‘Budget has ignored fishing community’ Express News ServiceFirst Published : 01 Mar 2010 10:02:28 AM ISTLast Updated :
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Swatantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation (KSMTF) president T. Peter has criticised the Union Budget saying that there was little in it for fishing communities and termed its description as a `green budget’ as nothing but eyewash. Peter said in a statement here on Sunday that the Budget clearly showed that the agenda of the UPA Government is to act as an `enabler’ of the private sector and the middle classes, he said. By providing tax concessions to corporates and the middle and elite classes amounting to over Rs 26,000 crore while at the same time reducing food subsidies and raising indirect taxes which would adversely affect the poorer sections, the budget serves to primarily benefit a small percentage of the Indian population, the statement said. `The rise in prices of diesel and kerosene due to the budget proposals will increase hardships of the fishing community. The repeated petitions submitted to the Union Government to recognise the crisis in traditional fisheries sector and waive loans of fish workers, have all been ignored,’’ he said. KSMTF pointed out the irony of two-star category and above hotels getting massive investment-linked concessions. This could lead to an unwanted increase in tourism-related investment along the fragile coast. `The fact that Goa is being provided Rs 200 crore for the restoration of beaches is a result of the damage inflicted by the tourism industry on its once pristine beaches. These funds should be utilised in consultation with Goa’s fishing communities and not for the tourism industry,’’ he said. Despite the national and global concern on climate change and its impact on coastal communities, it was shocking that there was no specific fund for climate change adaptation and mitigation for coastal areas, he said. Much of the allocations for clean technology are likely to be cornered by big companies who now see climate change as a huge business opportunity. The Budget contains nothing to ensure the promotion and adoption of community-led decentralised and sustainable technologies, he said. KSMTF welcomed the setting up of the National Security Fund with an allocation of Rs 1000 crore for unorganised sector workers. Fishworkers, especially women fish vendors, should also be able to avail of its benefits, he said. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB.
