An open house discussion focused on the rights of fishermen, organized by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in partnership with Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU), concluded at the DSNLU Visakhapatnam campus, yielding crucial recommendations to advance the human rights of fishermen. The session, chaired by Smt. Vijaya Bharathi Sayani, Acting Chairperson of NHRC, emphasized the critical role that fishermen play in bolstering India’s economy, underscoring the need to protect their rights to ensure their dignified livelihood. She reiterated the NHRC’s commitment to safeguarding fishermen’s rights, including the protection of seafarers. Highlighting the Commission’s diverse interventions and advisories to central and state authorities, she discussed its broader efforts to uphold the rights of vulnerable groups.
The event commenced with a welcome address by Prof. D. Surya Prakasa Rao, Vice Chancellor of DSNLU, who outlined the structure of the discussions across three technical sessions. The first session addressed human rights violations within India’s fishing communities, spotlighting the economic significance of fisheries and the persistent challenges, including hazardous working conditions. The speakers called for heightened awareness, sustainable fishing practices, climate resilience, and international collaboration to safeguard fishermen’s rights and livelihoods. Prof. E. Udaya Bhasker Reddy from Andhra University emphasized the right to a healthy environment, focusing on pollution impacts, while Dr. Deepa Suman from the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) highlighted the benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana in enhancing the safety and welfare of the fishing community.
The second session on fishing rights and environmental issues featured insights from Dr. Joe K. Kizhakudan of ICAR-CMFRI, who contrasted the challenges faced by Andhra Pradesh’s fishermen with better conditions in other states like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. He noted the migration of Srikakulam fishermen to Odisha due to adverse conditions. Dr. S.S. Raju, also from ICAR-CMFRI, discussed the entrenched socio-economic challenges within the fishing community, including generational entrapment, poor living conditions, and environmental degradation caused by industrial waste. He advocated for the introduction of Minimum Support Prices (MSP) and enhanced safety measures for fishermen. Other speakers, including Dr. Divya Karnad from Ashoka University and Prof. V. Raja Lakshmi, formerly of Andhra University, stressed the importance of protecting traditional fishermen’s rights and the need for a community-based approach to welfare initiatives.
The third session explored social security measures and welfare schemes for fishermen. Dr. Ch. Benarji, Dean and Professor of Law at VIT-AP University, highlighted the legal challenges faced by Indian fishermen who are often arrested when crossing into Bangladeshi waters. He emphasized the necessity for education on maritime laws and the law of the sea, urging institutions like DSNLU to take an active role in outreach efforts for the fishermen. He also discussed the complexities of unclear sea boundaries, particularly around Katchatheevu, and called for legal frameworks and insurance schemes to protect fishermen who inadvertently cross international borders.
The concluding session provided a platform for representatives from the fishing community to voice their concerns, including limited awareness of government programs and the negative impacts of illegal coastal development and pollution. Key suggestions from the discussions included the need for increased education and awareness on maritime laws, promotion of sustainable fishing, greater dissemination of information on government welfare programs, and the empowerment of fishermen to ensure safe working conditions and fair compensation. The participants also emphasized the importance of collaboration among coastal states to adopt best practices and mitigate interstate migration of fishermen.
The event saw participation from representatives of the Department of Fisheries, Government of India, academic experts from Andhra University, Ashoka University, and ICAR-CMFRI, along with national and international NGOs, civil society organizations, and private institutions. Around 50 fishermen and their families also actively participated in the discussions.
Source: Pib.gov.in