Thiruvananthapuram: The first lot of fishermen in Thiruvananthapuram has been given Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) by fisheries department.

Fisheries trainers will travel all over the State and train fishers on the mechanism to use NavIC. The arrangement with Space Application Centre at Ahmedabad is for 500 sets; another 1000 will soon follow.

Inaugurating a training camp for fisheries officials and selected fishermen belonging to the coastline here, fisheries minister Mercykutty Amma praised the efforts of Indian Space Research Organisation for its contribution in coming out with a desi satellite phone for the fisher folks.

She said the launch of NavIC was an example of how scientific research was reaching the hands of fisherfolks. By Feb. 10, 500 NavIC desi satellite equipment will be made available to the fishermen where they will be provided with distress signals when the sea turns rough or violent.

She said she had requested the ISRO to make available 1000 NavIC equipment in February.

"KELTRON will be manufacturing the NavIC as per industrial standards. On Feb. 6, I will be holding talks with industries minister A. C. Moideen. We will be providing training to fishermen across the State in the coming days which would see the community returning to the shore safely if the sea turns rough" she said.

“The trial run of the boats equipped with NavIC was a success. Earlier this month a group of fishermen from Vizhinjam, Neendakara and Vypeen harbours had ventured into the deep sea as far as 60 -97 nautical miles with NavIC.”