My Government committed to Overall Development of Fishermen Community – Siddaramaiah
Pics by Prasanna Kodavoor
Udupi: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that the State government is committed to addressing the problems and for the overall development of the fishermen community. He was speaking after inaugurating the Udupi district FisherWomen’s convention organized by the Mogaveera Yuva Sangatane here on Sunday, November 19.
A sum of Rs 32 crore has been released for the development of the ‘gadduge’ (samadhi) of Ambigara Chowdaiah, a social reformer and Vachanakara from the fishermen community, and another Rs 5 crore will be allocated for the Ambigara Chowdaiah Development Authority. The government will provide land for construction of educational institutions and hostels for the backward classes across the State.
The government is committed to form boards and implement schemes to ensure an increase in the income of the fishermen as well as to uplift them. Siddaramaiah claimed that twice, he had sent proposals to the Centre seeking inclusion of sub-castes of fishermen under the ST category. However, they were rejected. Another proposal would be sent to the Centre and BJP leaders should show interest to convince the Union government, he said.
The programmes and policies announced by my government are aimed at improving the lives of the economically oppressed sections of the society. My budget truly reflects the sentiments of all sections of the society. We’re not embarrassed to say that we are for Ahinda. But that doesn’t mean we have forgotten the other communities. We have launched several programmes that will benefit the impoverished members of all communities. When people call me an AHINDA leader, I take it as a compliment, he said.
The District Minister In-charge and Fisheries Minister Pramod Madhwaraj said that the fishermen community has contributed a major part in the development of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has great love on the fishermen community; he always stands for the economically oppressed sections of the society. Siddaramaiah government had provided the highest diesel subsidy to mechanized boats. The Earlier Government was giving Rupees One Lakh compensation to victims of boat accidents. After the Congress government came to power on my request the earlier fisheries minister Abhayachandra Jain had increased it to Rupees Two Lakhs. After becoming the fisheries minister I have decided to increase the compensation amount to Rs 5 lakh and recently it has been increased to Rs 6 lakh, he added.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also laid the foundation stone for the 100-bed maternity government taluk hospital building constructed by the G Shanker Family trust in memorial of Late Laxmi Soma Bangera.
Nadoja Dr G Shenker submitted a memorandum with various demands to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on the occasion.
Kaup MLA Vinay Kumar Sorake, Byndoor MLA Gopal Poojary, MLC Ivan D’Souza, ZP president Dinakar Babu, Udupi CMC president Meenakshi Madhava, DC Priyanka Mary Francis, Anand C Kunder, Yashpal Suvarna, Gangadhar Karkera, Sathish Kundar, Baby H Salian and others were present.
Fishermen and their families are certainly not a financially oppressed society. In fact they are the richest among the working class. Their catch fetches big bucks daily when one can see how much fish costs in the fish market. and the number of trucks daily from Malpe with the export of good quality and big sized fish to other neighbouring states, that fetches them good trade and income through agents seated at the Malpe Port side., and on top of this the government subsidizes the price of diesel fuel for their boats and trawlers.
Fishermen and their families and community, in general, are well to do, and thus need to spread their financial wealth thru investment in town development, housing, healthcare, education, and commerce.
Malpe is such a backward town, with no proper main roads, no proper drainage, no source of potable water, no Fish/Veg. Market, No Shopping Center, no big schools, no medical centers or a hospital, no proper public transportation system nor a good Bus Stand. Just a good beach that fetches good income in rents from innumerable eating stalls and other shops on the beach, and also good income to those engaged in all sorts of land, water and air rides, and parking charges.
People in authority claim that encouragement on upliftment, tourism, etc. is being committed, but nothing on ground level is being done. One good look at Malpe town speaks a million words.
Compensation of Rs.1 lakh or Rs.6 lakh is certainly not an upliftment, taking into consideration the loss of one’s breadwinner – No one would want a loved one and a breadwinner of a family to be dead and excited at the promise of a Rs.6 lakh compensation – Lakhs of Rupees does not fetch much in today’s India!