Tue Feb 04 12:50:15 UTC 2025: **Nagapattinam Fishermen Plea for Community Hall in Tsunami-Hit Village**
NAGAPATTINAM, February 4, 2025 – Fishermen in Keechankuppam village, Nagapattinam, have renewed their appeal for the construction of a community hall in their tsunami rehabilitation settlement, Vyasarnagar. The Indian National Fishermen Union, led by R.M.P. Rajendra Nattar, has petitioned Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, highlighting the unmet need for a dedicated community space.
Keechankuppam, severely impacted by the 2004 tsunami, lacks a proper hall for social gatherings. Despite government promises and NGO involvement, the rehabilitation remains incomplete. Although land was allocated in 2021 and funding was pledged by the Nagapattinam Municipality, construction has yet to begin.
The situation is further compounded by the lack of a Primary Health Centre (PHC) in the area, forcing residents to travel long distances for medical care, a journey made more difficult by ongoing road construction. Mr. Nattar emphasized the significant population of Keechankuppam (over 5,000 residents) and the financial burden of renting private venues for community events. A dedicated community hall, he stressed, is crucial for the village’s fishermen.
Municipal sources confirmed that a proposal for the hall has been submitted, pending fund allocation.
First Piper 