Fisherfolk represent India at global forum

Panaji: National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) vice-chairperson Olencio Simoes and general secretary of Goenchea Raponkarncho Ekvott (GRE) recently represented India at the World Social Forum (WSF) at Johannesburg in South Africa. The three-day meet saw participation from 90 countries, and 400 trade unions and non-government bodies.
At the event, Simoes deliberated on the ill effects of blue economy in India by referring to the Centre’s Sagarmala programme.“The objectives of the Sagarmala project are only to take over our place of commons and privatize our oceans, rivers and coastline,” he said. He further alleged that the Sagarmala project can displace 10 crore people, who have been dependent on natural resources for their livelihood for several centuries.
The Sagarmala project aims to develop India’s 7,500-km coastline, boost merchandise exports by $110 million and increase coastal shipping volumes.
“These plans and talks of mega development are only for private players to earn profits by cutting transportation cost of 1.5p/km by road to 30p/km by water. Due to this, the government plans to destroy the ecology of 111 rivers that span a distance of 20,275km. Along with that, 7,516km of coastline and 4,198 islands will also be affected, thus making our rivers and seas lifeless in future,” Simoes said.