The Karnataka State Fishermen Congress has sought a separate Union Ministry for Fisheries. A view of the Third Stage of Malpe Fisheries Harbour in Udupi. more-in The Karnataka State Fishermen Congress (KSFC) has demanded a Scheduled Tribe (ST) tag for the fishermen community in the State. Addressing presspersons here on Thursday, U.R. Sabhapathi, former Congress MLA and President of Karnataka Fishermen Congress, said the State government had earlier submitted a proposal to the Centre for the SC tag for the community. But it was rejected. The Centre should reconsider its decision on this matter. In other States, the fishermen communities had been provided with reservation facility either under the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes. The community was known by different names in the State including Mogarveeras, Ambigas, Kharvis, and others. Many fishermen families were poor and required support, he said. All coastal States had their own separate fisheries policies. But a national fisheries policy was required. This would put an end to disputes between fishermen of different States. Again, while all coastal States had a separate Ministry for fisheries, there was no separate fisheries ministry at the national level. Fisheries were attached to the Agriculture Department and the Union Agriculture Minister looked after fisheries, he added. This should change given the range of issues involved in fisheries and a separate Union Ministry for Fisheries should be formed. A proposal was submitted to the Centre during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime, but did not elicit response. Inland lakes Mr. Sabhapathi said that many lakes in the State were being given on contract to rich persons. This was affecting inland fisheries. Inland lakes should be handed to the fishermen living there. Fishermen’s cooperative societies should be formed in such places promote fisheries in these lakes. This would provide a source of income for the fishermen living in the inlands, he said. A mega convention of fishermen would be held at the Manaki Ground at Kumta in Uttara Kannada district on November 21. Rahul Gandhi, Vice-President, All India Congress Committee (AICC), was expected to participate in the convention. Awareness programmes would be held in all districts prior to this convention, Mr. Sabhapathi said. Keshav Kundar, Sarala B. Kanchan, Kiran Kumar, Manoj Karkera, office-bearers of KSFC, were present.

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