Daijiworld Media Network–Udupi (DV)
Udupi, Jan 6: "The government should resolve the problem of traditional fishermen within a week. If it fails to do so, the State Traditional Boat Fishermen's Federation will hold a massive protest in front of the DC office," warned Ananda Kharvi Uppunda, state president of Federation.
Addressing the media at the Press Club, Ananda Kharvi said, "Though the number of traditional boat fishermen is increasing every year, the quantity of kerosene being provided to the fishermen from the year 2008 remains the same. Though there was a good catch this time, the fishermen who were willing to buy traditional boats have backtracked."
In a month, the government is supplying 300 liters of Kerosene without subsidy to each boat. In a month, nearly, 4,514 traditional boats of three districts get only 1.355 kiloliters of Kerosene, he lamented
"In the coastal region of the state, there are over 10,000 boats using Kerosene. At 300 liters, the boats require 30,300 liters of Kerosene annually. In the state, over 60,600 fishermen rely on traditional fishing boats. In 2021-22, nearly 12, 195 kiloliters of kerosene should have been provided. But, the Union government has released has released only 7,080 kiloliters of Kerosene and that too without subsidy. This has already been supplied to the fishermen till November 2021. From the month of December to March 2022, the union government is supposed to release 5, 115 kiloliters of Kerosene but it has not happened. But, in 2021-22, for the Kerala government, Kerosene without subsidy was released in two phases", Uppunda said.
He added that the Director of the Fisheries Department who had urged the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to release of 5,115 kiloliters of kerosene for the state. Though the memorandum was submitted to the minister concerned, it has been of no use, he said.
Federation general secretary Gopal Kundar, DK Traditional Boat Fishermen's Association president Vijay Bangera, Uttara Kannada Tradition Boat Fishermen's Association president Krishna Harikantha Gangoli and others were present.