Govt apathy spreads panic among sailors’ families

Written by changthai11 on Monday, October 20th, 2008

Govt apathy spreads panic among sailors’ families

20 Oct 2008, Khushwant Singh, TNN

HOSHIARPUR: For merchant navy captain Ravi Chaudhary, currently holidaying at Hoshiarpur, lunchtime is particularly tough as his family gathers across the dinning table only to pester him to leave his job. Leading the clamour is his 12-year-old daughter Anika.

“She wants me to quit my job in the wake of the recent hijacking of Stolt Valor with 18 Indians aboard off the Somalian coast,” said Ravi, who has been a sailor for 29 years. “She repeatedly asks me the same question — when am I quitting sea life?” Somali pirates hijacked Stolt Valour on September 15. The pirates had initially demanded $6 million but have now reduced it to $1.5 million.

The hijacking has alarmed families of the seamen and dampened the festive season. Ravi’s wife, Anjul Chaudhary, attributes the current panic to the government’s “indifference towards the rescue of sailors” on board the hijacked ship.

“I have told my husband to look for another job. Watching such a situation is very stressful for us,” she said. “Look at the condition of the wife of the captain of the ship. She is running from pillar to post to secure her husband’s release.”

Ravi, who returned home to be with his family for festive season, agrees with Anjul and regrets that nobody is interested in securing the sailors’ release.