Gujarat fishermen led by Modhwadia meet Sonia, PM, Pawar over issues with Pakistan and centre

New Delhi, 17 May 2012

Representatives of Gujarat Machhimar Boat Association (fishermen boat association) today met the Prime minister, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar under the leadership of Gujarat Congress President Arjun Modhwadia. The fishermen from Gujarat urged central government for help in getting back their boats from Pakistan. The also sought freedom of their fishermen brothers jailed in Pakistan. They demanded enhancement in package announced for 633 boat owners whose boats are captured by Pakistan.

Shri Modhwadia informed the centre that as many as 633 fishing boats and 485 fishermen of Gujarat are in Pakistan’s custody. India and Pakistan both release fishermen after jail term, but since 2002 both countries have stopped releasing the boats. In 2006, a special package was announced for such boat owners, under which Rs 11,30,000 subsidy was to be given to victim boat owner for the purpose of building a new boat. But due to some impractical clauses and lack of mortgage property with boat owners, very few boat owners have been able to take benefit of such scheme.

Boat owners pointed out that while in 2006 the cost of making a boat was Rs 20 lakh, it is now Rs 35 lakh today, and therefore the ammount of subsidy should be raised from 11,30,000 to Rs 15 lakh.