Release from NFF Press Conference held at IWPC, New Delhi
January 13, 2010
Dharna in Delhi and state headquarters - NFF organised two day dharna
and sit-in in front of Indian parliament on the 11th and 12th of
January 2010. The Dharna on 11th January was backed by day-long
sit-ins and agitations in front of state secretariats and district
collector’s offices in different parts of India including, Mumbai,
Thiruvananthapuram, Mangalore, Kutch, Chennai, Vizag, Kolkatta and
Bhubaneshwar.
The agitations were organised in Delhi and different regions to demand
the UPA government to incorporate the fisherpeople’s demands while
drafting policies and legislations concerning fisheries. UPA
Government, at present, is preparing to table two bills in the
parliament’s next session, including: 1) 1) Marine Fisheries
Regulation and Management Bill (draft) and 2) Traditional Marine and
Coastal Fisherfolk (Protection of Rights) Bill (draft).
NFF position and critique of the two Bills
MFRM Bill – This is a much needed legislation for protection of marine
resources from over-exploitation, as has been demanded by NFF over the
past many years. However, the present draft Bill is narrow in
objectives, has limited scope and lacks visionary approach towards
management of marine resources. Such a bill, which does not even
mention or define ‘fishermen’, reflects the lack of understanding of
ground reality by the bureaucracy. The Bill, if passed in the present
form will only empower centralized bureaucracy, while negatively
impacting the fisherpeople and adversely affecting any genuine
protection of sea. Hence, the draft Bill does not satisfy the
aspiration of the India's 1.1 million marine fishermen and a community
of 3.5 million coastal people.
The Bill also contradicts Central Government-appointed Murari
Committee’s recommendations which had clearly stated that the
traditional and smallscale fishermen and their fishing vessels were
sufficient to exploit the resources in the Indian waters including the
EEZ, and that we do not require foreign fishing vessels. This factor
is totally ignored by the draft MFRM Bill. It appears that the draft
Bill wants to make a provision to open our waters to foreign fishing
vessels. On the contrary, traditional fishermen will not be able to go
beyond the 12 nautical miles territorial water without a license from
the Central authorities. Secondly, the punishment for crossing the
territorial waters without permission envisages harsh punishment to
the tune of Rs. 9 lakhs and three months jail.
Traditional Marine and Coastal Fisherfolk (Protection of Rights) Bill
– Drafted in similar lines as the Forest Rights Bill to provide land
and settlement rights to fisherpeople, this much awaited legislation’s
draft not only deceives its purpose, it fails in serving the very
people for whom it is made. A poor copy of Forest Rights Act, this
Bill does not take into consideration the ground realities of Indian
coastal villages. Hence, NFF demands that this Bill be kept in
abeyance till coastal communities are consulted.
Meetings & response from Government - The NFF presented the copy of
the position paper and the other demands of the fishermen of India to
Mr. Sharad Pawar, Union Minister of Agriculture. Mr. Pawar assured NFF
delegation that the Bills are still at the consultative stage and that
all stake holders including the fishermen will be consulted before
finalizing the Bills. NFF delegation also submitted a detailed
critique of the Bill and letter with demands to Mr. Jairam Ramesh
(MoEF) and Mr. K.V. Thomas (MoS, Agriculture). The delegation is
meeting with Mr. A.K Antony (MoD) also to communicate our demands.
Jambudwip and Haripur issues - The NFF met other Ministers and
presented State-level issues and demands which are affecting the
various states. In West Bengal, fishermen are facing a serious problem
of displacement from Jambudwip Island in the name of conservation of
mangrove forest. Nearly 25000 persons of the fishing community are
thrown out of the island and from traditional livelihood. We demand
that the fishermen should be rehabilitated back to Jambudwip by
reversal of the decision of the State Department of Forests and Union
Ministry of Environment and Forests. This has been communicated to
Shri. Jairam Ramesh.
Similarly again in West Bengal a nuclear power plant is proposed at a
very ecologically sensitive area at Haripur Coast. NFF demands that
the nuclear power plant should not be located in the area as it would
displace nearly 10,000 fishermen directly. NFF delegation met with
Shri. Shishir Adhikary (MoS, MoRD) and C.M. Jatua (MoS, Information &
Broadcasting) on these issue.
Goa demolitions of fishers habitat - The NFF condemns the failure of
the Goa Government to prevent the demolition of the houses and
worksheds of traditional fishermen falling within 200 meters from the
high tide line. The houses of fishermen are presently being demolished
all over Goa. The Union Minister of MoEF as well as the UPA
chairperson had assured the people of Goa during the last
Parliamentary elections that their houses would be protected, but they
have done nothing till date. The NFF has sent a letter to the Chief
Minister of Goa demanding to pressurize the MoEF to bring in a
notification to protect the houses of traditional fishermen and other
coastal people. The NFF will be forced to come to the streets if the
same is not done as it would also affect all other state fishermen in
the near future.
NFF Action Plan – NFF has scheduled regional and state level
consultations on both the Bills and issues including revision of the
Coastal Regulation Zone notification in February 2010. NFF state units
will also hold local and state level actions to pressurize the state
and central government – in February and March 2010. NFF has also
promised to co-operate with the Agriculture Ministry and Ministry of
Environment in making sure the participation of fishworkers in
consultations over the bills.
The NFF delegation comprised of NFF leaders who will be part of the
delegation include: Matanhy Saldanha from Goa (Acting Chairperson),
Rambhau Patil, Maharashtra (Acting General Secretary), T. Peter of
Kerala (Secretary), Debashish Shyamal (leader of Haripur anti -
nuclear project movement, West Bengal), Narendra Patil, (Maharashtra)
Ahmedbhai Manjelia (Kutch, Gujarat), Ramesh Duri (Malwan), Kushu Kumar
(Orissa) and others.
Matanhy Saldanha
Rambhau Patil
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