Fishermen voice their ire

KOCHI: The Union government’s move to restrict lean month income relief scheme to fishermen belonging to the Below Poverty Line families came under fire from fisherman’s organisations. The fishermen are now paid Rs. 1,800 during the four lean months.In order to avail themselves of the benefit the fishermen have to remit Rs. 600 in the course of eight months. They also came out against the government’s failure in raising the relief to Rs. 3,000. The relief was a help to the fishermen during the lean season. The fishing community belongs to the lowest strata of the society. The BPL status and the benefits of the scheme must be extended to all the members of the community, a representative of Kerala Independent Fish workers Federation said.Members of the community will stage a state-wide agitation on September 15 to raise the issue. Another issue that is at the forefront of the agitation is the government’s decision to limit the operations of the Marine Enforcement Wing. Under the order, the Marine Enforcement’s work has been restricted to  monitoring of the seas during the trawling season. Earlier, the implementation of the Kerala Kadal Paridhi Neyanthrana Neyamam and rescue operations was under the purview of the Marine Enforcement and Vigilance Department.“Keeping a check on mechanised trawling boats, rescue of fishermen caught in rough seas or in dangerous situations due to damage of engines, and so on were undertaken by the Marine Enforcement Wing,” the representative said. Under the new order these duties have been transferred to the Coast Guard. “The Coast Guard never comes to the help of fishing community. As such the government decision should be withdrawn. The existing Marine Enforcement wing must be strengthened and at the same time the Coast Guard must be made efficient, he said.  Patrolling must be strengthened in all the coastal districts and steps must be taken to provide speed boats. Moreover, qualified fishing workers, must be taken into the Marine Enforcement Wing to strengthen its working, he said.