The Kanyakumari District Meen Thozhilalar Sangam (KDMTS) affiliated to Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has urged the scrapping of the government order which allows PWD authorities to lease inland waterbodies such as ponds, lakes and dams to private parties instead of local fisherfolk here on Friday.
In a memorandum submitted to the Collector, Sajjansingh R. Chavan, here on Friday, S. Anthony, General Secretary, KDMTS said that the government order dated May 6, 2014 favouring award of fishing contracts to private parties instead of traditional inland fishermen affects their livelihood.
The system of leasing out fishing rights to unknown and influential persons affects the livelihood of the local fishermen solely dependent on the ponds and waterbodies for their livelihood, the forum said.
It is the duty of the government to take measures to safeguard the rights of the inland fishermen over the waterbodies before the situation turns worse, said S. Anthony, General Secretary of the Sangam.
G. Albin, President, Rajakkamangalam Development Trust, V. Arumugam, President, Then Kumari Inland Fishermen Cooperative Society were present among others to submit the petition to the Collector.
