‘Kadal Yathra,’ a boat rally by fishermen along the coastline of Kerala urging the State government to address the pending developmental needs of their community, was accorded a warm reception in three fishing harbours in the district on Sunday.
The ‘Yathra’ which started from Mangaluru on November 21 reached fishing harbours at Chombal, Koyilandy, and Chaliyam.
EncroachmentsC.K. Nanu, MLA, inaugurated the fishermen’s journey along the coast of the Kozhikode district.
In his address, Mr. Nanu said the State would never be able to justify the encroachments of foreign fishing vessels on its coast when the small-scale fishermen community here were badly fighting for their survival.
He blamed the government for not allocating a reasonable share of kerosene and diesel for native fishermen on time.
Leaders of the ‘Yathra’ said they also wanted the government to reject the Meena Kumari report, which according them, would bring only adverse result for the fishermen community.
Murari CommissionThey also called upon the government to implement the Murari Commission report, which would introduce an effective controlling mechanism over foreign vessels entering the Indian coast.
The Kadal Yathra would culminate in Thiruvananthapuram after visiting various harbours on November 30.
Opposition leader V.S. Achuthanandan, Bharatiya Janatha Party leader V. Muraleedharan, T.N. Prathapan, MLA, and representatives of various other political parties would address the rally.
