Fishery workers, owing allegiance to the Visakhapatnam Fishing Harbour Workers Union, staged a protest at the Collectorate on Monday demanding monetary assistance to fish net repairers for the livelihood lost during the 47-day ban on fishing.
In a memorandum to the District Collector, they noted that there were 200 workers, who were involved in the making and repair of fishing nets for the last 30 years.
Their lives were in dire straits as they are paid wages for the portion of repair work they do on a daily-basis.
They were not being given even rice during the ban period.
These workers do not know any other work except making and repairing nets.
Rice sought
They sought at least provision of the 31 kg rice, being given by the rice, for temporary relief during the ban period.
Union honorary president J.V. Satyanarayana Murthy, working president V. Gurumurthy, president K. Vajram and general secretary JD Naidu were among those who participated in the protest.