Mangaluru, November 21: A ten day boat protest from Mangaluru to Thiruvananthapuram, was flagged off by famed social activist Medha Patkar on Friday November 21st, from Bunder, Mangaluru. The rally was organized by National Fish-worker’s Forum, Kerala Swathanthra Malsya Thozhilali Federaton (Kerala Independent Fish-worker’s Federation) and Karnataka Coastal Fishermen’s Action Committee requesting the Central Government to accomplish their various demands.
Medha addressing the gathering, said, “Fish-worker’s have fought but many battles for the last decades. They have shown to the world what unity is, and what a unionised struggle is like. We are the real witness of the fishermen who have struggled, fought and won.
She said, “We have to salute those people who struggled and held several hunger strikes and fought with the government to cancel licences to 200 foreign fishing vessels. It is your battle and fight that saved the beautiful coastal area, the fishes and the sources of livelihood which you live with. Even today unity is needed to protect the rights of the fishermen.”
Murari Committee was formed by the UPA government because of the pressure put by the fishermen. But it was Ram Nayak, Ram Vilas Paswan and other political leaders who supported the fishermen rights. Later, Murari Committee was sidelined and Dr Meenakumari Committee was formed. Fish-workers are alert and active, she added.
Medha speaking about the development and environment said, “There should not be problems between environment and development. The nature lovers have not sold the rivers, the ground water, land, minerals, sea or fish to foreign corporates. They are the real owners of nature.”
Bengre region is beautiful and is saved by its residents. There are fishermen who want to stay close to their resources like the coast. But they are being shifted and the governmental officers are constructing houses close by. We have to save the coast from foreign corporate, she said.
Abhayachandra Jain Minister for youth, sports and fisheries, spoke on this occasion and said that fish is the most sophisticated source of food in the world. “My duty is to look after the rights of the fishermen. Medha Patkar has arrived here to fight for the rights of the fishworkers.”
Vasudeva Boloor, vice-president of National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) urged the union government to appoint independent fisheries minister and grant subsidized kerosene for country boats. Imposing tax on the boats is not right.
He also said, for those who are below poverty line, provision of Rs 3 per should be extended to other fishermen who possess machine boats.
T Peter, national secretary of NFF said that the fisheries sector is facing many crisis. He continued and said, Dr Meenakumari’s report on the Indian fishermen was baseless. She says that fishermen cannot go for fishing due to the 200-500 meter of buffer-zone and not more than 12 nautical miles. He also said, foreign vessels were operating in our region which is against the interests of local fishermen. Our fishermen are capable to reach the borders of Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
