The possibility of a review of the government subsidy to the fishing community in Goa has drawn the ire of the stakeholders in the business. Fisheries Minister Vinod Palyekar, pointing out that fishermen and trawler owners have over the past five years drawn Rs 108 crore as subsidies and yet there is not enough fish in the local markets and the retail price is not reasonable, suggested the review of the various subsidies that are currently available to the fishing industry. His pointed out that part of the fish that is caught is exported, so the benefits do not reach the common man.
His statement was not taken to kindly by the fishing community in the State. Reacting to this the Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association (GFBOA) Secretary Simon Pereira suggested that the Minister study the ground reality before making any “irrelevant statement” on subsidies given to fishermen in Goa. National Fishworkers’ Forum (NFF) secretary and Goenchea Ramponkaranchea Ekvott (GRE) joint general secretary Olencio Simoes said any withdrawal of the subsidies would be unreasonable and if implemented would completely eliminate the fishermen community in the State.
There are two sides to any debate and in this particular one, where the economics of an industry could be affected by withdrawal of a subsidy, any review should take into consideration the views of the community that will be affected.
The fishermen in the State – the traditional ones as well as those owning mechanised boats and trawlers, were quick to point out to the facilities that the government has given the industry. The condition of the jetties and the absence of cold storage facilities were highlighted in their reactions. The conditions at the jetties are appalling, almost unacceptable, and the fishermen have been demanding proper sanitation facilities and even drinking water.
Pereira pointed out that what the community has been getting from the government is not a subsidy but a VAT reimbursement. Simoes bases his arguments on the calculation that Rs 108 crore over five years, works out to a subsidy of Rs 157 per person per year or 43 paise per person per day. This calculation, of a subsidy being so negligible, could be reason enough to review the doling out of financial benefits to the fishermen. He adds to his argument the fact that the 28 percent GST on all fishing equipment has added to the financial burden of the fishermen.
A further point in the debate is whether eliminating the middlemen mafia will bring cheaper fish to the retail markets of Goa. There is no assurance of that happening, at least not at this early juncture of the debate. If the minister’s final aim is in getting cheaper fish to the dining tables of the Goans, then he needs to exercise government control on the entire fishing operation.
Simoes, however, makes an interesting point when he points out the cancelling the subsidy is not the solution, but the solution could lie with the government exercising its control over the ‘fishing agent mafia’ that determines the fish price. His allegation is that the fish is bought cheap from the fishermen and sold in the international market, depriving Goans of reasonably priced and good quality fish. That could be a bigger challenge to the government, than reviewing the subsidy. Here is a leader of the traditional fishing community alleging that there is a ‘fishing agent mafia’ in the State that has political patronage.
The fishing community responded with such alacrity to the possibility of a review of the subsidies, an answer from the minister to this allegation, and action to eliminate this mafia is now called for.
