VASCO
The National Fishworkers’ Forum (NFF) on Sunday demanded that the government withdraw all blue economy policy and start the traditional fishers and coastal right bill.
In a press release, NFF General Secretary Olencio Simoes extended wishes to the fishing community of India and Goa on the account on the World Fisheries Day.
“We dedicate this day to all protesting farmers and the ones who have died. The three farm laws which have been repealed is a tight slap on the government and has clearly shown that all policies bought by this government is only to destroy our environment and traditional livelihoods,” said Simoes.
“Stalwarts like Matanhy Saldanha, Harekrishna Debnath, RK Patil, Fr Thomas Kochery, T Peter, etc have immensely contributed towards safeguarding the coastal ecology of our country and have protected the livelihoods of millions of coastal communities across India,” said Simoes.
“Government of India is all out to destroy the small scale fish workers of India as the Blue Economy policies and dilution of laws like the Major Ports Authority Bill, CRZ Notification 2019, River Nationalisation and the Sagarmala projects plan which displace millions of fish workers and farmers across India.”
“Therefore the NFF has demanded to withdraw all blue economy policies and has demanded that the government of India should start and complete the traditional fishers and coastal right bill so that the fish workers of India will inherent their fundamental rights, who are on the verge of displacement due to the draconian polices of the government,” added Simoes.
