Our correspondent
Imphal, July 29 (EMN): One day state level consultation on national policy on fisheries (inland) was organised by All Loktak Lake Areas Fishermen’s Union Manipur (ALLAFUM) and Bishnupur based NGO called People’s Resources Development Association (PRDA) on July 28 at Tribal Research Institute Hall, Imphal. The fishing community mostly those living in and around Loktak, the largest freshwater lake in North East India have expressed their desire to have their own identity in order to claim their fishing rights for a sustainable livelihood.
“So far we have no platform to raise their concerns or demands. Thus we need our identity card and start demanding our rights for the welfare,” said Kh Kiran Devi, a fisherwoman. “In fact, we the fisherwomen need space in markets and other necessary facilities.” Kiran, a fisher woman from Langolsabi, a floating locality in Loktak, was sharing her opinion during a daylong state level consultation.Sharing similar sentiment, fisherwomen namely Khopirom Ongbi Kiranbala, N Thasana, Maisnam Pramo and Eche Ekashini and fishermen N Nando from Karang, Kumar from Thanga and Oinam Nabachandra from Langolsabi also expressed their desire to have their labour or smart cards and work for a better livelihood like others.
They are also demanding to incorporate their security on fishing, proper rest house cum jetty at suitable site, market place, transport support etc while formulating the national policy on fisheries (inland). On the other hand, Secretary of Upokpi Khunou club Premjit highlighted the issues of siltation and pollution in the lake while some of them suggested for the re-development of natural way to get back the vanishing indigenous fishes in wild particularly in Loktak by taking up certain steps.
Environmentalists Dr RK Ranjan and Salam Rajesh spoke on certain issues with fishing communities besides sharing inputs from national consultation on the matter while Milan Das, member of national fish workers forum on impacts of conservation: Indian lessons and experiences.
PRDA Secretary L Suranjoy Singh gave the introductory remark, ALLAFUM secretary Oinam Rajen presented a key note address and Director Indigenous Perspectives Ram Wangkheirakpam as the moderator of the consultation. Altogether more than 100 fishermen and fisherwomen attended the programme.
