The Kerala Swathanthra Matsya Thozhilali Federation will stage a dharna in front of the Secretariat on September 15 to press for their demands.
There will be dharnas at district headquarters in the following days.
Their demands include application of the lean-season saving scheme to the entire fishing community irrespective of Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Above Poverty Line (APL) differentiation, withdrawal of the government order restricting the service of the Marine Enforcement Wing, distribution of kerosene at fair price, and writing off of debts.
Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, federation State president T. Peter called upon the Centre to desist from the move to restrict the benefit of the saving scheme to those in the BPL category.
The fishing community was among the most backward sections in society. The receipt of Rs.1,800, which included the fishing workers contribution of Rs.600, was too small a relief during the four lean months. Though the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had decided to enhance the benefit to Rs.3,000, it could not be implemented.
The federation expressed apprehension over the government order to restrict the service of the Marine Enforcement and Vigilance wing to the period of trawling ban. The government should deploy speedboats to intensify patrolling along the coast.
The kerosene quota for fishermen should be enhanced to 500 litres from the present 129 litres. Kerosene fair price outlets should also be opened, he said.
Fishermen were forced to buy kerosene at prices between Rs.40 and 48 a litre. The Chief Minister should put an end to this fleecing. All debts of fish workers should also be written off, Mr. Peter said.
Federation general secretary P.P. John, district president P.V. Wilson, district secretary N.J. Antony, Alappuzha district secretary Jackson Pollayil, and State secretary Paul Ezhupunna also attended the press conference.
