| SI | Subject | Issues | Our Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Occupational Support | fishers face multiple professional issues. | Approval for 10 fishing harbors and 6 fish landing centers has been granted, but they are still under construction. Infrastructure should be provided in the remaining 339 fish landing centers, including mini fishing jetties, modern boats, nets, engines, fishing equipment, ice boxes, & safety & navigation devices. fishers should have the opportunity to sell their catch at any fish landing center or harbor. Cold storage facilities should be provided with free electricity. Coastal government land should be allocated to fishers for fish and shrimp farming. Every boat should be equipped with medical kits, lighting facilities, inverters, bio-toilets, and BSNL phone services. fishers Support Centers should be established at every landing center and harbor, providing nets, ropes, ice boxes, and fishing gear with a 90% subsidy. Diesel should be subsidized at 50%, with mechanized boats receiving 10,000 liters per month and motorboats 3,000 liters per month. |
| 2 | Schemes | Existing schemes have low subsidies and benefit only 2% of fishers. Central government schemes are not properly implemented. | All government schemes should be fully implemented. The 'Fish Andhra' scheme should be revised based on suggestions from coastal fishers representatives. 30% of revenue from fish and shrimp exports should be allocated to the welfare of coastal fishers. Fisheries co-Management Committees should be formed at district, state, and national levels to represent coastal fishers. |
| 3 | Migration | Due to lack of livelihood opportunities, 30% of fishers migrate to Gujarat, Andaman & Nicobar, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Telangana, and inland water bodies like Tungabhadra and Srisailam. | To prevent migration, necessary infrastructure and livelihood opportunities should be provided. Mini fishing jetties should be built every 50 km, and estuaries/creeks every 10 km. Families of migrant fishers who die in accidents should receive ₹30 lakh compensation. Registration centers for migrant fishers should be established jointly by the Fisheries and Labor Departments. |
| 4 | Acts, Policies, Notifications, GOs, Guidelines | Existing fisheries laws, policies, notifications, government orders, rules, and guidelines are not being implemented, leading to a waste of crores of rupees. | An Integrated Coastal Marine Traditional Fishers Development Authority should be established. fishers should be involved in decision-making regarding fisheries laws, policies, and schemes. Small-scale fisheries voluntary guidelines should be implemented. The 2019 CRZ and 1996 AP MFR Act should be amended. The Traditional Coastal and Marine Fisherfolk (Protection of Rights) Act 2009 should be enacted. |
| 5 | Women Development | Increased workload and hardships for women. Lack of toilets in fish markets. | Existing fish markets should be modernized and converted into fish bazaars, similar to farmers' markets. The Fisheries and Marketing Departments should set fair prices for fish and display them in markets. Mini tube Ice units should be installed in all fish markets. Drinking water and toilet facilities should be mandatory. |
| 6 | Reservation | No political reservation for fishers, lack of representation in legislative bodies, and no reservations in jobs, education, and welfare schemes. | The state government should categorize fishers as MBC (Most Backward Class), and the central government should include them under Scheduled fishers (SF). fishers should receive reservations similar to tribals and Dalits in education, employment, and elections. Political parties should allocate MLA, MP, and nominated posts based on fishers's population. |
| 7 | Social Security | Lack of social security schemes, inadequate implementation of existing schemes, and absence of insurance schemes. | fishers should receive ₹15,000 per month as a livelihood allowance during the 61-day fishing ban. Women involved in dried fish processing should also be compensated for losses due to cyclones. Compensation should be provided for boat and engine damage. Families of fishers who die at sea should receive ₹30 lakh insurance coverage. |
| 8 | Marketing Linkages | Lack of marketing linkages has left fishers economically backward. | Coastal educated fishers should be supported with facilities and financial resources to export fish products to other states and countries. |
| 9 | Skill Development Training Centers | fishers lack technical knowledge from various central fisheries institutions | These institutions should actively work for coastal traditional fishers and conduct awareness programs in fishing villages. fishers should receive necessary training. A Coastal Security Force should be established. |
| 10 | Culture | fishers’s language, dress, rituals, and traditions are similar to those of tribals, but their livelihood is even more challenging. | fishers face more hazardous conditions than tribals. The benefits and reservations available to tribals should also be extended to fishers. |
| 11 | Climate Change | Climate change is affecting the fisheries sector. | Over the last 30 years, climate changes have caused significant disruptions in fisheries. Industrial and urban waste, plastics, and chemicals from rivers should be treated before disposal. fishers representatives should be included in the Pollution Control Board communities. Coastal areas should be afforested, and CRZ regulations should not be violated. Climate adaptation measures should be implemented. |
| 12 | Displacement | fishers are being displaced from the coast, losing livelihoods, education, and health access, leading to deaths of the elderly. | Coastal fishers should not be displaced. Industries should not be set up in coastal areas. Fisheries-based industries should be established to provide employment to fishers. Coastal erosion-affected families should be relocated to safe areas. |
| 13 | Education Support | 35% literacy rate among fishers, while 65% remain illiterate, as per CMFRI, Govt. of India. | Free quality education from KG to PG and JTI to engineering should be provided. Free coaching centers for competitive exams should be established. A quota should be reserved for fishers in fisheries universities. |
| 14 | Health Support | fishers and fisherwomen suffer from chronic illnesses. | Community health centers and 30-bed hospitals should be set up in coastal fishing villages. Regular health checkups should be conducted at landing centers, fishing harbors, and fish markets. Free medicines should be provided, and medical kits should be supplied to every boat. |
| 15 | Housing Support | Many fishers families live in overcrowded and poorly built houses that cannot withstand cyclones. | Permanent housing titles should be provided to fishers. Houses should be cyclone-resistant. fishers should be exempted from CRZ regulations. Free two-bedroom houses should be built for eligible fishing families at their existing locations. |
| 16 | MGNREGS | MGNREGS is not applicable to fishers. | MGNREGS should be extended to fishers for boat, net, and engine repairs, as well as for coastal and harbor maintenance. |
| 17 | Water and Sanitation Support | Lack of basic facilities such as sanitation and clean water. Contaminated water is a major issue, leading to frequent illnesses due to poor hygiene. | Implement sanitation measures, provide necessary equipment, conduct awareness programs, ensure continuous supply of drinking water through pipelines, construct individual and community toilets, and establish sanitation facilities at landing centers. Ensure fish auctions take place in clean environments to maintain hygiene. |
| 18 | Museum | The traditional knowledge of fishers, passed down through generations, is not known to the outside world. | Establish a museum to showcase the coastal fishing communities' culture and promote traditional knowledge. |