Over 700 Kani tribals participated in a ‘fishing agitation’ in three major dams of Kanyakumari district to ensure their rights enshrined in the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, on Thursday.
The agitation was held under the aegis of the Tamil Nadu Tribals’ Association (TNTA). S.R. Sekar, president of the district unit, told The Hindu that the agitation was to ensure fishing rights of Kani tribals in the dams for their livelihood.
Over 700 Kani tribals living in 47 settlements in the reserve forests of the district participated in the agitation along with their family members.
Mr. Sekar alleged that the Department of Fisheries denied Kani tribals their traditional right to fish in major waterbodies.
The government awarded fishing rights to non-fishermen for a meagre fee, denying the traditional rights of the tribals.
The agitation was led by Mr. Sekar at Chitrar I dam and district secretary of the TNTA V. Raghu at Pechiparai dam.
Senior member of the Kani tribe Sri Rangan Kani led the agitation at Perunchani dam. R. Leema Rose, former MLA, also participated in the fishing agitation.
Published - February 06, 2015 12:00 am IST