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Fishermen yet to be enumerated
Even as the 61-day ban on fishing from April 15 is drawing near, enumeration of fishermen for payment of compensation and constitution of enforcement teams to implement the ban orders is not yet accomplished so far. Moreover, guidelines for enumeration of fishermen are not yet released.
Pithapuram: Even as the 61-day ban on fishing from April 15 is drawing near, enumeration of fishermen for payment of compensation and constitution of enforcement teams to implement the ban orders is not yet accomplished so far. Moreover, guidelines for enumeration of fishermen are not yet released.
Highlights:
- Enforcement teams not constituted
- Ban effective from April 15
The state government has been strictly enforcing the ban on fishing during the breeding period of the marine species and levying fines up to Rs 5000 on those, who violate the ban order. As a result, over 3500 motor boats and 1000 mechanised fishing boats are going to be confined to the coast from April 15 onwards.
In the east coast area of the district, over 67,000 fishermen belonging to 99 villages in 13 mandals are dependent on fishing for their livelihood.Annually, during the fishing holiday period the fisheries department will undertake an enumeration of fishermen to identify the beneficiaries, who should receive ex-gratia of Rs 2000 per month during the ban period. Last year, over 50,000 from the district, including 3,993 from Uppada, received the compensation.
Since there was a delay in releasing guidelines, fishermen speculate that the payment of compensation would also be delayed this year like the last year. Distribution of compensation began in August last year and continued till March this year, defeating the purpose of the programme.
Enforcement teams comprising fisheries, police, marine and navy officials are not yet constituted to enforce ban on fishing. The teams will confiscate the catch, levy Rs 5000 fine on those, who violate the ban and auction the catch.
Still 200 fishermen in the district did not receive the compensation so far.
The officials cite technical reasons for the delay. The requirements for fishermen to be eligible to receive the compensation direct into their bank accounts are: possessing a biometric card issued by the fisheries department, ration card, Aadhaar card and a recommendation letter from the owner of the fishing boat.
Not furnishing details like bank account number, ration and Aadhaar card numbers and working with more than one fishing boat are some of the technicalities hampering the distribution of compensation. Minors are not eligible to get compensation. Registered fishermen not engaged in fishing activity, but in other economic activities are not eligible to seek compensation.
By Saride Nageswara Rao
