There was a time when the Ramponkars of Goa spoke in one voice,a voice that echoed across Goa, to the far reaches of the national capital.But, that voice is no more. And with that, the fight of the Ramponkars, thetraditional fishermen, has lost a lot of its mettle. The foot soldier of theoppressed became the man and the leader he came to be, mainly-some say purely-because of his fight for the Ramponkars and fishermen in general.
As the fishermen of Goa, albeit not the Ramponkars, stand upand fight, in light of the Centre’s decision to cut the subsidy of diesel forall transport and bulk users, Matanhy’s voice is missing. And there’s no onewho can wear his large shoes.
The Union Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar’s recentdecision to club together fishermen cooperatives in the category of bulk dieselconsumers from agriculture to industry category, forced fishermen to pay Rs11.62 more per liter of diesel against a hike of just 45 paise for retailcustomers. The fishermen have hung up their nets in protest against the bulkdiesel price hike. Leaders from different jetties, under the banner of ‘All GoaFisherman Federation’, made a representation to the Union Agriculture MinisterSharad Pawar in Delhi recently.
Although, mechanised fishing trawlers were his traditionalrivals, the trawler operators acknowledge that Mathany had the charisma that noone else could really match. “He never supported the mechanised trawlers. Butwhenever there were problems affecting the fishing community in Goa, Mathanyhad raised his voice on behalf of them,” said Menino Alfonso, President ofMandovi Fishermen Co-operative Society. “If he was alive today, certainty his voice against union governmentdecision to cut diesel subsidies would have reached Delhi,” Alfonso added.
No person will be able to assess Mathany as well as AgnelRodrigues, who was the late socialist leader’s close associate. “Certainly,after Mathany’s death there was a huge vacuum. No leader has been able to fillin the gap of Mathany to fight for the fishermen’s plight. I don’t think anyonecan match him,” said Rodrigues.
Although the Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar has provided atemporary solution, directing all petrol pump operators to supply diesel tofishing trawlers, a permanent solution is desperately needed.
It is quite apparent that Mathany’s absence has removed thesting from the fishing community’s protest against the Centre’s move to curtailsubsidy on diesel. But, since there is no leader that aims to take up thefight, the fishing community seems to be alone, floundering in the waters wherethey once were kings.
