![strike]](https://andamansheekha.com/wp-content/uploads/strike-6.jpg)
John Wilbert & M Arun
Port Blair, Nov 15: A large number of fishermen today gathered in front of the Directorate of Fisheries and staged protest against the Administration to press their long pending demands. The Protest started at 9:30 AM and ended at around 11:35 AM, in which around 100 people participated.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha Daily, leaders of fishermen community said that their three demands are to hand over Cholunga Jetty to fishermen of Dugnabad and to provide a separate jetty for fishermen at Dugnabad.
The fishermen demanded immediate release of subsidy amount for purchase of life saving equipments (GPS, DAT etc.).
The their demand was to grant permission to the South Andaman Fishermen for carrying fishing activities in North & Middle Andaman and allowing them to pass through Baratang creek. Since corona pandemic the movement of fishermen of South Andaman has been restricted in Baratang Creek region.
It is learnt that during protest Dr.Utpal Kumar Sar, Director of Fisheries Department came out and spoke to the fishermen and assured that within one week the Cholunga jetty will be cleared for fishermen.
Regarding construction of separate jetty at Dugnabad locality, he said that the department has taken up the plan to construct a Floating Jetty for fishermen with the ALHW and for this purpose IIT expertise from Chennai is being hired.
Further the Director informed that according to Government directions subsidy amount has to be given through the Fisheries Federation for which department has given the required amount but there was a foul play in the concerned Federation for which the Department has lodged a police complaint against the Federation. He said that as soon as this issue is resolved, the subsidy amount will be given to the beneficiaries.
Regarding movement of South Andaman fishermen in Baratang Creek area, the Director said that this matter has been taken up with Tribal Welfare and Police Department and assured that the matter will be resolved soon. After these assurances the protest was called off.
