Fish sellers left to fend for themselves under unhygienic conditions in Karaikal

Fisherwomen selling fish at the traditional Mathagadi market area in Karaikal have urged the municipal authorities to provide them with an alternative vending space, citing unhygienic conditions caused by an open and stagnant sewage drain running alongside their roadside stalls.

Apart from the Nehru Market, where fish is sold on a large scale, Karaikal district has several smaller, traditional fish-selling locations that have been functioning for decades. These include areas near Anna College, Mathagadi, Puthuthurai, and near the new bus stand. Among them, Mathagadi — one of the four prominent fish-selling zones — has emerged as a major concern due to the prevailing unhygienic conditions.

At Mathagadi, around 12 fisherwomen, including five who also cut and clean fish, have been selling fish daily for nearly 30 years, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. With no permanent stalls provided, the women sit on either side of the road, with large umbrellas making for a roof.

However, an open sewage drain with stagnant wastewater runs close to the vending spot, creating an unhygienic environment. The situation worsens during the rainy season, residents and customers said, with mosquito breeding and foul odour becoming a constant problem.

“We have no choice but to sit here, rain or shine,” said Parvathy V., a fisherwoman from Kilinjarmedu. “We are surrounded by sewage, but this is how we earn our living.”

Another fisherwoman, R. Bhoopathi from Karaikal Medu, said they sell fish at the spot every day between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. “This is where customers know us. We even take our tea breaks here. But the sanitation problem is always there,” she said.

The fisherwomen pointed out that though Karaikal Municipality had allotted a community hall as an alternative fish-selling space, the building was unsuitable for the purpose. “It is a closed structure meant for meetings, not for selling fish. Rainwater leaks inside and customers hesitate to enter,” they said and added that fears of losing regular customers forced them back to the roadside near the drain.

The women said they regularly pay municipal taxes and demanded that either the sewage drain be closed or a proper, hygienic alternative site with basic amenities be allotted for fish vending.

When contacted, a senior official of the Karaikal Municipality told The Hindu that the issue would be looked into.