Port Blair, Apr 29: The former Member of Parliament, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray has requested the Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands to allow fishing activities in non containment rural areas such as Wandoor, Guptapara, etc of South Andaman- as no positive cases reported from these areas so far. He pointed out that such permission of economic activities, will solve livelihood issues and ensure availability of fish in the market.
Mr. Ray in his letter written to the Lt. Governor wrote that he along with Mr. Prakash Adhikari, Vice President, BJP, A & N Islands interacted with fishermen community of South Andaman particularly belonging to poor background today.
During the interaction he has learnt that about 600 fishermen are living in the above mentioned locations and presently their financial condition is pathetic. No relief has been extended to them till date.
“The Fishermen also include certain migrant co-workers from mainland. All of them are hardly able to survive and not even managing one square meal in a day,” the former MP said.
Mr. Ray demanded immediate distribution of dry ration in kits by Deputy Commissioner who has already distributed about 5300 kits (containing 5 Kg Rice, 2 Kg aata, Potato 1 Kg, Onion 1 Kg) in areas of South Andaman.
He demanded that the Fishermen may be allowed to go for fishing as they are in non-containment area and with close co-ordination/ watch and ward by the respective department for fishing in those areas defined by Administration (as non containment area).
“99 % of these fishermen are under APL category but field reports indicate that actually 99% will be covered under BPL category (targeted groups). Therefore, these families may be granted 5 Kg Rice, one Kg dal, 5 Kg atta/ wheat free of cost for a period of 3 months or the same may be given in BPL rate i.e Rice @ 3/- per Kg and Wheat @ 2/- per Kg atleast for two months. s these fishermen are falling in unorganised sector, relief to them may be extended @ Rs 3000/- per family (similar to one extended by the Administration for Non registered Construction mazdoors i.e for both migrants and non migrants,” Mr. Ray added in his letter.
