Kozhikode fishers seek better financial support during trawling ban period

‘Package should consider COVID-19 challenges, steep fall in fishermen’s income’

With just a few days left for the annual trawling ban to begin, fishermen’s organisations in Kozhikode district are eagerly waiting for a better relief package from the State government amid the pandemic crisis. They are demanding a direct financial assistance scheme either in the form of one-time allowance or short-term credit by reworking the existing relief system that focuses only on the distribution of rice. At a recent district-level review meeting, they had taken up the demand with the district administration and the Fisheries Department authorities, stating that the supply of rice alone would not help underprivileged families which were struggling to cope with the “new normal” after the outbreak of COVID-19. Many were in need of better medical support and financial assistance to facilitate the education of their children, they had said. “Only a nominal amount of ₹1,500 from the department’s saving-cum-relief scheme reaches the fishermen’s families as aid during the lean period. The sum will not be sufficient to buy even stationery articles for a school-going child,” said Abdul Razak, a member of the Matsya Thozhilali Federation. He said the relief package should take into consideration the challenges of the pandemic situation and the steep fall in fishermen’s daily income.