As the Olive Ridley turtle breeding season is underway, trawler fishing has been restricted at Gahirmatha marine sanctuary since November last.
However, those who have lost their livelihood have been in deep troubles. The State Government has extended social security to fishermen families but that is of little avail.
Every year, the State Government clamps a seven-month ban on sea-fishing in a 20 km radius sea territory stretching from Dhamara to Devi river mouth within Gahirmatha marine sanctuary. In accordance with the Odisha Marine Fisheries Regulatory Act, 1983, the prohibitory orders on sea fishing remain effective from November 1 to May 31.
But the ban has serious socio-economic repercussion on the lives of hundreds of fisher families. Fatigue livelihood forced the fishermen community to migrate from villages in past years. As a result, the State Government introduced social security and provided Re 1 per kg rice for seven months to the fishermen families during the ban. The Government last year also provided the subsidized rice to each identified fishermen family (25 kg per family) every month. But this year, the dole has been discontinued since the Forest department imposed the ban on sea fishing.
As a result, several fishermen families, which depend on sea fishing, have been struggling to collect bread, lamented fisher leader of Kharanashi Tushar Sardar.
“What should we do to feed our family membersIJ Most of us only know to run the family by catching fish at sea. But this year, the subsidised rice has been discontinued,” alleged Annath Das, a fisherman of Kharnashi.
More than 20,000 marine fishermen depend on sea fishing to run the family in Kendrapara district. Thousands of them left the locality and went to other areas to work as daily wagers. However, discontinuance of subsidised rice has added to their woes, said fisher leader Narayan Haldar.
The PDS dealers of the fishing villages informed that the Government has stopped subsidised rice to all previous beneficiaries as it has introduced NFSA ration card. Some fishermen, who received ration card under National Food Security Act (NFSA), have managed to get subsidised rice. But hundreds of fishermen, who are genuine beneficiaries, have been left out under NFSA.
The locals rued that as per the guidelines of NFSA, the fishermen who owned more than two fishing boats would not eligible to get NFSA ration card. It is purely harassing for the fishermen as several fishermen by availing loans have owned two boats.
When contacted, Additional Director of fishery (Marine) department, Kujanga Biraja Prasanna Mohapatra stated as many as 3,901 affected marine fishermen of Mahakalapada and 2,296 affected marine fishermen of Rajnagar have been getting Government sponsored subsidised rice during the fishing ban. Besides, the Marine fishery department provides financial assistance to 234 SHGs under ICZMP project.
He added that he has already informed to the higher authority to resume the subsidised rice to the affected fishermen.