Kochi: Valiant fisherfolk, who saved precious lives during the worst floods that devastated the state in a century, has been adjudged Manorama News Newsmaker 2018.
The announcement was made by Justice Kurian Joseph during a programme telecast on Manorma News.
The fisherfolk who braved giant odds were adjudged winners after an opinion poll, held in association with Kalyan Silks.
“The fishermen showed how the mind of human beings should be. They set an example for reformation beyond caste, creed and religion,” Justice Kurian Joseph said.
Poet Kureepuzha Sreekumar and Institute of Management in Government assistant professor Dr Aneeshya Jayadev analyzed the Newsmaker poll. According to Kureepuzha Sreekumar, the selection of the fishermen was the ideal choice made by Keralites. “Now the state has to give back to the fishermen by solving the issues faced by Alappad village,” he said.
Aneeshya termed the noble act of the fishermen as a message of unity. “However, we chose to forget this message during the Sabarimala issue,” she added.
The fishermen had carried out rescue operations even at places where the armed forces could not reach. Around 4,500 fishing workers had saved over 65,000 lives during the floods.
Others in the final round of Newsmaker 2018 were former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan, Health Minister K K Shylaja and BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai.
This is for the first time that the award has been won by a group of people after it was launched 12 years ago.
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Operating in their mechanised country boats in turbulent waters in several flood-hit regions including Chengannur, Kuttanad, Chalakudy, Mala, Kodungallur, Aluva and North Paravur, they rescued thousands from houses and buildings where even helicopters couldn't reach. Their country boats could cut even through dangerous gush of rampaging water through which the rubber boats failed to navigate.
Most of these fishermen engaged in the rescue operations hailed from Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Malappuram, Kannur, Thrissur and Ernakulam.
Their courage and the experience in the rough seas aided the Herculean task.
The fishing community chipped in for the transportation and food expenses of these selfless souls during the rescue operations. The Fisheries Department followed suit only later.
In a noble gesture, these fishermen even refused to accept Rs 3,000 offered to each member of the community by Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan for the exemplary rescue work done.
Onmanorama lauds the priceless efforts by these faceless fisherfolk.
