Social activists E.A.S. Sarma and Bolisetty Satyanarayana have sought a separate legislation on the lines of the Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act to protect the interests of fishermen.
Speaking at a convention organised by the National Association of Fishermen (NAF) here on Saturday, Mr. Sarma, a former IAS officer, said that in recognition of the fishermen’s unique lifestyle, there should be a ‘fishermen hamlet Act’ to protect their rights. “Fishermen should have rights to protect their waterfront hamlets, otherwise they will be driven out from their hamlets under the garb of development,” he averred. Stating that the fishermen’s contribution in protecting the coasts should be recognised, he said they should have reservation in jobs in coastal security and Navy.
Narrating the risks the community faced, he said that on record there were 141 cyclone relief centres along the Visakhapatnam coast, but many of them were non-existent.
He said that during Hudhud, the fishermen had to face the brunt of devastation for several months. He said the fishermen should be provided with modern fish market. He opposed permission to foreign vessels to loot Indian seafood.
National president of NAF Revu Babu Rao said: “Our community will be grateful to Mr. Sarma for relentlessly working for it, especially for the rights of the fishermen and drawing a roadmap for fishermen at a national level.” Mr. Rao said that he requested Mr. Sarma to be their national adviser to guide them to get their due share socially, economically, and politically.
Mr. Satyanarayana said health of the fishermen community was the real indicator of health of society as all were linked to clean water.
“Only clean water can keep the fish alive. Fish gives livelihood to fishermen and clean water will reduce the health disorders in society. River waters are thoroughly polluted and they are polluting sea in the coastal area, thereby adversely hitting fish,” he stated.
Expressing anguish over denial of adequate compensation to the fishermen hit hard by Hudhud, he said even after four years, the government succour was woefully inadequate for the fishermen.
NAF State vice-president Ghantasala Venkata Lakshmi said a raw deal was being meted out to the fishermen by denying them benefits when their boats get damaged due to inclement weather.
