Port workers’ body seeks redress of fishermen grievances in Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh State Chairman of the All India Port Trust Workers’ Federation (AIPTWF) Shaik Khalifathulla Basha met Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Santanu Thakur at his camp office in New Delhi on Wednesday and submitted a representation highlighting the problems faced by fishermen in Andhra Pradesh.

Mr. Basha told the Union Minister that the fishermen were facing severe livelihood challenges due to marine pollution caused by industrial waste being discharged into the sea, which was leading to a sharp decline in fish availability.

Mr. Basha urged the Union Minister to take immediate and proactive steps to address the problems of fishermen as well as the hardships faced by workers employed in the port yard areas across the State, pointing out that several companies were failing to provide basic minimum facilities to workers.

He also highlighted the issues related to subsidies for mechanised boat owners, including irregular disbursement of diesel subsidies, discrimination in subsidies between longline and trawl net fishing boats, and the discontinuation of subsidies for essential equipment since 2019.

The AIPTWF leader also raised concerns over the alleged improper supply of free diesel to fishermen, stating that despite entitlement to increased quantities and submission of all required documents, diesel was not being supplied in full, or on time.

“This is forcing the fishermen to purchase fuel from private outlets at higher prices and suffer heavy financial losses,” he said, while requesting the Union Minister to intervene immediately on the long-pending issues.

Responding to the representation, Mr. Santanu Thakur assured that steps would be taken to resolve the problems of the fishermen as well as the issues of unorganised workers employed in the port yard areas.s