INVC,,
Delhi,,
BJP National policy document on Fishing and Fishremen was released today at Mavlankar Hall, New Delhi at the hands of its National President Shri Nitin Gadkari. Smt Sushma Swaraj gave the keynote address and Shri Muralidhar Rao, national secretary of the party presided over the function. BJP National President Shri Nitin Gadkari addressing the gathering said that despite of 4 crore people directly employed in fishing sector, 90 percent of the fishermen are under poverty. The Congress leaders from Jawaharlal Nehru to the present leadership have been reiterating the Garibi Hatao slogan, but there is no change in situation and our fisherfolk are under gruel poverty. In the context, he congratulated Shri Muralidhar Rao, in-charge of the BJP fishermen cell and Dr.Prakash Malgave, convenor of the cell and the experts who worked in evolving the document. He commented that this is the best policy document on Fishermen and Fishing since independence. It follows the line of Deendayal Upadhyay’s famous message of ‘war against poverty’ and the party’s mission of Antyodhyaya. Shri Gadkari said that if the socio-economic conditions of the population have to be raised, the most important measures to be taken are infrastructure development, credit facilities etc. He said that aquaculture should be promoted as a major self employment option. The BJP President announced that if BJP government comes to power in 2014, it will implement the recommendations of the party. Moreover the good governance cell of the party will interact with Ministers of Fisheries in every BJP ruled state for implementing the policies. The government will give zero percent loans to fishermen like that of farmers. A separate fisheries department will be created. The party has taken the resolve that it will bring the fishermen community out of poverty and therefore seek all options to clear off the debts of fishermen. He also said that the Congress government is involved in corruption worth lakhs of crores and more than black money of 25 lakh crores are siphoned off in tax havens. But just 5000 crores can do wonders for the poor fishermen community. He said that the the party has only one agenda – upliftment of the deprived and the document is a gateway to it. Smt Sushma Swaraj, who gave the key note address, expressed her anguish that the fishermen community that has been celebrated in our scriptures as well as in popular culture is today ignored completely by the policy. She but expressed her happiness for Gadkariji’s vision of touching the ignored and deprived sections of the society like fishermen, weavers etc. She had a special word of appreciation for the cell in charge Shri Muralidhar Rao for his keen interest for the deprived sections. The document contains everything for the upliftment of the section, she said. She mentioned the fishermen as ‘Samudramitra’. She asked the government to give reservation in coast guards. The fishermen are not educated, but the government has not provided facilities for education. Another big issue is our fishermen crossing the international sea borders and enter into Srilankan and Pakistan waters. Thousands are languishing in the jails of these countries. The efforts of BJP for negotiating with these governments have got many released from their jails. Shri Muralidhar Rao, National Secretary and in-charge of BJP Fishermen cell said that the party wants economic reforms, but they should be based on the needs and interests of deprived sections like farmers, fishermen etc and not the likes of Walmart. He mentioned that the policy document covers one of the important issues of the title deeds not available to the fishermen living in the land for generations. He said that BJP will fight for the fishermen in various fronts including in Parliament, in BJP ruled state governments etc. We will do all the needed for the section once coming to power in Centre. The fisheries sector is critical in the overall socio-economic development of India. Fishing has been a traditional occupation for millennia, supporting a plethora of communities, both along the sea coast and inland. After agriculture and handloom, fishing is the largest sector in terms of livelihood generation. The sector faces multiple challenges that today around 90% of fishermen are below the poverty line. Lack of credit facilities, gaps in policy-making, poor implementation of aid schemes and near-absence of education and health facilities have compounded the problem. Environmental factors such as exhaustion of water resources, contamination of the ecosystem and extinction of various marine and freshwater species (especially due to over fishing by mechanized trawlers) have impacted sharply on the livelihood of the traditional fishing communities. Recognizing the nutritional, economic, social, environmental and cultural importance of this sector, there is an urgent need for a comprehensive fisheries policy that addresses, first and foremost, the needs and sensibilities of the fishing communities and recognizes their intimate organic link with the marine environment. BJP has time and again stated that its fight for the poor and deprived sections is on its priority agenda. The party, for the first time by any political party, is bringing out a National policy document on Fishing and Fishermen. The BJP Fishermen cell has been active in mobilising and organising the fishermen across the country. The party decided to evolve a comprehensive policy document for fishermen under the leadership of National Secretary Shri. P Muralidhar Rao. He along with fishermen leaders and experts toured along the West coast, East coast and other inland fishing areas and interacted with thousands of people including fishermen, experts, activists, administrators etc. and studied the current situation of the fishing population at length. Three conferences involving thousands of people have been organised in Mangalore, Vishakhapatnam and Banaras to know the opinions of views of the stakeholders along West coast, East coast and inland fishing areas.
