Press Release. . . .

Thiruvananthapuram: On 1st June 2007 there was a press conference conducted by the KSMTF in which the following hassle were put into view to the Government. Of that the main demands were

The government should go back over the move to ramble the contributionfrom the part of the fish workers to the fisheries welfare fund. The KSMTFrecommended to collect cess compulsorily from all the fish exporters toincrease the welfare fund. In Kerala all the welfare funds are having thestipulation to return the money to the workers after his or her 60 yearsbut in the case of Fisheries Welfare Fund it is not there, it should beadept in the fisheries welfare fund also. It was also suggested to the government to raise the contribution from the side of the workers proportionately after ensuring that after 60 years of age all the workers will get back their money and also the benefits should be disseminated ontime to all the eligible workers

The federation requested to the government that while distributing the money received from the Central government or from the ADB on account of tsunami relief should only be given to the fisher community in the form of grant or as loan. An accusation is already their since, the government is implementing the tsunami rehabilitation works though the costal phanchayath / municipality / corporations this pave the way for non fishermen also to get the advantage of the same, these people are unaffected by tsunami. The government should take instigation to make the tsunami rehabilitation propgramme slip free and competent

Since the monsoon is by now started the government should take needed steps to make sure the safety measures of the fishermen on work. It was also pointed out that the government owned all the five security boats are in the work yard. Just for the sake of the name the marine enforcement is hiring some boats for the patrolling, it is not effective. The government should take necessary stepsto arrange more boats and should bring together the works of various departments like Cost Guard, Marine Enforcement and Fisheries Department to make certain the security of the fishermen in sea. When fishermen are misplaced in the sea the local outboards that are taking charge of the searching should be given at least the fuel charges from the government. The government should take necessary steps to evacuate and rehabilitate the people from the sea attack pruned areas in due advance time. The costal dispensaries and primarily health centres should work round the clock and avail the ample medicine and the service of the doctor should be available as and when its needed, government should take necessary steps for this straight away.

In the way and manner the government is taking back the land at Munnar, the chief minister should take compulsory steps to knock down the resorts / water parks which are encroaching to the inland backwaters, seashore and recover the land.

T.Peter, State President, KSMTF, A. Androos, General Secretary, Valeeriyan Isaac, Anto Alias, John J P and J Jerone were participated in the press conference.