mangalore today

Fishermen’s boats sail out before further action


Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Aug 07, 2015:  Fishermen using mechanised vessels (trawlers and purse-seine) in coastal Karnataka called off their indefinite strike Aug 6, after holding protest demonstartions in Udupi and Mangaluru.

 

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After  a week or so to see the reaction from the government for the demands, including opposition to direct benefit transfer of subsidy, before chalking out further course of action,  said Nithin Kumar, president of the Manglore Trawl Boat Meenugarara Sangha. Members cannot be made to endlessly wait on the shore and be deprived of their income.

About 150 vessels left Bunder Aug 6, Thursday and gradually all vessels would leave after filling diesel and ice. There is shortage of ice too,  Kumar said. Vessels would take at least a week to return to the shore with catch which the city eagerly needs.

While the primary complaint is against the direct transfer of subsidy, which hitherto was being reflected in subsidised rates of diesel at the rate of 300 litres a day per vessel, fishermen also have been demanding increase in the daily quota to 600 litres; abolition of one ration card, one vessel rule and so on.

The Karnataka Purse-Seine Meenugarara Sangha president Naveen Bangera told   media that the strike would not only have affected lakhs of people depending upon fishing, but also several ancillary industries like ice plants, fish processing plants etc. As such, they have decided to withdraw the week-long strike.

Fishermen from Mangaluru and Malpe would hold a joint meeting within a week to decide further action, he said.   Meanwhile,  Bangera regretted that Minister for Fisheries, K. Abhayachandra Jain, who hails from Dakshina Kannada, did not visit them either at Mangaluru or Malpe to get  first hand information.