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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:0in" align="center"><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><b>International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF)
Trust</b><br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><b>Documentation Centre</b><br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><b>Weekly News Alert</b><br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><b>04 November 2013 to 08 November 2013</b></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
Dear Subscriber,<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
Please find below web links of ICSF DC Weekly News Alert from 04 November 2013 to 08 November
2013.<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
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<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><b><br>
Tripura: Political unrest in Bangladesh hits trade with Tripura</b><br>
<a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Political-unrest-in-Bangladesh-hits-trade-with-Tripura/articleshow/25291583.cms" target="_blank">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Political-unrest-in-Bangladesh-hits-trade-with-Tripura/articleshow/25291583.cms</a><br>
</span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
Bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh continued to suffer as hundreds of
loaded trucks remained stranded on both sides of the Indo-Bangla border for the
sixth consecutive day in Akhaura integrated check post (ICP) due to political
unrest in the neighbouring country...<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><b>Manipur: Fisheries department hosts annual fish fair</b><br>
<a href="http://kanglaonline.com/2013/11/fisheries-department-hosts-annual-fish-fair/" target="_blank">http://kanglaonline.com/2013/11/fisheries-department-hosts-annual-fish-fair/</a><br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
The production of fish this year by the fisheries department has increased from
last year’s production of 53 thousand metric tons, said Fisheries department
director, K Saratkumar today during the fish fair-cum-fish crop competition
held at the Hapta Kangjeibung...<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><b>Meghalaya: Meghalaya aims at surplus fish production</b><br>
<a href="http://newindianexpress.com/business/news/Meghalaya-aims-at-surplus-fish-production/2013/11/06/article1875766.ece" target="_blank">http://newindianexpress.com/business/news/Meghalaya-aims-at-surplus-fish-production/2013/11/06/article1875766.ece</a><br>
</span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
Meghalaya is aiming to become surplus in fish production after depending on
25,000 tonnes of annual imports, notably from Andhra Pradesh. "We import
close to 25,000 tonnes of fish annually from other states, notably, from Andhra
Pradesh...<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><b>Uttar Pradesh: Admin wakes up to Varanasi ghats' plight</b><br>
<a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/Admin-wakes-up-to-Varanasi-ghats-plight/articleshow/25277976.cms" target="_blank">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/Admin-wakes-up-to-Varanasi-ghats-plight/articleshow/25277976.cms</a><br>
</span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
After a gap of several years the district administration has woken up to tackle
the threats faced by the majestic ghats of Banaras. A committee headed by the
district magistrate has been formed to assess the problems and also to find out
a solution to maintain the beauty of the ghats...<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><b>Odisha: Puri sustains loss of Rs 429 crore</b><br>
<a href="http://newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Puri-sustains-loss-of-Rs-429-crore/2013/11/01/article1867377.ece" target="_blank">http://newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Puri-sustains-loss-of-Rs-429-crore/2013/11/01/article1867377.ece</a><br>
</span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
The district administration has estimated the damage due to the flood and
cyclone at Rs 429.37 crore. It submitted the assessment report to the Central
team led by Rasmi Goel on Thursday. The team visited villages in Krushnaprasad,
Brahmagiri and Puri Sadar that were affected by the twin calamities...<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><b>Andhra Pradesh: A Fishing Community Recounts Evacuation Experience During
Phailin</b><br>
<a href="http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/16/a-fishing-community-recounts-evacuation-experience-during-phailin/?_r=0" target="_blank">http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/16/a-fishing-community-recounts-evacuation-experience-during-phailin/?_r=0</a><br>
</span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
When police and government officials came to his village on Friday, begging
residents to evacuate before Cyclone Phailin hit, B. Appa said he didn’t
believe them at first. In fact, almost no one did. “Our village has seen
hundreds of cyclones since the time of our grandfathers and
great-grandfathers,” said Mr. Appa, 37, a fisherman in the coastal village of
Bhavanapadu...<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><b><br>
Kerala: Fishworkers' organisation takes out protest march<br>
</b><a href="http://newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/Fishworkers-organisation-takes-out-protest-march/2013/11/06/article1874735.ece" target="_blank">http://newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/Fishworkers-organisation-takes-out-protest-march/2013/11/06/article1874735.ece</a><br>
</span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
As part of the 101-hour Satyagraha of fishworkers organised under the aegis of
Kerala Swathanthra Matsyathozhilali Federation, fish workers took out a march
here on Tuesday carrying fishing equipment like fishing net, oars and engines
used in boats.The agitation is being organised raising various demands such as
withdrawal of projects such as coastal mining, hydrofoil and coastal
shipping...<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><b><br>
Kerala: Panels to monitor fish peeling units in Kozhikode</b><br>
<a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kozhikode/panels-to-monitor-fish-peeling-units-in-kozhikode/article5316524.ece" target="_blank">http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kozhikode/panels-to-monitor-fish-peeling-units-in-kozhikode/article5316524.ece</a><br>
</span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
Focus on hygiene, welfare of workers, labour conditions. The State government
has come up with a slew of measures to monitor the hygiene and welfare of fish
peeling workers, mostly women from financially-backward families working under
punishing conditions...<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><b>Karnataka: Integrate city plan with CRZ rules: expert</b><br>
<a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/integrate-city-plan-with-crz-rules-expert/article5311366.ece" target="_blank">http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/integrate-city-plan-with-crz-rules-expert/article5311366.ece</a><br>
</span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
Not many coastal cities have integrated their city plans with the costal
regulatory zone (CRZ) guidelines, said former Director of Centre for Earth
Science Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, M. Baba. Mr. Baba who was among the
experts involved in formulation of Costal Regulatory Zone Notification in 2011
– which mainly regulates real estate development along the coast in order
protect its ecosystem – said here on Monday that such integration was necessary
for better implementation of the guidelines...<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><b>Maharashtra: Oil leakage robs Mahul fishermen of livelihood</b><br>
<a href="http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-oil-leakage-robs-mahul-fishermen-of-livelihood-1914369" target="_blank">http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-oil-leakage-robs-mahul-fishermen-of-livelihood-1914369</a><br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
The fishermen from Mahul gaon, a quiet fishing village near Chembur, are a
distressed lot. Oil leakage from refineries located in the area over the past
two months has not just threatened their traditional fishing business, but has
also adversely affected the health of the families residing there...<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><b><br>
Gujarat: NGOs want World Bank out of Tata project</b><br>
<a href="http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/ngos-demand-world-bank-withdrawal-from-tata-s-mundra-umpp-113110400736_1.html" target="_blank">http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/ngos-demand-world-bank-withdrawal-from-tata-s-mundra-umpp-113110400736_1.html</a><br>
</span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
Over a hundred non-governmental organisations focused on environmental and
social issues have demanded the World Bank withdraw assistance to a 4,000
Megawatt power project operated by Tata Power at Mundra in Gujarat. This comes
days after the Ombudsman for International Finance Corporation (IFC), the
Washington-headquartered investment unit of the World Bank Group, reported
serious lapses in the supervision of the Ultra Mega Power Project (UMPP)...<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><b>India: Unquiet flows the Brahmaputra</b><br>
<a href="http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/unquiet-flows-the-brahmaputra/article5314366.ece" target="_blank">http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/unquiet-flows-the-brahmaputra/article5314366.ece</a><br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
India should impress upon China the livelihood and ecological impact of
upstream projects. In recent years, whenever India and China have met at the
highest level, the issue of water has been prominently put on the negotiating
table. Much of the unease has been over a truculent, temperamental trans-border
river, the Yaluzangbu-Brahmaputra-Jamuna (YBJ) system, which exhausts its full
watery course only after having traversed three sovereign nations: China,
India, and Bangladesh...<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><b>Sri Lanka: SL cries foul over EU action </b><br>
<a href="http://www.dailymirror.lk/news/38256-sl-cries-foul-over-eu-action.html" target="_blank">http://www.dailymirror.lk/news/38256-sl-cries-foul-over-eu-action.html</a><br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
The Sri Lankan government asked why the European Union (EU) did not take action
on India for failing to stop its fishermen poaching in Sri Lanka’s territorial
waters. Deputy Fisheries Minister Sarath Kumara Gunaratne told Parliament that
the EU had issued a yellow card (warning) to Sri Lanka on the grounds that the
government had failed to ratify international laws and conventions and thus
prevent Sri Lankans from engaging in Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU)
fishing in international waters...<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><b>Pakistan: Govt assures PFF of resolving Gizri fisher folk issue </b><br>
<a href="http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-4-212628-Govt-assures-PFF-of-resolving-Gizri-fisher-folk-issue" target="_blank">http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-4-212628-Govt-assures-PFF-of-resolving-Gizri-fisher-folk-issue</a><br>
</span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
Responding to a letter for safeguarding the rights of the fishing community
residing in old jetties in Karachi, specifically in Gizri, the Sindh government
tasked the fisheries secretary with convening a meeting in this regard. The
meeting was attended by representatives of the Defence Housing Authority (DHA),
the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) and the line departments to resolve the
fishing community’s issues...<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><b>Pakistan: PFF intends to start ‘Save Manchhar’ campaign</b><br>
<a href="http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2013%5C11%5C06%5Cstory_6-11-2013_pg12_3" target="_blank">http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2013\11\06\story_6-11-2013_pg12_3</a><br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
Hundreds of fishermen and women, gathered at different locations inside the
Manchhar Lake, declaring their unconditional support to back the "Save
Manchhar" campaign launched by the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) on
Tuesday. During a day-long visit and corner meetings with the community,
residents came to show solidarity, saying the increasing pollution has become
an issue of life and death...<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><b>Sri Lanka: As Indian trawlers charge ahead, these fishermen are all at sea</b><br>
<a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/south-asia/as-indian-trawlers-charge-ahead-these-fishermen-are-all-at-sea/article5309999.ece" target="_blank">http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/south-asia/as-indian-trawlers-charge-ahead-these-fishermen-are-all-at-sea/article5309999.ece</a><br>
</span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
It is 6.30 p.m., already pitch dark along the shore in Analativu, a tiny island
off Sri Lanka’s northernmost tip. Except for the silhouettes of palm trees and
of the fisherfolk gathered there, nothing much else is visible under the
star-studded night sky. The village is quiet — its silence only punctuated by
the periodic splash of the waves against the shore and occasionally, by a lone pup
barking shrilly...<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><b><br>
Myanmar: Fish exports down </b><br>
<a href="http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/business/8655-fish-exports-down.html" target="_blank">http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/business/8655-fish-exports-down.html</a><br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
Decreased fish production from local trawlers this year will lead to shortfall
from this year’s revenue target of US$700 million, experts said. U Han Htun,
executive vice president of Myanmar Fisheries Federation, said that revenues
through the first seven months of the fiscal year have decreased 9.69 percent
to just $298 million compared to the same period last year as trawlers are experiencing
higher production costs that are leading to decreased fish trawls...<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><b><br>
Bangladesh: Using children at dry fish processing units banned</b><br>
<a href="http://www.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/using-children-at-dry-fish-processing-units-banned/" target="_blank">http://www.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/using-children-at-dry-fish-processing-units-banned/</a><br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
The authorities have imposed a ban on engaging children in all kinds of work
related to dry fish processing at Dublarchar in Shoronkhola upazila. A circular
was issued in this regard by the Forest Department in the third week of last
month. The circular also warned that tough legal actions would be taken against
those found guilty of violating the ban...<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><b>Bangladesh: Tears for the rivers of Bangladesh</b><br>
<a href="http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/new/2013/11/02/1769" target="_blank">http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/new/2013/11/02/1769</a><br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
Bangladesh, a deltaic region of the Indian subcontinent, was famous for its
ebbing mighty rivers and their innumerable tributaries with waters full to the
brim. The tradition, culture, society, economy and the life system of people of
the country were tremendously influenced by these mighty rivers and their
tributaries...<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><b>India: National Fishworkers Forum memorandum to be submitted to the
National and Regional political party leaders requesting them to incorporate
NFF’s important demands in their party's election manifesto to the ensuing 2014
Lok Sabha General Elections</b><br>
Source: NFF<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
To,<br>
Shri. <br>
President/Secretary<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
Sir/Madame,<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
Sub: Requested to incorporate our long pending demands in your party election
manifesto to the ensuing General Election to Loksabha –Reg. <br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
We state that you are well aware of the fact that there are 13 states
including union Territories namely –West Bengal, Odisha, Andra Pradesh,
Tamilnadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Diu Daman,
Andaman Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands on the coastal area of our Nation
and they are surrounded by seas at a stretch about 8118 km in length.<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
Residents of the coasts are involving in the ancestrally inherited fishing
occupation in 2.02 million <a href="http://sq.km" target="_blank">sq.km</a> sea water which includes 0.5 million <a href="http://sq.km" target="_blank">sq.km</a>
continental shelves and Exclusively Economic zone. Approximately the fishermen
who are solely depending upon fishing for their livelihood is 2 Crore. Apart
from those coastal fishermen, the inland fishermen who is depending for their
occupation utilizing perennial rivers, seasonal rivers, lakes, ponds, pools,
back waters and lagoons who are living in 35 states including 7 Union
Territories is about 1 Crore of our population. Thus fishermen are 3 Crore of
our Indian population. Though they are striving and providing nutritious fish
as food to 80% of people of our country at cheapest cost, it is easy to
construe from the life style, they are leading, even after 66 precious years of
our independency shows that they have not attained sufficient or expected
growth in Education, Employment, and Economy and in permanent income. They are
socially, economically and educationally in the lower strata. We believe that
you too have well acquainted with the above facts and from the facts that it is
easy to derive that the fishermen are living in misery, anguish and in stigma
secluded even from the other backward communities, and also in most
economically backward and further in a suppressed manner. During our 66 years
of Indian Democratic Parliamentary system of governance, several ministries
were bifurcated for the benefit and welfare of several groups which are
deliberately lesser in number when compare to the fishermen population. But
contrary to the need and necessity fisheries is being added as the fourth
behind Agriculture, Animal husbandry and Dairy in the Ministry of Agriculture,
since its inception and fishermen welfare is continuously neglected by the
Authorities concerned. Hence, as a first step to alleviate the sufferings of
fishermen Community, Central Govt. must form a separate “Ministry for Fisheries
and Fishermen Welfare.” After considering all the pathetic, heart
breaking suppressed and depressed conditions
of fishermen community living throughout our country,
the Backward Classes Commission under the Chairmanship of Shri. B.P.
Mandal has rightly observed the stigma of untouchability against fishermen in
some parts of the Country. <br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
In the Backward Classes Commission report (Mandal report) in Volume 1<br>
Main Report and Recommendations<br>
Chapter XIII, at page No. 65,under the sub heading ”Miscellaneous – Para 13.37</span></p>
</div><div><ol><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">Certain sections of some occupational communities like
Fishermen, Banjaras ,Bansforas, Khatwes etc. still suffer from the stigma
of untouchability in some parts of the country. They have been listed as
O.B.Cs by the commission, but their inclusion in the list of Scheduled
Castes / Scheduled Tribes may be considered by the Government.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">Backward Classes development corporations should be set up both
at the central and state levels, to implement various socio – educational
and economic measures for their advancement</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">A separate Ministry /Department for O.B.Cs at the Center and
the States should be created to safe guard their interests</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">With a view to giving better representations to certain very
backward sections of O.B.Cs like the Gaddis in Himachel Pradesh, Neo
–Buddhists in Maharashtra, Fishermen in the coastal areas, Gujjars in
J&K., it is recommended that areas of their concentrations may be
carved out into separate constituencies at the time of delimitations.”</span></li></ol></div><div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 12pt;text-indent:0in"><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">
To give effect to the above recommendations the Legislative Assemblies
including of Kerala and Puducherry unanimously passed resolutions to include
the Fishermen community in the Scheduled Tribes list, sent to the Union
Government for further proceedings. Still these resolutions are under the
consideration of Ministry of Social Justice. Decision in this regard must be
taken at the earliest if your party comes to power at the central government.
We request the government of India to consider this recommendation and include
fishermen in the SC / ST list. We request the government of India to take a
decision to include in the terms of reference of the next delimitation
commission to consider the Mandal commission’s recommendations to create
separate constituencies for fishermen in the coastal areas. Though the
fisheries is considered as a part and parcel of Agriculture Ministry, the
Fishermen are not getting any sort of facility or concession like farmers, such
as loan and grants through Cooperative banks nationalized banks, scheduled
banks, government financial institutions like NABARD and even we are not
allowed to get Jewel loans by pledging Jewels in order to use the money for
repairing the fishing Boats, Nets and buying other equipment for fishing.
Agriculturists are given cultivation loans, crop loans and Jewel Loans through
banks and other government financial institutions at cheaper (4 % pa) rate of
interest .We request you that fishermen must be given Loan to develop their
occupation at the rate of 4 % pa interest. All loans availed by fishermen from
banks, cooperative societies and other government financial institutions to
develop their occupation, such as to purchase boat, net, engine and other
auxiliary equipment should be written off in the event of damages and loss
occurred to them due to natural disasters like cyclones, hurricanes, heavy
rains strong winds, sea erosions, sudden flood in rivers and occasionally
Tsunami waves.<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
Each and every year the fishermen met and felt great distress and anguish throughout
8118 Km of Indian Coast by these natural calamities lost their houses, boats ,
catamarans, fishing boat engines, vallams, nets, other instruments and
equipment which ultimately resulted in losing their livelihood struggling for
daily bread. But while loan waiving decision is taken by the Union Government
it never considered the pathetic condition of the vulnerable fishing community.
At the same time it is an open secret when the waiving of loans is provided to
the Agriculturist the Poultries and Dairies which are run by Corporates,
Jamindars, Jahirdars and big landlords had got their share of waving up to the
tune of even more than Rs. 50 Lakhs per individual. The 2013 – 2014 Budget
submitted in the parliament says the fisheries sector’s contribution to the GDP
is 0.7 %. Based on the facts provided by the government itself allocation of
Rs. 3887.25 Crore on Planed expenditure and Rs. 7769.82 Crore on Non-Planed
expenditure for fisheries and fishermen welfare would be a justifiable one, if
it is done so. But in 2013-2014 Budget out of Rs. 2025 Crore allocated for
Agriculture Ministry, only Rs.317.30 Crore of rupees allocated to fisheries and
fishermen welfare. Major portion of this allocation will go to the training and
research institutions of the ministry, Only Rs. 8.5 Crore is meant for
fishermen welfare.<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
During the last session of parliament Mrs. Purandareswari Union Minister
informed the parliament that last year’s foreign exchange earnings through sea
food export is about Rs. 18,856 Crore and export value of Sea food was 9,28,215
Tones and this is 7.68 % more when compared to the previous year. Hence our
demand is that the GOI must allocate fund to the Fisheries and Fishermen
welfare Ministry on the basis of fisheries contribution to the GDP and the fund
be increased substantially. As the basic requirement for fishing is diesel and
kerosene, all the taxes including excise duty, sales tax would be given
exemption and would be supplied to the fishermen at the production cost
incurred by the government. Likewise for the Out Board Engine Boats kerosene
would be supplied at the public distribution system (PDS) price. Respected
leaders, we have hope and confidence that your party would consider and realize
all the above mentioned facts and if you would have an opportunity to come to
power after the ensuing Lok- Sabha elections , we believe you would carry out
necessary steps to solve our long pending issues and demands even though it
becomes too late.<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
With this at most faith and belief we request your good office while preparing
your party’s election manifesto include our demands and also with an assurance
to implement all our demands at the earliest possible time after your party
coming to power for which we would be very grateful to your party’s good
gesture . To add in your parties election manifesto and to give a clear vision
of our demands apart from the above said very important demands herewith we
enlisted the other important demands by pointing them preciously.</span></p>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"></span></div><ul><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">The death of fishermen who lost their lives while fishing due
to rough weather, thunder, cyclone, hurricane, lightning, heavy rains,
storms, flood, Tsunami and sea erosion must be defined and declared as
death due to natural calamities by the GOI and sufficient monitory
assistance would be provided to those bereaved families from the central
governments disaster management fund as a measure of rehabilitation.
Monitory assistance also would be provided from the Honourable Prime
Minister’s relief fund.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">Strictly implement the banning of coastal sand mining on the
sea shores as ordered by the National Green Tribunal.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">Provide 10 Cents of land to each fishermen family for housing
to those residing near the areas prone to sea erosion to ensure their
fishing activities for their livelihood.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"> GOI should ban coastal (Sea) reclamation.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"> Ban and stop destructive fishing gears in Indian sea
waters.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">Immediately address the issue of Jambudip in West Bengal and
save the livelihood of 20,000 fisher people.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">Immediately stop the Sethu Samudaram canal project which
affects the livelihood of 5 Lakhs fishermen of the six Districts of Tamil
Nadu. The project will also affect the environment and lives of rare
species of sea.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">Retrieve Katchatheevu Island from Srilanka to ensure the
livelihood of six Districts fishermen of Tamil Nadu and to settle the
issue of the day to day arrest of Tamil fishermen, and seizure of Tamil
Nadu boats by Sri Lankan Navy.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">Stop extortion by Naval oil rig security guards in the Bombay
high.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">To encourage deep sea fishing, financial assistance would be
provided to the fishermen by granting 50 % cash subsidy and other 50% as a
loan at 4 % pa rate of interest. In addition to the subsidy cum loan to
the individual fishermen basic infrastructure to be provided to them by
government organizations like NFDB by anchoring mother vessels in the deep
sea to provide facility to supply necessary fuel to fishing boats and to
preserve the fish catch in to the cold storage.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"> GOI should allocate sufficient fund to rehabilitate the
600 fishermen families whose family heads were shot down dead by the Sri
Lankan Navy while the innocent fishermen of 6 Districts of Tamil Nadu and
Pondicherry engaged in traditional fishing as usual in Palk Strait.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">Due to the in human activities of Sri Lankan Navy, thousands of
our innocent fishermen become physically handicapped persons and thus
their family plunged into deep poverty. Government should provide
necessary monitory assistance to rehabilitate those families.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">A Bilateral dialogue would be arranged between Indian and Sri Lankan
fishermen to achieve amicable settlement and to continue their inherited
rights of fishing in Palk Strait. The GOI should ensure that no further
arrest of Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry State fishermen and seizure of boats by
Sri Lankan navy.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">Implement all the recommendations of the Murari Committee
recommendations.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">The GOI should scrap the LOP Scheme. Withdraw permits already
given to the foreign vessels under this scheme. Stop promoting corporate
involvement in deep Sea Fishing and reserve the deep sea resources for the
benefit of the Indian traditional fishing communities.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">Throughout the past 66 years of democratic governance,
sufficient representation had not been given to fishermen community in the
central cabinet. Only for 10 Months a fishermen was given a berth as MOS
in the central cabinet. Hence sufficient representation has to be given to
the fishermen community in the new cabinet after the 2014 parliament
elections.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">Likewise sufficient opportunity has also to be given to the
fishermen candidates belonging to your political party to contest in the
ensuing parliament elections.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">The Thermal power projects largely affect the livelihood of the
coastal fishermen and also the environment. Stop proposed thermal power
projects on coastal Belt of India.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"> Stop Polluting coastal and sea waters.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">Ban and stop purse seine fishing to avoid over exploitation of
fisheries wealth in Indian territorial waters.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">Our demand is a Nuclear free India. Stop all Nuclear power
plants in India since they are big threat to fishermen, Biodiversity and
destruction of sea through Radiation. It is very costly. Nuclear Disaster
has no way out after Fukushima and Chernobyl accidents.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">Fish vending women all over India should be protected by having
clean fish vending markets all over India without any taxation.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">Stop all industrial Aquaculture farms all over India.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">Make fishing legislation in the entire EEZ keeping fishing
regulation from top downwards with a view to assessing the number of gears
in the light of the availability of fish resource.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">Safety of every fisherman should be guaranteed through identity
cards.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">Replace the coastal regulation zone notification with a Coastal
Regulation Zone Act.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">Our main demand is to have a Fisher’s Rights and Protection Act
on par with Adhivasi’s protection and Rights act in the forest.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">Our demand is to bring a Central Marine Fishing Act.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">Restore fishing community rights in the marine and coastal
protected areas that would include Sundarban Tiger Reserve, Bhitarkanika,
Gahirmatha, Gulf of Mannar etc. </span></li></ul><div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 12pt;text-indent:0in"><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">We submit all the above with the Hope and
confidence for the better realization of our grievous grievances and for the
necessary actions without any more delay to the welfare of our Indian
fishermen.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in"><span style="font-family:times new roman,serif">Thanking You,<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
With Warm Regards,<br>
Yours Sincerely,<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
M.Ilango<br>
General Secretary<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
Fr. Thomas Kocherry<br>
Former Chairperson<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
Rambhau Patil<br>
Chairperson<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
T. Peter<br>
Secretary<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
Vasudev Boloor<br>
Secretary<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
Pradeep Chatterjee<br>
Secretary<br></span>
<span style="font-family:times new roman,serif"><br>
National Fishworkers’ Forum</span></p>
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