coast guard personnel on a bike rally to spread awareness on maritime security in paradip. Telegraph pictures Manoj kar

Paradip, Jan. 28: The Coast Guard today flagged off a motorcycle rally along the Paradip coast with a view to sensitise the fishermen and seaside villagers on maritime security.

The rally’s aim was to spread awareness on safety at sea and educate the fishermen about the importance of coastal security.

As the seagoing fishermen form a vital component of coastal security plan, sensitising them of how to face with possible subversive ploy and sea-route threats has become imperative.

The rally aims to make the fishermen “the eyes and ears” of the maritime security agencies, said Coast Guard commandant Ashutosh Behera.

Coast Guard personnel and marine wing of state police are taking part in the rally. They will cover about 600km consisting of seaside hamlets and hold talks with local people and fishermen communities on maritime security.

The bikers will pass through the fishermen’s settlements during the weeklong rally. The rallyists will make stopovers at villages such as Kharinasi, Jamboo, Balramgadi and Dhamra, regarded as hub for marine fishing. Moreover, the community will be imparted the basics on safety mechanism during hours of distress, said a Coast Guard official.

Direct interaction will help reduce gap between the government agencies and stakeholders.

The stakeholders, mainly the seagoing fishermen, are mostly found overawed by presence of patrol vessels on the sea, said sub-divisional police officer Bhabani Shankar Mishra.