[Reader-list] Include all fish workers in scheme: federation

[T Peter]

Include all fish workers in scheme: federation

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2438147.ece
Staff Reporter
The Kerala Swathanthra Matsya Thozhilali Federation will stage a
dharna in front of the Secretariat on September 15 to press for their
demands.

There will be dharnas at district headquarters in the following days.

Their demands include application of the lean-season saving scheme to
the entire fishing community irrespective of Below Poverty Line (BPL)
and Above Poverty Line (APL) differentiation, withdrawal of the
government order restricting the service of the Marine Enforcement
Wing, distribution of kerosene at fair price, and writing off of
debts.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, federation State
president T. Peter called upon the Centre to desist from the move to
restrict the benefit of the saving scheme to those in the BPL
category.

The fishing community was among the most backward sections in society.
The receipt of Rs.1,800, which included the fishing workers
contribution of Rs.600, was too small a relief during the four lean
months. Though the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had
decided to enhance the benefit to Rs.3,000, it could not be
implemented.

The federation expressed apprehension over the government order to
restrict the service of the Marine Enforcement and Vigilance wing to
the period of trawling ban. The government should deploy speedboats to
intensify patrolling along the coast.

The kerosene quota for fishermen should be enhanced to 500 litres from
the present 129 litres. Kerosene fair price outlets should also be
opened, he said.

Fishermen were forced to buy kerosene at prices between Rs.40 and 48 a
litre, Mr. Peter said.

http://www.keralafishworkers.in
http://www.alakal.net