Team Herald
VASCO: The National Fishworkers’ Forum (NFF) delegation consisting of Chairperson Narendra Paitil, General Secretary Olencio Simoes, Veljibhai Masani and Anil Vargise met the new Central Minister of Fisheries Parshottom Rupala at New Delhi to discuss serious flaws in the manner the Department of Fisheries, Delhi had drafted The Indian Marine Fisheries (IMF) Bill 2021.
In a press statement Simoes said that the Department of Fisheries, Delhi drafted IMF Bill without even considering the suggestions and objections of the concerned stakeholders or MPs in all coastal States of India. “The bill was eventually considered and passed during ongoing 17th Lok Sabha monsoon session, which has led to fear and anxiety among the fishing community in India and has led to protest in most coastal areas,” he said.
Olencio further stated that the Assistant Commissioner Dr Sanjay Pandey and Joint Secretary Dr Jujjavarapu Balaji along with Rupala “gave us a patient hearing and promised us that they will go back to the drawing board and consider all the NFF objections in totality.”
NFF demanded that the bill should be deferred and not passed in the ongoing monsoon session unless the assurance given to them is fulfilled.
