Rahul to assign one MP, one MLA to address woes of Mumbai fisher folk

Participants make a case for a separate ministry for fisheries

About 500 Kolis (fisher folk), historically an ethnic group, had a special date with the Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday. The location was Versova in north west Mumbai, where Congress has renominated Gurudas Kamat. During a one-and-a-half-hour long interactive session the participants listed out various issues faced by them in their profession and sought Rahul's intervention for their redress. The Congress leader did not waste time and assured them he would depute one member of parliament and a legislator in Mumbai to take up their issues in the Lok Sabha and also in the Marashtra Legislature.

The provisions of much debated Coastal Zone Regulations (CRZ) and its impact on the redevelopment of their colonies situated in Greater Mumbai in particular dominated the discussion.

''In view of the strict CRZ provisions, there are major problems in getting 7/12 documents and we cannot get our homes registered on our names. It is being inherited by us. We therefore made a strong case for relaxation of CRZ norms so that redevelopment can be taken up. Besides, we will be able to get our homes,'' notes Kailas Poka, a resident of Versova fishermen colony and an active member of their association.

Further, participants strongly demanded that a separate ministry for fisheries be carved out in a bid to protect the interest of fishing community. Of the Mumbai's total 11.5 million, nearly 800,000 are fishing community members residing in 35 colonies and 40 gaothan area. Their annual export from Maharashtra is Rs 2,000 crore of which 50% comes from Mumbai. Besides, their annual supply of a variety of fish in Mumbai and rest of Maharashtra is of the order of Rs 2,000 crore.

''Currently, Fishing is a part of the Agriculture department. We get a paltry 10% funds while 90% are used by others. So we insisted for a separate ministry for Fisheries and Rahul has replied in the affirmative,'' says Poka.

This apart, fisher folks also pressed for fixed price for the subsidized diesel for a year and it should not be revised quite often. ''Frequent changes in diesel prices adversely impact our economics and create further hardships,'' notes Poka.

Interestingly, during the interaction fishing women took the centre stage and took up their grievances. ''The fishing women be allocated specific sites to sell their catch. Currently, it is being encorached by outsiders especially north Indians. Rahul immediately asked the chief minister Prithviraj Chavan to look into the issue,'' says Pradip Tapke.

Tapke said the participants also sought Rahul's intervention to get caste certificate to the community.

The interaction ended after the community members gave the traditional red colour topi (cap) to Rahul. Tapke, who was quite impressed by Rahul's gesture, notes that Rahul inquired the importance of red colour cap in the community and left the meeting hall at the positive note.