Udupi: Fishermen protest against direct benefit transfer system on Diesel subsidy – Common man is off opinion that subsidised diesel is misused have to be checked.

Coming on to the streets was one of the ways for fisherman in hundred, here on Tuesday August 4 to protest against the new system of direct benefit transfer (DBT) of state government’s of transferring diesel subsidies directly to the bank accounts of owners of mechanized boat.

In front of Tahsildhar’s office the protest led by Malpe fishermen’s association was held before which a rally was taken from Malpe harbour.

In March this year the state government, introduced a new system of giving diesel subsidy but the Implementation is a problem Similar to the farmer’s the fishermen in the coast are also facing problems though the benefits announced to farmers are more, stated Yashpal Suvarna, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts Co-operative Fish Marketing Federation ,when he addressed.

Yashpal Suvarna did not mentioned the disadvantage or problems faced due to the new system by the owners of mechanized boat while urging re-introduction of the old system where subsidies were given at delivery . Hiriyanna T Kediyoor, president of the Malpe fishermen’s association also addressed stating that the new policy will be a loss to the fishing community.

Gopal Kundar, honourary president of deep sea fishermen’s union said, the state government can take strict measures if there is any wrongdoing in the subsidy amount . Due to the new system, chances of misuse of money chances are there. Later protestors gave a memorandum with demand to deputy commissioner R Vishal.

 Some of the important, demands are. 1) make changes in the policy allow one boat per family to whom ever who want to engage in fishing 2) Enhance, the limit for diesel subsidy to 600 litres per day from 300 litres presently being given. 3) Annual diesel quota than monthly. 4) Licences to boat owners who were not issued till now.5) Fuel capacity to be increased to 500 litres. 5) Much of the smaller boat owners and their employees, did not extend their support.

Some knowledgeable person who witnessed the protest , were of the opinion that the subsidized diesel given under actual users license to fishermen were misused because the entire subsidized diesel quantity for the month is given to them at one time, instead of releasing the actual quantity required day to day.