[Reader-list] Non-inclusion of fish workers flayed

[T Peter]

Non-inclusion of fish workers flayed

T. Nandakumar
Reconstitution of coastal zone authority
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2782525.ece

The reconstitution of the Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority
(CZMA) has evoked strong protest from organisations representing the
fishing community in the State. The National Fishworkers Forum (NFF)
and the Kerala Swathantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation (KSMTF) have
come out against the exclusion of the community from the authority
that was recast in December.

KSMTF general secretary P.P .John and NFF secretary T .Peter have
submitted a representation to the government seeking representation of
fish workers in the authority. They said the failure to include fish
workers in the CZMA for Kerala constituted a violation of the
guidelines issued by the Centre on the constitution of the authority.
They termed it as another instance of the government's disregard for
and neglect towards the fishing community.

The two leaders alleged that the newly-constituted authority was
packed with persons who had simply watched from the sidelines when the
tourism and industrial lobbies had mindlessly appropriated coastal
areas over the years. “The very forces that failed to check
unauthorised construction in coastal areas also put up hurdles to
housing projects for fisherfolk”.

Mr.Peter said the Ministry of Environment and Forests had issued
guidelines to States asking them to include representatives of
fisherfolk in the State-level CZMA. He said the coastal communities in
Kerala would organise an agitation demanding representation in the
authority. He warned that fisherfolk would also mobilise themselves to
prevent unauthorised construction violating the Coastal Regulation
Zone (CRZ) norms.

The two organisations have urged Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and
Fisheries Minister K. Babu to ensure that fish workers were included
in the CZMA.

The notification issued by the MoEF on December 20 directs the State
government to set up district-level committees chaired by the District
Magistrate to supplement the CZMA. The proposed committees will have
at least three representatives of the local traditional coastal
communities, including fisherfolk.

However, Mr.Peter said the proposal was a poor substitute for
representation in the State-level authority. “It will not serve the
purpose of having a say on major issues affecting the coastal
environment that have a bearing on our livelihood. We will not settle
for anything less than having our people on board.”

Chairman of the authority V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai said he viewed the
demand of the coastal communities in a positive light. He said a
resolution seeking representation for the fishing community would be
moved at the first meeting of the authority. “The resolution would be
forwarded to the government as a recommendation,” he added.

The CZMA is responsible for protecting and improving the quality of
the coastal environment and preventing and controlling environmental
pollution in coastal areas. It is empowered to inquire into cases of
alleged violation of the CRZ norms and to deal with environmental
issues referred by the State government, national CZMA or the Central
government.

The notification directs the State-level authority to create a
dedicated website to host the approved Coastal Zone Management Plan
and the decisions and actions taken by it on various issues.



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Fish workers allege violation of guidelines

Chief Minister, Fisheries Minister urged to intervene