The National Fishworkers’ Forum (NFF), at its annual general body meet on 19 and 20 December at Visakapattnam, criticized the process used by the committee constituted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India (GOI), to draft a new National Marine Fisheries Policy.
Representatives from various member organizations of all the coastal states and union territories participated in the two-day meet. Participants decided to organize a Fishermen March towards parliament in Delhi on 10 March 2016, during the budget session, to press for these demands.
The following is the text of the Press Statement issued by NFF on 22 December 2015:
Press Statement
The following were the resolutions arrived at:
1. The process used by committee constituted by Ministry of Agriculture, GOI to draft a new National Marine Fisheries Policy in getting the opinion of the communities is not acceptable. We oppose the very constitution of it, as it does not have representation of the fisher communities. With a questionnaire in a Yes and No’ format, one cannot elicit opinion in the fullest form. Public consultation of the fisher community at the district level in all the coastal states is the only way to get effective opinion of the communities. The representation from the organizations of the fisher community, preferably with the nationalist perspective is a must in the drafting committee to enable it to be effective. Since NFF is the only national-level fisher community organization with member organizations from all the coastal states, it may be preferred to be a member of the drafting committee. With the need to have these demands incorporated, the deadline for feedback shall be extended sufficiently.
2. Bifurcation of the agricultural ministry and creating a separate ministry for fisheries and fishermen welfare at the Union government is the need of the hour. Even BJP has accepted it as a reasonable demand, by having it mentioned in their policy paper for the fisher communities, while the previous UPA government did not accept it.
3. We demand that all the fisher communities living in India shall be enlisted as Scheduled Tribes. The fisher community should be included in the list of STs, as been recommended by the Mandal Commission. It will not only ensure reservation for education and employment, but also will have reservation of constituencies in various elected bodies, including state assemblies and the parliament.
4. We demand that all commercial ports proposed be given up. No more commercial ports, as already existing ports are underutilized.
5. The issue arising out of harassment of fishermen crossing the border and entering the neighbouring countries such as India and Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan and India and Bangladesh while fishing shall be immediately resolved, through bilateral and consistent dialogue process. All the boats confiscated and not given back so far shall be immediately handed over to the fishermen and those who are incarcerated shall be released with immediate effect.
6. The seismic survey done in the seas in the western part of the country in the fishing grounds are causing immense hardship to the fishermen of the region and therefore should be immediately stopped.
7. NFF demands a total ban on destructive fishing practices such as purse-seine, bottom trawling, line trawling, pair trawling, twin trawling, bull trawling and high-speed trawling. Avoid overexploitation of fish resources in the territorial waters and the EEZ of India.
8. We oppose all power generation projects proposed to be established in the coastal region, both nuclear and thermal power plants. We do not want the coastal belt to be made the power generation hub of India at the cost of the fisher communities.
9. Subsistence allowance should be given to every fisher community family that is affected by any fishing ban such as breeding season ban, lean season ban, etc. We demand of the GOI that the fishermen should be given the subsistence allowance at the rate of Rs500 per head per day. This will include days of natural calamities as compensation for livelihood. Compensation for damages to the habitat and equipments is different from livelihood allowances. We moreover demand, in case of disaster, climate-change refugee status and demand compensation accordingly.
10 . In cases where the fishermen are prevented from fishing for a consistently long period such as in marine protected areas, no ban should be implemented if such compensation is not paid 90 days ahead of it.
11. On CRZ: All developments including establishments are happening on reclaimed land which is Coastal Regulation Zone. This is illegal and unacceptable.
We want all efforts for such CRZ violations by the government, such as Comparel in Mumbai, be given up. Industrial corridors in both the west and east coast are going to affect the fisher community. We demand that the fisher community concerned is consulted before any development project is taken up.
Action Plan
1 . A Fishermen March towards parliament organized by NFF is planned to be held in Delhi pressing these demands. It will be held on 10th March 2016,Thursday, during the parliament budget session.
2. National Fishworkers’ Forum and Delhi Solidarity Group are jointly organizing a seminar on Proposed amendment to the environment laws and it’s impact to the fishermen communities, which will be held on 9th March at New Delhi.
3. It is decided to have a triennial national conference of NFF to be held in Tamilnadu on 8th to 10th of December 2016.
The Annual General Council meeting of National Fishworkers’ Forum (NFF) was chaired by Mr. M.Ilango, the Chairperson of NFF. The annual report was presented by Mr. Narendra Patil, the General Secretary. Mr. Vasudev Bolor, Vice Chairperson, Mr. T. Peter, Secretary and Mr. Anton Gomez (Tamilnadu), Mr. A. Palsamy(Tamilnadu) , Mr. S. Stephen (Kerala), Mr. Rama Krishna Tandel (Maharashtra), Mr. Kiran Kohli (Maharashtra), Mr. S. Raja Rao (AP), Mr. K. Allaya (Orissa), Mr. Madhu Bhai Soneri (Gujarat), Mr. M. J. Vijayan (Delhi), Mr. Sanjeev Kumar (Delhi), Mr. M. Ramajeyam (Pondicherry), Mr. Ramesh Dhuri (Malvan), Mr. Gilbert Rodrigo and Mr. Arjilli Dasu spoke on the occasion.
Signed
(M. Ilango) (Narendra R Patil) (T. Peter) (Vasudev Bolor)
Chairperson, General Secretary, Secretary, Vice Chairperson