Fishermen to launch agitation against CMZ implementation

Mangalore, Jul 4 (UNI) The fishermen from all over the country will launch an indefinite agitation in front of the Parliament from July 22 protesting against the proposed implementation of the Coastal Management Zone (CMZ) replacing Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), National Fishermen Federation (NFF) Secretary Vasudeva Boloor said today.

"A decision to this effect was taken at a Federation meeting held in Kolkata on June 28,", he told newsmen here.

Mr Boloor said that the NEF demands, among other things, withdrawal of the cess levied on the diesel distributed to the fishermen, cancellation of licenses issued to foreign trawlers to fish in Indian waters and implement a social security scheme for the fishermen in tune with the recommendations of the International Labour Organization.

Welcoming the Centre's decision to waive off fishermen's loans along with loans availed by farmers, Mr Boloor demanded to extend the loan waiver scheme to loans taken by women from the fishermen community who work as retail fish vendors.

UNI MA MSP GM1808