They won’t bite the bait

The community wants the government to secure the release of 365 boats and over 300 fishermen languishing in Pakistani jails. Nothing else makes much sense to them, not even Narendra Modi’s ambitious ‘Saagarkhedu Yojana’, which promises technical schools, hospitals and roads in the coastal belt. “Whom do we educate when we do not have any source of livelihood,” asked Jivan Jungi, president of the Porbandar Boat Association.

The Central aid of Rs 35 crore—Rs 5 lakh as compensation to boat owners whose boats have been seized and Rs 3 lakh to the kin of fishermen lodged in Pakistani jails-hasn’t reached the fishermen yet. “Both parties have made promises but none of them has been fulfilled,” said a fisherman.

“If the UPA has failed to get the boats back, the Narendra Modi government has stopped subsidies on net, diesel, ropes, engines and new boats,” said Babubhai Khokhri, general secretary of the National Fishing Forum.

The community is also upset that both the BJP and the Congress turned down a demand for tickets to Kharwa (fishermen) candidates in three seats—Veraval, Porbandar and Veraval. “No party has ever solved our problems. Despite repeated efforts at getting a representation, both the parties turned down our demand,” said Harjivan Kotiya, president of the Bar Gaun Kharwa Samaj.

In Veraval, the BJP faces a rebel candidate, Kharwa leader Chuni Gohel, who is contesting as an Independent after he was denied a ticket.

key demands

•Get 365 boats and 300 fishermen released from Pakistan

•Raise tax-free diesel limit per season from 24,000 litres to 48,000 litres

•Provide kerosene to

small fishermen at subsidised rates

•Implement welfare schemes for fishermen

•Develop small ports like the ones in Veraval, Porbandar and Mangrol

•Set up a fishing harbour in South Gujarat