Fishermen feel like fish out of water

NEYYATINKARA:  The shift in power has made no difference to the fishermen community as their pressing problems have rarely been addressed by successive governments.However, the fisherfolk numbering about 8,000 in the constituency have clear political views which would prove to be crucial for the  result.The recent drastic reduction in the kerosene quota for fishing boats has added to the woes of the fishermen community. The  steep hike in petrol prices has also  affected them adversely.The fishermen community here uses fibre boats for fishing, which operate on kerosene and need petrol for ignition. ‘’With the reduction in kerosene quota, the expenditure to operate boats has increased by about 60 per cent. However, there has been no increase in fish catch. In this context, how can we make both ends meet through fishing?’’ asks Stanely, a fisherman of Pozhiyoor. Even earlier, the kerosene quota had never been sufficient for the fishermen and they had to pool it from household quota and black market.‘’We used to buy it from the black market from Vizhinjam. The price has risen to Rs 100 per litre from Rs 40 following the recent cut in quota. The operating cost of a boat has increased from Rs 4,000 to Rs 10,000 per day. As a result, it is now not affordable to go for fishing on all days, ‘’ said Stalin, Kumar and Androse of Pozhiyoor.Forjohn, another fisherman and a native of Paruthiyoor in Pozhiyoor, is even more bitter. ‘’Pozhiyoor is being totally ignored. Politicians of all hues end their  concerns at Poovar, the nearest town.  Fishing is our only livelihood. Earlier we were able to catch fish from the coastal waters. Now we have to venture into the deep seas which has also increased the operational cost as well as maintenance cost of boats,’’ he said.His opinion is shared by Selvarani, a fish vendor of Kollamkode. The fisherfolk are also much concerned about their safety issues after the recent killings of fishermen in the high seas off Kollam and Alappuzha coasts.However, no voter from the fisherfolk community, almost all belonging to Latin Catholic Church, said that he or she would abstain from voting. They are firm  that the affiliation to political parties is the sole determining factor in voting.There are 11,520 families spread over two villages - Paruthiyoor in Pozhiyoor and Kollamkode which falls under Kulathur panchayat - which depend on fishing for their income.