[Reader-list] 'Fisheries Sector Issues will be Highlighted in Polls'

[T Peter]

'Fisheries Sector Issues will be Highlighted in Polls'

By Express News Service - THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Published: 18th March 2014 08:23 AM

Last Updated: 18th March 2014 08:23 AM

http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/Fisheries-Sector-Issues-will-be-Highlighted-in-Polls/2014/03/18/article2115020.ece

Kerala Swathantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation (KSMTF) and the National
Fishworkers' Forum (NFF) have stated that issues concerning the fisheries
sector in all the coastal states of the country will be highlighted during
the Lok Sabha elections.

NFF national secretary T Peter, chairperson M Elanko and Federation
secretary Anto Elias said here on Monday that as part of this, campaigns
and special conventions would be held under the joint auspices of the KSMTF
and the NFF.

The NFF leaders said that the fish workers would take a stand during the
elections based on the stance of candidates and political parties on the
issues faced by fishermen.They said that they had planned campaigns and
propaganda marches in March and April raising demands such as setting up of
a fisheries ministry at the Centre, distribution of fuel for fishing boats
at a cheap rate, strict implementation of the Green Tribunal's ban on sand
mining on the coastal belt, a legislation
on the model of the Forest Rights Act meant for tribals to protect the
interests of  fishermen, enactment of a comprehensive law to  regulate sea
fishing, implementation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Act without
causing hardship to the fishermen in constructing  houses, demolition of
the resorts constructed on the coastal belt in violation of the CRZ norms,
allotment of 10 cents of land  to landless fishermen and writing off all
the loans availed of by fishermen.

The leaders said that the interest on fishermen's loans taken for buying
fishing implements should be reduced from 12 per cent to 4  per cent.

Sea erosion and other natural calamities should be treated as national
disasters and compensation should be given accordingly.

The leaders said that they had given a memorandum, including these demands,
to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Opposition leader Sushma Swaraj,  CPM
general secretary Prakash Karat,  leaders of the CPI,  Aam Admi Party and
Socialist Janata party in this regard.

Peter, Elanko and Anto Elias also urged the State Government to  withdraw
the order  giving land in the coastal belt to resort  groups in violation
of the CRZ notification.