Mangaluru: A boat rally to highlight the problems of the fish workers of Karnataka and Kerala, is set to be launched on Nov. 21st. Well-known activist and Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar will flag it off. The rally will culminate at to Thiruvananthupuram.

Its objective is the protection of sea, coast, inland water bodies and fisheries resources. National Fishworkers Forum Secretary T. Peter and its Vice-President Vasudev Boloor told press persons here on Wednesday that the rally is being organized in association with fish workers’ bodies in Karnataka and Kerala. The campaign will also see a series of public meetings on the west coast with a huge national conference in Thiruvananthapuram on November 30.

Mr. Boloor said PM Modi, had, during the elections, promised a lot to the fishing community including active consideration of creation of a separate Ministry for fisheries but the first budget of the NDA Government was a total washout for the sector.

Mr. Peter said coastal areas were being given to tourism and power industries while the rights of fisher-folk were being curtailed. Foreign vessels were being allowed to fish in Indian waters adversely affecting the interests of local fishing communities. The Government should reject the recommendations of an expert committee to allow joint ventures with foreign vessels to fish in Buffer Zone (where sea water is 200 ft. to 300 ft. deep). Instead, Indian fishing community should be encouraged to operate in the zone adopting modern technology.

Mr. Boloor said a march to Delhi would be organized later to pressurize the Government to heed to the demands of fishermen. He sought measures to ensure boat owners get adequate supply of subsidized kerosene with road tax exempted. No boat owner was able to lift subsidized kerosene because it is reserved for those holding BPL cards. “Tell me, can there be a mechanized boat owner with a BPL card?” he asked.