NDA govt has let down fishermen: NFF

Puducherry, March 6: The National Fishworkers Forum on Friday charged the BJP led NDA government at the Centre with letting down fishermen as none of the promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union Home and Finance Ministers in the run up to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls were fulfilled in the budget.

NFF Chairman M Ilango said in a release that they had expected the government to announce a separate ministry for Fisheries and welfare of fishermen.

However, nothing had been mentioned, he said adding that the government was no better than the previous Congress led UPA ministry as far as steps for fisherfolk were concerned.

He said NFF would hold a two day meeting in Mangalore from March 13, when the plan for demonstrations and other forms of agitations would be finalized to bring to focus the 'negligent' attitude of the Centre.

He also said it was regrettable that allocation for the sector in the Union budget had been reduced by Rs 10.16 crore though it contributes considerably to the GDP.

PTI