Archbishop Soosa Pakiam to kick off rally for reducing GST
The fire service says eight fire engines were sent after the blaze broke out early Monday.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Archbishop Soosa Pakiam M will kick off the national protest rally of fish workers at Neerodi in Kanyakumari on Monday, demanding reduction in GST on fishing equipment and revoking the plan for an international container transhipment terminal at Enayam. The outboard agent tax has been increased from 14 percent to 28 percent, ice box tax from 14.5 percent to 18 percent and many fishing equipment such as fishing rod, net and rope, which were free of tax, are now on 12 percent tax.
The recent draft of the Marine Coastal Regulation Zone notification should be immediately put out for consultation and review and the community's views should be given priority. The National Marine Fisheries Policy should be withdrawn as none of the National Fishworkers Forum’s (NFF) suggestions/comments has been incorporated in the final policy document. The archbishop will hand over the rally flag to People's Movement against ICTT coordinator Jasiah Joseph, NFF general secretary T. Peter and Coastal Action Network convener Jesu Ratnam. A public meeting will be held at 6 pm at Enayam.
People's Movement against ICTT, NFF, CAN, Aazhkadal Meenpidi Thozhilaalar Sangham, Vangakadal Meenpidi Thozhilaalar Sangham, Ramanathapuram Fishworkers Trade Union, National Alliance of People's Movement and People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy have urged dropping the move to amend coastal regulation zone, which favours tourism-business lobby.