Fishermen federation opposes ‘handing over’ of marine resources to corporates

During the fourth all-India conference of the All-India Fisheries and Fish Workers Welfare Association (AIFFWF) here on August 6 and 7, a unanimous was decision to pressure the BJP government at the Centre to withdraw laws that paved the way to hand over the sea and coast, belonging to fisherfolk community, to corporate capitalists.

A. Hemalata, All India CITU president, addressing the cadre, said, by formulating policies in line with the interests of the corporates, the government had allowed the exploitation of natural gas and mineral resources within Indian waters, destroying marine wealth.  

“This, in addition to destroying the natural resources, will seriously affect the fisherfolk community dependent on the sea and its resources,” she added.  

Speaking about frequent and continuous arrests of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy for alleged charges of crossing International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), she said the Union government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, should make efforts to bring a permanent solution between Sri Lankan and Indian fishermen.  

G. Sukumaran, CITU State Secretary, said the financial assistance provided to fishermen should be increased.  “In cases when fishermen die while fishing, financial aid granted by both the State and Union government should be enhanced for the benefit of families,” he said.

Not just the arrests by neighbouring countries, but and also to safeguard their fishermen’s over marine resources, a law should be formulated to protect their fishing rights, he said.

“As most of India’s exports are from the fishing sector, only by creating a separate Ministry for fishing and its related issues, can the trade could be improved,” he observed.  

The new national office-bearers were also elected at the conference. Ekram Hussein was elected as President, Pulluvila Stanley as General Secretary, and Mamta as Treasurer.