People's Democracy

THE organising committee of the All India Fishermen and Fisheries’ Workers’ Federation, in its meeting held at Puri on October 10th, chalked out a struggle programme for the realisation of demands of the fishermen and fisheries' workers.

The meeting which was attended by members from Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Orissa, Tripura and West Bengal was presided over by CPI(M) Loksabha member Mahaboob Zahidi. M.K. Pandhe, general secretary, CITU, and K Varada Rajan, general secretary, All India Kisan Sabha also participated in the meeting.

The meeting decided that first a delegation would be sent to the Union minister for fisheries to place before the government a charter of their demands during the next session of Parliament. A memorandum listing the demands would also be given to leaders of all political parties,trade unions, kisan organisations and their help would also be sought in the struggle for realisation of their demands. State conventions would be held wherever possible to focus the demands of the fishermen and fisheries’ workers.

A signature campaign would be undertaken on the basis of the memorandum and a big demonstration of fishermen and fisheries’ workers will be held before the Parliament, during its next budget session.

A Private member’s bill would be prepared for a comprehensive legislation for the fishermen and fisheries’ workers and introduced in the Parliament.

Kiranmay Nanda, Fisheries’ minister in West Bengal government, welcomed the members while Pitabasan Das, convenor, introduced the report of activities since the last convention at Nadia and the programme of action.

The meeting mainly discussed the draft constitution of the federation and the future programme of activities. Vinay Konar and Hemalata spoke on the question of registration of the affiliated unions. After a detailed discussion, in which Varada Rajan and Pandhe made important contributions, it was agreed that while it would be useful to register the unions it could not be made a precondition for affiliation. Hemalata was given the responsibility to redraft the constitution as per the suggestions made in the meeting.

The meeting also decided to have a flag for the federation, which would be red in colour with a blue fish in the centre and the initials of the federation in white on one side.

The Kerala unit offered to host the first conference of the federation and the committee agreed to hold the first conference in Kerala at the place decided by the State Committee. It was decided to conduct State level conferences before the All India Conference.

The committee adopted a resolution supporting the observation of November 9th as anti globalisation day throughout the world and decided to participate in the call by holding block level demonstrations with the demand to ban foreign vessels in the Indian Waters.

It was also decided to submit a petition to the Petitions Committee of the Parliament and place the same in the Parliament.

Earlier the meeting condoled the death of Com. Sailen Dasgupta, M Hanumantha Rao, Niren Ghosh, Shailendra Shaily, Shailen Das, and other leaders of the democratic movement in the country. A resolution condemning the US war on Afghanistan in which innocent people are being killed was also adopted by the meeting.