Topic: India and its neighborhood- relations.
3. A permanent and sustainable solution which is mutually acceptable to both sides is needed to resolve decades long fishing issue between India and Sri Lanka. Comment. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: New Indian Express
Why the question:
Amid the Ukraine student predicament, Tamil Nadu’s other—perennial—‘foreign’ crisis took a back seat. Since 2009 when the civil war ended in the island nation, TN’s fishers have faced arrest, violence and even death in Sri Lankan waters while in pursuit of a good catch. Since the death of a Tamil fisher in October, tensions have increased with the state’s fishers being arrested or detained by the neighbouring country’s forces on a regular basis.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about a permanent and sustainable solution to resolve the fishing issue between India and Sri Lanka.
Directive word:
Comment– here we must express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin the providing context in brief, about the Palk bay conflict between India and Sri Lanka.
Body:
In the first part, give context, causes and various facets to the conflict – island of Katchatheevu, frequent poaching by Indian fisherman in Sri Lankan waters, and the damaging economic and environmental effects of trawling. Bring out the impact the issue has on Indo-Lankan relations.
In the next part, mention various steps taken to address this issues which have not been fruitful in resolving the issue – setting up of Joint Working Group (JWG).
Suggest steps in which the issue can be resolved peacefully and amicably. Replacing trawlers with deep sea fishing vessels, ban on unsustainable fishing, joint patrolling, orderly sharing of and sustainable use of resources by fishermen from both sides and de-politicization of the issue etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
