Fishermen to march towards Kollam collectorate

KOLLAM: Raising various demands including enrollment of fishermen in Below Poverty Line (BPL) list and protesting against the alleged anti-fishermen policies by the state and Central governments, the fishermen will conduct a protest march in Kollam under the Joint Protest Council. The council will conduct a march to the Collectorate on February 18 while warning of intensifying their protests if the issues remain unaddressed. A publicity rally ahead of the protest march will be held on Saturday.

The council demands to distribute the kerosene permits that has been approved after conducting verification in 2015 and to give permit for new applicants. The subsidy given on kerosene distributed through MatsyaFed should be distributed during the time of supply itself. The price hike and the reduction in distribution should be revived. The fishermen should also be included in the BPL list, they demanded.

“Our major concern is the eviction fishermen have to face during the widening of coastal highway. No fisherman should lose his land during such a development. We are not against tourism promoted by the government, but the highway is 38 metres wide raising concerns that we would be forced to relocate,” said S. Stephen, convener of the council.