Fishermen protest against draft Marine Bill

Fishermen from villages all over the State took part in a black flag agitation on Monday, protesting against the draft Indian Marine Fisheries Bill, 2021. They said that the Centre was attempting to p

Fishermen from villages all over the State took part in a black flag agitation on Monday, protesting against the draft Indian Marine Fisheries Bill, 2021. They said that the Centre was attempting to pass the Bill in Parliament without discussing its provisions with stakeholders or Chief Ministers of the coastal States. "The Bill, if passed, will only lead to nation-wide protests and blockades of ports. The draft does not have a single word about fishermen welfare," said K. Bharathi of South Indian Fishermen Welfare Association. Nanjil Ravi of the Akhila Indiya Meenavar Sangam, thanked Member of Parliament from Villupuram D. Ravikumar for having taken steps to protest against the provisions of the draft. He said fishermen leaders were trying to meet the Chief Minister M. K. Stalin urging him to write to the Centre in this regard.