The Hindu Business Line : Seminar brings fishermen's woes into focus

AGAINST THE TIDE: The net is colourful, but not the lives of these fishermen who have one of the lowest rates of employment in the country with barely 100 to 200 days a year. Their annual income is less than half of the national average per capita income of Rs 12,000, according to a study conducted by Social Security Association of India (SSAI), a Bangalore-based NGO working in the unorganised sector of labour. A national seminar organised by SSAI and Kerala Institute for Labour and Employment at Kochi recently submitted recommendations to the Government to improve the social security of fish workers. - H. Vibhu

Kochi , June 5

THE Kerala Institute of Labour and Employment (KILE), in association with Social Security Association of India (SSAI), has conducted a national seminar here on `Long-term Social Security Scheme for fishermen in the wake of the tsunami disaster in India.

The State Fisheries Minister, Mr Dominic Presentation, said that the State Cabinet had decided to levy one per cent cess on the total value of fish exported from the State for the benefit of the fishery sector.

According to the Minister, the trawling ban this year will be implemented strictly. The 45-day trawling ban is to start on June 15. He has called for steps to inculcate awareness among the fishing community on the benefits of the trawling ban in the monsoon season.

A list of recommendations for planning a long-term strategy for the social security of the fishermen drawn up at the seminar was presented at the valedictory session.

The recommendations included a demand for constituting a separate Ministry for Fisheries at the Centre as at present Fisheries comes under the purview of Animal Husbandry; a community health care programme on the lines of the Yashaswini Scheme implemented in Karnataka; ensuring protective safety equipment and communication facilities for sea-going fishermen; improving sanitary conditions and supply of clean drinking water.

The SSAI Chairman, Mr Sanat Mehta, inaugurated the seminar. The KILE Chairman, Mr R. Chandrasekharan, presided. Mr R.K.A. Subramanya, Secretary General, SSAI, presented a paper on the issues relating to social security of fishermen.

As many as 50 participants representing trade unions, non-governmental organisations and officials of Fisheries and Labour Departments from the States of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Karnataka and Kerala attended the seminar.

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Seminar brings fishermen's woes into focus