Workers in the fisheries sector will observe strike on January 21 under the aegis of the Kerala Fisheries Coordination Committee, demanding the rejection of the Dr. Meenakumari Committee report and the restoration of kerosene allocation for the State.
Speaking to mediapersons, committee chairman V. Dinakaran said the fishing was no longer a steady source of livelihood owing to the unilateral policies of the authorities. According to him, the Murari Commission report had made several important recommendations including restricting licenses to foreign trawlers in Indian waters and providing technical support to fishworkers and cooperative societies for deep-sea fishing.
“However, instead of implementing the favourable recommendations, the Union government has issued an order on the basis of the contentious report submitted by the Dr. Meenakumari Commission.” By way of the government order, it has been decided to provide Letter of Permit (LoP) for seven types of trawlers including those for mid-water pelagic trawling, squid jigging and tuna purse-seining.
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The order also permits fishing by large ships within 12 nautical miles from the shore, where fishing is usually undertaken by the traditional fishermen. On the other hand, action will be adopted against fishermen whenever small trawlers, having size less than 15 metres, engage in fishing beyond 12 nautical miles. It would also be possible for foreign trawlers to renew the LoP for fishing every five years. The decisions will render numerous workers employed in the sector as unemployed, Mr. Dinakaran said.
He also said that nearly 22,000 fishing vessels with outboard engines will cease to function with the Central government deciding to reduce the allotment of kerosene to 7,483 kilolitres. This was when Karnataka and Tamil Nadu received 43,572 kilolitres and 29,052 kilolitres from the Central pool.
The Kerala Fisheries Coordination Committee will take out demonstrations to the Secretariat and the district centres on January 21. A blockade will also be set-up at the Cochin estuary by the fishworkers of the Ernakulam district on the same day.
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The committee also called for registering a murder case against the Coast Guard personnel who opened fire at the two fishermen off the Vizhinjam coast a few days ago. Adequate compensation must also be provided to the victims by the government.
Matsya Thozhilali Federation (AITUC) president T.J. Angelose, Matsya Thozhilali Federation (CITU) treasurer K.K. Dinesan, Swathanthra Matsya Thozhilali Federation general secretary Jackson Pollayil, Matsya Pravarthaka Sangham district president D. Suresh and Akhila Kerala Dheevara Sabha taluk secretary G. Omanakuttan also participated in the press conference.