JOIN USSpeaking on the occasion, Committee General Secretary Vasudeva Boloor said the final notification does not include the 34 changes suggested by various unions to the draft notification of the CRZ. “In fact, the notification was aimed to protect the livelihood of fishermen, preserve coastal ecology and promote activity in coastal areas,” he stressed.
Stating that the yardstick of BPL card to avail Rs 3 subsidy for diesel given by the Centre can not be accepted, he said if the rule comes into effect, then no fisherman owning mechanised boat can avail the subsidy. The subsidy must be given to all without any yardstick.
Owing to the lack of dredging in 15 ports in Karnataka, several fishermen have lost their lives. Though dredging was carried out in Mangalore port recently, it was not carried out properly to help the fishermen. Though the state government has been making announcement on the second phase of Malpe port, the work has not yet started. All the harbours are in bad condition without dredging. The dredging work must be taken up at the earliest to help the fishermen, he said and added that breakwaters must be laid so that sand does not get deposited in the port.
All the fish markets in the State are in deplorable condition and are devoid of basic facilities. The fisherwomen in Mangalore are forced to sell fish in an unhygenic condition without basic facilities. “All the fish markets must be upgraded and provided with basic facilities,” he said.
Loan given to farmers at one per cent interest rate should be extended to fishermen and Rs one lakh education loan must be given to the children of fishermen as well.
The government should also take measures to check sea erosion and as fishermen come under unorganised sector, pension scheme must be introduced.
Trawl Boat Association’s Seetharam Suvarna, Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation Chairman Nithin Kumar, Purse seine Boat Association’s Naveen Karkera and others were present.