Union Govt Should Oppose Proposal to Withdraw Fishing Subsidy in WTO, Demands Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS)

 
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) inspired Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) Monday (November 22) demanded that the Union government oppose the World Trade Organization (WTO) proposal to end the subsidy for small fishermen.
 
It argued the small fishermen of India and other developing countries are not responsible for the depleting fishing reserves but the developed countries are responsible for deep sea fishing.
 
In a statement on Monday (November 22), the BMS said, “The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh strongly opposes the WTO proposals on banning the subsidies to fishermen in the name of Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing by the unorganised sector’s fishermen.”
 
It added, “The small fishermen of India and other developing countries are having many limitations and low capacities; they are nowhere responsible for this. It is the developed countries which are to be blamed for the depleting the marine fishing reserves.”
 
In response to the call given by Akhil Bharatiya Matsya Mazdoor Mahasangh (ABMMM), affiliated to the BMS, World Fishers Day is being observed on November 21 & 22 in different parts of the country.
 
Dr. L. Murugan, the Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, participated as special guest in a programme at Munambam fishing harbour, near Cochin in Kerala.
 
After the event, he posted on social media platform Twitter “Interacted with fishermen at Kochi Fishing Harbour. Reviewed progress of modernization work at Kochi Fishing Harbour which is a focus area under #pmgatishakti mission. It will provide modern infrastructural & allied facilities to fishermen at one place. #AtmaNirbharBharat #PMMSY”
 
The BMS termed the proposal to withdraw the subsidy a conspiracy by the developed world.
 
It strongly emphasised that it is the organised sector’s fishing which catches fish through mechanised trawlers and huge ships, particularly by the developed countries that is responsible for depleting marine fishing reserves.
 
In Indian context, mostly the traditional fishermen are small fisher who follow the norms like fishing ban period during breeding season. Apart from this, small fishers are allowed to catch fish within the 12 nautical miles only. It in no way hampers the reserves, the BMS said.