Neithal award was awarded to Sengagkaddu Kadal Meenavarkutturavu Sangam, Sengagkaddu village, Muthupettai Block, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu
Sengagkaddu kadal Meenavarkutturavu Sangam is comprising of fishermen from both inland and sea based. This fisherman association is running for the past three decades with 900 fisherman member families. This association is one of the vibrant associations among the seven-fisherman association in the district. This economically underprivileged fisherman community’s livelihood mostly depends on the wetland area which is just above the sea.
This association made a remarkable effort on removing aquaculture farms which were running in the wetland site of Point Calimere- Ramsar. The effluent from the aquaculture farms were discharged directly to the fishing canals. The effluent has degraded the quality of drinking water in the locality.
This Fishermen Association has made an effort legally to remove the aquaculture farms which was owned by several capitalists. Through 10 years of continuous effort they got a court judgement to ban aquaculture farm in their village boundary. This saved their village and also conserved their livelihoods and coastal resources. This village has now become a unique example among other fisherman community and for the environmental enthusiastic. Now the fish catch is also increased which is a boon for poor fishermen families. This area has got an international prominence which also safeguarded by their persistent efforts.
