Fishworkers Marched to the Secretariat. . . .

Thiruvananthapuram: The State President of KSMTF, Shri.T.Peter has demanded that the Government should arrange an immediate meeting of fishery research scientists, officials of the fisheries department and social and political organizations to look into the depletion of fishery resources after the tsunami for the sustenance of the fishery resources and of the fishworkers. Inaugurating the Secretariat March, Shri.T.Peter said that evacuating the women fish vendors from the wayside markets will have grave consequences.

The District President Shri.John.J.P, District Secretary Shri.Anto Elias, Shri.Valerian Issac, Shri.S.Joseph, Shri.Rajan Lazer, Shri.M.Ambrose, Shri.R.Joseph Lopez, Shri.Abdul Manaf, Shri.Arch Paul, Shri.Friska Kurisippan, Ms.Elizabeth Antony, Ms.Maglin Peter, Shri.Xavier Cullas, Shri.Adimalathura Simon and Shri.Benjamin Lopez spoke on the occasion.

The march was held to raise demands like, conducting a comprehensive study to assess environmental changes in the sea, constructing artificial reefs in fish habitats, give compensation to all members of Welfare Board who had lost their nets due to the invasion of the puffer fish, distribute the kerosene needed for fishing at fair prices, withdraw the move to evacuate women wayside vendors to give way to multinationals like Wal-mart, distribute the title deeds to the fishworkers at the earliest and inclusion of all fishworkers in the BPL list.

Hundreds of fishworkers carrying oars including women laden with baskets marched from Palayam Rakthasakshi Mandapam to the Secretariat.