Migration of fisher folk has begun across the coastal belt of Krishna district, barely a week after annual fishing ban came into force. An estimated 4,000 people, directly engaged in fishing in Bay of Bengal, were left with no employment opportunities in the district, according to reports from the Fisheries Department. While women in the coastal belt have been managing to earn a livelihood by engaging themselves in preparation and marketing of dry fish, the men are forced to leave the villages in search of work to survive till the ban is lifted on June 14. Bandarkota village in Machilipatnam mandal and Nagayalanka, which witness huge fishing activity, wore a desert look as boats were anchored on the beach. Many of our fellow fishermen have left for Vijayawada in search of work. The chilli market in Guntur will accommodate most of our fishermen, who work there as temporary porters (locally known as hamali), Mr. Raghu Sekhar of Nagayalanka told The Hindu . The fisher folk also find work in agriculture the sector in Guntur district, where farmers are desperately in need of agriculture laborers for cultivation and harvesting of commercial crops. We have found that nearly 4,500 fishermen have lost their livelihood owing to fishing ban and are recommending a compensation of Rs. 4000 to each beneficiary, Fisheries Department Assistant Director A. Solemn Raju told The Hindu . The crew of the boat should obtain a certificate from the boat owner to get compensation. We are identifying works to be taken up under the MGNREGA in Krishna district. The fisher folk will be given work under the job scheme. Most of the works will relate to relate to the field of fisheries, Mr. Raju added.
2016, The Hindu