Thiruvananthapuram, Thursday 14 May 2009: Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan on Wednesday urged the Centre to bring fishermen’s cooperative societies in the State under the ambit of the Central Debt Relief Scheme.

He was inaugurating the valedictory function of ‘Matsyotsav 2009’ organised by Matsyafed here to mark its silver jubilee.

“Bringing the cooperative societies under the scheme will infuse them with the necessary funds,” Achuthanandan said. “After Adivasis, the fishermen community is one of the most backward communities in the State,” he said.

The Chief Minister was of the view that the constitution of Matsyafed in 1984 saved the community from being exploited by middlemen.
“The government is making progress in according the fisher folk the right over their fishing equipment,” he said.

VS Achuthanandan said globalisation was the cause of the crisis in the fisheries sector. “The government has allocated Rs.10 crore for the community to tide over the crisis,” he said.

Fisheries Minister S. Sarma, who presided over the function, said that all fishermen should be given membership in the cooperative societies. “Nearly 10,000 fishermen are yet to receive membership in the societies. The governing members of the societies fear that their power will erode if all fishermen become members,” Mr. Sarma said.

He said that the government would take steps to grant the fishermen the right over their fishing equipment within a year. Though there were nearly 2.65 lakh registered fish workers in the State, only 55,000 had the right to fishing equipment.

Minister for Food and Civil Supplies C. Divakaran gave away prizes to the winners of various arts and cultural events organised in connection with the celebrations, while Sports and Youth Affairs Minister M. Vijayakumar presented prizes to the winners of various sports events.