Government should recognise fisherwomen, says AIDWA at conference in Rameswaram

Appealing to the Union and Tamil Nadu governments to recognise fisherwomen as full-time fisherfolks and provide them with subsidies and monthly financial assistance during fishing ban period directly, the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) urged the authorities to implement the resolutions immediately, at a conference held here on Saturday.

The AIDWA national vice-president U. Vasuki in her address said that the survey conducted on fisherwomen indicated that they discharged duties as the fishermen did in the coastal districts. Under such circumstances, the government had the responsibility to recognise the women as well as fisherwomen.

The subsidies provided by the fisheries department and the financial assistance paid to the fisherfolk during the two month annual ban period should be extended to fisherwomen, the conference stated in a resolution.

The government should form self-help-groups (SHG) for the fisherwomen and provide them with soft loans without much conditions. The repayment should be done by the borrowers, the banks shall not be stringent in recovery.

The government should evict the encroachment near the shores so that the fisherwomen would be able to carry out their daily sales without hindrance. There were lack of basic amenities for the fisherwomen, which should also be improved by the district administration, a resolution stated.

Speakers demanded that fisherwomen, who were above 60 years of age should be allowed to be members of the cooperative societies intended for the welfare of the fisherfolks.

Earlier, AIDWA State office-bearers G. Rani and P. Karpagam addressed the gathering, Arockia Nirmala presided and Sumathi welcomed. Venkateswari proposed a vote of thanks.

Speaking to media persons, Ms Vasuki said that the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) should direct its functionaries to respect womenfolk as there were a few instances, where they had shown scant regard. Such an attitude in public space should be condemned.

The TVK does not seem to have voiced its protest against the Chief Election Commissioner, against whom many outfits had expressed concern and demanded his resignation over the faux pas in the SIR and among others.

In the Legislative Assembly, the TVK had not given an equal space to the Opposition, which was unfortunate and in a democratic fabric, the ruling party should have the patience to listen to its opponents, she added.