Ramanathapuram
Fishermen from the district have decided to go ahead with their proposal for a rail roko at Rameswaram on Thursday as a mark of protest to highlight a charter of demands, including removal of GST on fishmeal powder and adequate compensation for the fishing boats that had suffered an irreparable damage after they were seized by Sri Lankan Navy.
“We have told the officials that we are sticking to our rail roko plan as the State and Centre had not given any assurance on our genuine demands,” said P. Sesu Raja, district secretary, Tamil Nadu Coastal Mechanised Boat Fishermen Association, after attending a peace talk held by Deputy Director of Fisheries, E. Kathavarayan, Revenue and Police officials.
Mr. Sesu Raja said that it was highly disappointing that both the Centre and the State were not even condemning the incidents of Sri Lankan Navy frequently arresting the Tamil fishermen.
“In the past, the former Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, used to condemn the Sri Lankan Navy’s act and also used to immediately write to the Centrer seeking release of the arrested fishermen at the earliest. But, now the State Government is not even condemning such incidents,” he said.
Besides, the Centre imposing Goods and Services Tax on fishmeal with retrospective effect has hit the fishermen hard.
“The fishmeal were being produced predominantly with the fishes that are abundantly available along the Tamil Nadu coast like Pudukottai, Rameswaram and Kanniyakumari. After the Centre’s move, 17 factories that used to procure fish from the fishermen have stopped buying fish. It has ruined the livelihood of the fishing community,” he added.
While officials had asked the fishermen leaders to give up their protest with the promise of Centre and State coming up with some solution within 10 days, the fishermen leaders refused to budge.
“We have waited for long for our demands,” Mr. Sesu Raja said.
