Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct. 01: A delegation of the Fishermen Welfare Association, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, met Lieutenant Governor Dr. Dinesh Sharma at Lok Niwas on Wednesday and submitted a 10-point charter of demands seeking long-pending infrastructure, financial and welfare measures for the Islands’ fishing community.
The delegation was led by Association General Secretary B. Hema Raju and included S. U. Maheswar Rao, Chairman of the A&N Fisheries Cooperative Federation Ltd. (ANIFCOFED), V. Papa Rao, President of the Fishermen Welfare Association, P. Nageshwar Rao, Vice-President of ANIFCOFED, K. Papa Rao and representatives of fishermen from Junglighat.
The demands cover issues ranging from fishing infrastructure and fuel availability to seasonal financial assistance, housing, cooperative loans and administrative capacity in the fisheries sector.
One of the key demands is the construction of a 100-metric-tonne government ice plant in Sri Vijaya Puram city. The association said fishermen are facing shortages and high costs of ice, which directly affect the preservation and handling of their catch. A government facility, according to the delegation, would help ensure more reliable access to ice at affordable rates.
The fishermen also sought construction of a comprehensive fishing landing centre, jetty, fish handling shed and fish market at Dignabad. The demand includes the long-pending RCC bore-pile fishing jetty with a breakwater, which the association said would strengthen facilities for landing and handling fish.
Seasonal livelihood concerns also featured prominently in the memorandum. The association sought a dedicated relief scheme for fishermen during the monsoon and cyclonic weather season, when adverse weather conditions restrict fishing operations for several months. The demand is aimed at providing financial support to families dependent on fishing during periods when their regular livelihood is disrupted.
The delegation further sought the re-launch of the “Fishermen Modern Village” scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, proposing suitable residential accommodation for fishermen living in coastal areas.
Financial distress among fisheries cooperative societies was another issue raised before the Lieutenant Governor. The association sought waiver of working-capital loans and accumulated interest amounting to approximately ₹43 lakh, taken by 26 Fisheries Cooperative Societies. According to the delegation, relief on these liabilities would enable the societies to revive their operations and contribute towards employment generation in the fisheries sector.
The association also called for the appointment of a Director (Fisheries) with a Marine Fisheries background in the Andaman and Nicobar Administration. It argued that specialised expertise in marine fisheries would be important for planning and implementing measures suited to the Islands’ fishing sector.
Another demand was to extend electricity, diesel, water and other subsidies and facilities to fisheries and aquaculture on a footing comparable with agriculture, in accordance with relevant Government of India policies and directions.
Infrastructure problems at the Junglighat Fish Landing Centre were also highlighted. The delegation sought dredging of the sea area adjoining the landing centre to restore adequate depth and facilitate the safe movement of fishing boats, particularly during low tide.
The fishermen also requested financial assistance under the UT Plan for construction of traditional Bonga Dongi boats, with suitable design modifications and the use of locally appropriate materials, including FRP coating. Such support, they said, would help sustain traditional fishing practices while improving the durability and usability of the boats.
The tenth demand concerned the Diesel Bunk at Junglighat Fish Landing Centre. The association sought its restart and operationalisation, with allotment and management by ANIFCOFED, to ensure timely and affordable access to diesel for fishing boats.
The delegation also requested Dr. Sharma to personally visit the Junglighat Fish Landing Centre to assess the infrastructure and difficulties faced by fishermen on the ground.
The demands come amid continuing efforts to strengthen fisheries infrastructure in the Islands, where fishing is an important source of livelihood and supports a wider network of boat operators, fish traders, workers and cooperative societies. For fishermen, the availability of landing facilities, ice, fuel, navigable waters and market infrastructure directly affects the cost of operations and the ability to preserve and sell their catch.
The association told the Lieutenant Governor that timely implementation of the demands would strengthen fisheries infrastructure and improve livelihood opportunities for local fishermen.
Dr. Sharma assured the delegation that the issues raised would be examined and that necessary action would be taken for their timely implementation.
The proposed measures, if taken forward, could address several long-standing operational constraints faced by fishermen, particularly at key landing centres such as Junglighat, while also providing support during periods when weather conditions make fishing operations difficult.
