The Pong Dam Reservoir Fisheries Societies’ Association convened a meeting, presided over by association’s president Jaswant Singh, at Jawali today. At the meeting, the association appealed to the state government to formulate an effective pro-fishermen policy as thousands of fishermen were facing problems in earning their livelihood.
The association demanded relaxation in the existing life insurance cover (Rs 5 lakh) being provided by the state government to the fishermen. Association president Jaswant Singh said under this policy only snakebite and death by drowning have been covered, but every fisherman should get life insurance benefit in natural as well as accidental deaths. He said the existing insurance cover was not in the larger interest of the fishermen.
The association president added the state government should also constitute an advisory committee to be headed by a retired Director of the Fisheries Department. “The committee should watch the interests of fishermen in the state. At present, as many as 3,000 fishermen registered with 15 societies were earning their livelihood by catching fish in the reservoir,” he added.
The association also demanded a relief package for the elderly fishermen. It also demanded gumboots, security jackets and raincoats for all fishermen working at the reservoir.
Not in larger interest
Under the existing policy only snakebite and death by drowning have been covered, but every fisherman should get life insurance benefit in natural as well as accidental deaths. It is not in the larger interest of the fishermen. — Jaswant Singh, president of Pong Dam Reservoir Fisheries Societies’ Association.