the goan I network
VASCO
National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) is hopeful for separate Fisheries and Welfare Ministry after BJP has got a great mandate across the country .
At the executive committee of the National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) held at Puducherry, it was resolved that the separate Fisheries and Welfare Ministry has to be formed to solve the fishing community problems of India and in the Man ki Baat, the PM had recently promised that the above will be initiated as soon as the BJP wins the elections.
NFF hopes that the promises are fulfilled.
Vice-Chairperson NFF Olencio Simoes demanded that the new Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification 2019 issued by the Government of India on 19th January 2019 has to be withdrawn with immediate effect .
NFF stated that all Sagarmala programme plans and projects should be withdrawn as it will root out livelihoods of traditional fisherworkers. NFF noted that cyclone like Fani have created devastation in Odisha and wants central government to intervene and provide immediate compensation to the fishing community so that they can go back to the sea.
NFF stated that Ockhi, Gaja, Fani cyclone etc have created huge loss to the fishing communities of India and therefore it is the need of the hour that the present government formulate Separate “Fisheries disaster management fund” to compensate their losses during natural calamities.
The draft Mariculture policy is indeed a huge concern to the communities as it is another ploy which will be affecting the livelihoods of the small scale fishworkers and is a move to privatise the waters and to hand it over to the corporates.
NFF will be soon convening to implement the decisions and also update the Ministry its demands to echo the sentiments of the fishworking communities in the ground.” Said Simoes Chairperson Narendra Patil,General secretary T.Peter,Vice-Chairperson Olencio Simoes, Vice-Chairperson Dr.Kumarvelu, Venkatesh Permal President of Pondicherry Union were present at the press conference.
