VASCO
The National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) has demanded that the central and state governments revise guidelines of the State Disaster Response Fund and Mitigation Fund to compensate the actual loss of fishers and the coastal communities in Goa and other coastal states.
This was discussed during the NFF executive committee meeting at the Indian Social Institute in New Delhi, which was attended by leaders of 10 coastal states.
NFF General Secretary Olencio Simoes states that Cyclone Tauktae and Yaas had created havoc in Goa, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat and West Bengal.
Simoes said the cyclones had impacted severe loss on livelihoods and property of the fishers and coastal communities, especially fisherwomen and fishworkers, are badly affected.
“However, the response and relief of the state and union governments to the fisher communities remained has mere humanitarian support to the affected communities, rather their losses and damages are not taken in account for compensation.”
“The NFF demands that both the state and central governments revise guidelines of the State Disaster Response Fund and Mitigation Fund to compensate the actual loss of the fishers and the coastal communities,” said Simoes.
The NFF also warned the central government to withdraw the Blue Economy Polices and its Coastal Marine Spatial Plans where the government wants to concertise the coastline by building ports and capturing the fishing area, which have been occupied by traditional communities for several centuries.
The NFF also said the Blue Flag certification given to coastal states like Tamil Nadu, Odisha and other states should be withdrawn, as this certification would deprive fish workers from their livelihoods.
The forum demanded that excise duty on diesel, petrol and kerosene be reduced to zero as fishworkers are struggling to recover from Covid, cyclones and inflation.
