Against Fish Disease. . . .

In 1991, the Federation organised an agitation to help those who lost their livelihood caused by fish disease that swept through the inland fishery of Kerala. The scientific community termed it Episeutic Ulsurative Syndrome. Pollution by effluents from factories, excessive use of pesticides in the farming sector that seep into inland water areas were held responsible for the outbreak of the disease. The inland fishery sector in Kerala experienced a major upheaval when demonstrators set out from the river-mouth of the Kabani river as part of a vehicle rally, which culminated in Trivandrum. Fish workers organised a March to the Secretariat to coincide with the Vehicle Rally. Asha Niyogi, the wife of Sankar Guha Niyogi (an activist from Madhya Pradesh, who was shot dead by anti-social elements, while working for the cause of the indigenous people and mine workers), addressed and inspired the agitating fish workers. After a series of agitations and hunger strikes, the government announced a relief scheme of marginal compensation.