Biometric cards for fisherfolk yet to reach

Kakinada: The issue of biometric cards for fisherfolk who venture into sea for fishing, after the Mumbai terrorist attacks, is still incomplete even after 8 years of starting the process.

The government planned to issue these cards to check infiltration through sea waters into the country. According to sources, the Government of India has already identified fisherfolk who venture into sea for fishing and those who live along the 138 kilometre sea coast and in 98 habitations in East Godavari. Accordingly, 60,000 fisherfolk including women are identified. Those who completed 18 years of age are eligible for issue of these cards.

The issue of cards with iris and thumb impression was entrusted to public sector ECIL, Bengaluru. As part of this, the issue of cards has been taken up by the organisation in two phases in 2013 and 2016 and issued biometric cards to 50,333 out of 60,000 identified till the present day.

The ID cards issue attained significance as both Coast Guard and Indian Navy opt for verifying the identity of those who venture into sea on security reasons. Meanwhile the number of those who live along the coast and those who venture into sea for fishing has gone up to 70,000.

East Godavari Joint Director of Fisheries Dr V Venkateswara Rao said they are waiting for communication from ECIL as security aspect is involved in it. “We also brought this issue to the notice of higher-ups about the raise in number of fisherfolk to 70,000 from the earlier identified 60,000. We are waiting for fresh directive on the issue,” the JD clarified.