Maharashtra fisherwomen to write to President, seek coastal rights, heritage site status for colonies

Fisherwomen from Maharashtra are planning to write to President Droupadi Murmu, demanding a coastal rights bill for all coastal villages of India and heritage site status for ethnic fishing colonies.

A resolution in the matter was passed during the first International Fisherwomen’s Day celebrations held in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Women fishermen from more than 40 countries participated in the day celebration events.

Role and struggles

World Fishermen Forum, National Fish Workers Forum, Maharashtra Macchhimar Kruti Samiti and Daryawardi Mahila Sangh organized a program in Mumbai highlighting the roles, struggles and rights of fisher women.

The draft letter sent to the President said, “I stay in the coastal region of Maharashtra. Today, our traditional rights are under threat. For centuries, we have protected the coastline, fished and settled on the shores. But today, our lands are being usurped under the Slum Redevelopment Authority (SRA). Our rights are being taken away from us.”

He also called for on-site rehabilitation with cultural sensitivity.

Fishermen, who wanted the 2011 Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification to be re-implemented, also demanded the cancellation of the CRZ 2019 notification. Under the 2011 CRZ notification, fishing colonies are protected under CRZ III.

The letter demanded that fishing colonies be notified as heritage sites in development plans and CRZ regulations. “Community-based tourism should be encouraged through homestays, food courts, houseboats, cultural walks, etc. Women’s self-help groups should be supported,” the letter said.

“We fisher women will write a postcard to the President,” said Ujjwala Kiran Koli.

He said there was a need for a special “coastal rights bill” for coastal villages in India to comprehensively address the customary and land rights of fishing communities.

Talking about the problems faced by women fishermen, Rajshri Bhanji from Marol Bazar said, “Women fishermen face a lot of humiliation while doing their traditional work. Our markets are being closed, builders want to take away our land, which we traditionally use to park our boats, dry fish. The government should protect us.”

He also called for protests to protect their lands and livelihoods. “We voted in the name of Lord Ram. But instead we have Ravan rajya. The government is not protecting our traditional rights, it is not listening to us. We warn you that if you do not pay heed to the demands of the original inhabitants of this land, we will not vote for you in the coming elections,” said Ms. Kiran Koli of Maharashtra Koli Samiti.