The fishermen folks live here with basic amenities with a few utensils under the thatched roofs and a constant worry of uncertain future.

Muthuswamy shows his swollen hands; he says that we often switch off the engine driven by the fear of Srlinkan Navy and row our boats all night to reach back home safe.

Lakshmi pours cold water on herself to save her from the heat. The temparture in summer goes up-to 50 degree Celsius.

Sayyad, 78 - cyclone survivor runs a tea shop with her husband Yusuf

Dhanushkodi was a small flourishing town during British Raj, much more developed than the neighboring places. May be its picturesque beauty or its strategic location made them develop this little town with all modern amenities. There was a police station, a church made of corals, a railway station, a school and a housing society of over 600 dwellings to provide accommodation to people who worked in ships, trains and other government offices.

Japiyammal 70, a widow is a cyclone survivor runs a business of dry fishes which she often sells in Rameswaram.

The teenager girls find it very hard to go to toilet in open. They laugh it off saying we are the first one to get up and run to find a suitable place.

Muniyaswami and his wife carrying the small lap she uses to light her small thatched house. She says in the rains, nothing works.

Poochimuniya, 50 lost his elder daugther last years as she committed suicide after her marriage. He is worried about getting her other three daughters married, as he can;t afford the dowry from his low wages.

A journey in the tourist vans towards the tip of the earth via a lifeless route

Each child as he or she starts to walk gets involved in the fishing. That’s all they know and that’s all they have to eat, live and survive.

Women gather around the open pit to wash themselves one by one by the road side.

Mari, a 29-year-old woman was bathing by the open road along with other ladies of village turn by turn. She says we have been abandoned; no one comes and asks about how we live here.

Meena travels almost 25 kms everyday to reach her school, children are often fatigued by the heat and dehydration

An uncertain future

The declining shoreline and increasing tourism in Dhanuskodi, both are a threat to their life and way of living. The future is rather bleak.