MARGAO: The traditional fishing community in Goa is facing a crisis as the State government has ceased providing crucial subsidies to small boat owners.
Raising an urgent alarm over the dire financial straits plaguing the fishing community, the All Goa Fishing Boat Owners’ Association has pledged to intensify their protests if their demands for subsidies and infrastructure improvements are not met promptly.
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The association claimed that their livelihoods are at stake, and has vowed not to back down until the voices of the fishing community are heard.
In an impassioned plea to the mediapersons, Association president Jose Philip D’Souza,
highlighted the plight of boat owners who have been left high and dry after the government discontinued the VAT reimbursement on diesel fuel two years ago. “These subsidies were a lifeline for our community. Without them, many owners are finding it impossible to sustain their operations,” he lamented.
The troubles, however, run deeper than just the loss of subsidies. D’Souza revealed that the government has failed to clear pending subsidy payments that have accumulated over the years. “It’s a double whammy for us. Not only have the subsidies stopped, but we’re also owed arrears from the past. This should have been addressed before pulling the plug,” he said.
With fuel costs skyrocketing, boat owners are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet. D’Souza painted a bleak picture, “Owners are investing heavily in fuel, only to return with meagre catches that don’t even cover their expenses. Many have simply given up and ceased fishing altogether.”
The association has repeatedly approached Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, the Fisheries Minister and other officials, urging them to reinstate the fuel subsidies immediately. D’Souza pointed out the glaring disparity between Goa and neighbouring States like Karnataka and Maharashtra, where similar subsidy schemes are still in place.
“It’s unfair that only Goan fishermen are left to struggle, while our counterparts in other States receive government support,” he questioned.
The woes of the fishing community don’t end there. D’Souza also raised concerns about the dilapidated condition of the Kharewaddo fishing jetty, which has been neglected for years despite repeated pleas for improvements. “While the government has invested in developing jetties elsewhere, Kharewaddo has been overlooked. We even obtained an NOC from the Mormugao Port Authority two years ago, but no action has been taken,” he said.
The Director of Fisheries recently informed the association about plans for a 100-metre floating jetty at Kharewaddo. However, D’Souza remains skeptical, given the government’s track record of inaction. “We’ve heard promises before, but we’re still waiting for tangible progress,” he added.
As the traditional fishing industry teeters on the brink, the boat owners’ association is gearing up for a sustained agitation.
D’Souza vowed to intensify their protests if their demands for subsidies and infrastructure improvements are not met promptly. “Our livelihoods are at stake, and we will not back down until our voices are heard,” he declared.
