in the app. This information gets stored with the police and fisheries department. After they return, the fishermen have to mention the information about their return. Therefore, the department gets exact information about the number of boats at sea. In addition to help the fishermen, climate reports and warnings etc are issued through the app.
The nine coastal security police stations keep monitoring the developments. Coastal Security Police 'Force superintendent of police, Chetan R, says that Kadalu app which was prepared by the police department with help from fisheries department, has been working fine. He said that the app has been getting good response and many fishermen have downloaded the app and are filing information required therein.