Fishers’ Jalavakasha Yatra from December 17 to 21

Swatantra Matsyathozhilali Federation will organise Jalavakasha Yatra, a vehicular campaign raising various demands, from December 17 to 21. The campaign will travel through inland fishing villages in the districts of Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, and Alappuzha.

The major demands of the protest campaign include preventing water pollution, protecting fish resources, increasing the welfare pension to ₹5,000, restarting the housing scheme for fishers, increasing the marriage assistance to ₹50,000, opening Andhakaranazhi estuary to make it suitable for fishing, including those engaged in inland sector allied activities in the relief scheme during lean months and returning the welfare fund contribution when applying for pension.

T.K. Vinod, chairperson of the Kollam District Environment Protection Coordination Committee, will inaugurate the campaign at Onambalam fish landing centre at 11 a.m. Fr. Mary John, vicar of Kumbalam parish, will deliver the benedictory address. Social and cultural activists V.V. Jose, A. James, Suresh Chavara, and others will address the campaign at various centres.