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Kerosene subsidy loss a blow to small fishermen
The fishing community in Chilaw which engages in their livelihood using small boats with outboard engines allege that the scrapping of the kerosene subsidy given by the Government has left them in the lurch. They have come up with an alternative proposal aimed at economically empowering small scale fisherman.
In support of fishermen’s cause, people sign a public petition. Pic by Indika Handuwela
Giving an ultimatum, W. Roshan Fernando of the Chilaw Cooperative City Fishermen’s Association says about 15 fishing associations from Negombo, Chilaw, Wennappuwa, Puttalam and Talawila whose members have small day boats with outboard engines, have taken a collective decision to resort to severe action if their problems remained unaddressed by June 16. According to Mr. Fernando the Rs. 9,375 kerosene subsidy introduced subsequent to the last kerosene price revision, has not been given to them since September last year.
“We have to spend about Rs. 3,000 daily on kerosene. The alternative subsidy introduced for the boat owners to get fishing gear will not address our concerns. We urge the authorities to provide us some relief as well. With various other impediments also encountered, we have come to a point where we cannot continue our livelihood, and not providing the kerosene subsidy is a further blow to us,” Mr. Fernando says adding that most of these protesting fisher folk have no ownership of the boats but hire them from the boat owners and ultimately bear the cost of kerosene.
“What we want is the fishing subsidy or kerosene at the old rates. It is the boat owners who will benefit from the new alternative and not us,” he said.
However, Deputy Fisheries Minister Sarath Kumara Gunaratne speaking to the Sunday Times said it was more feasible to economically empower the fishermen by providing them with the equipment needed for livelihood development and this would indirectly increase their fishing capacity and income. The new move is also to prevent the money allocated for the welfare of the fishing community – about Rs. 4,000 million a year – being wasted by misusing the kerosene subsidy.
Most of the fisherman who go day fishing with outboard engine fitted fibre glass boats, are in search of small fish available during that particular season whereas if they have more sophisticated equipment they can get a better catch, during all seasons, the deputy minister said.
“This is unnecessary instigation by a handful of fishermen for ulterior motives. It could have been discussed and resolved amicably,” he sad, adding that fisheries authorities while holding discussions with the registered fishing associations had come up with two options – those who want can go for the alternative while those who do not can go for the second which is to receive a monthly amount deposited to their bank accounts to buy kerosene instead of issuing a kerosene coupon. Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Assistant Director Anura Jayasekera said the alternative subsidy that the Fisheries Department and Fisheries Ministry have decided to give to the registered fishing boats comprises a one time payment of Rs. 112,500 for outboard engine day boats and motorised traditional boats running with an outboard engine (both kerosene operated), and a sum of Rs. 230,400 for inboard one day trawlers (diesel) and Rs, 374, 400 for multi-day trawlers to purchase fishing gear.
Processing applications for the alternative subsidy was completed by the Fisheries Department five months ago. However, Mr. Jayasekera says only operational boats registered with the Department are eligible to receive the alternative subsidy.
“Even the kerosene coupon was issued for the registered boats and their owners shared it with the the other party on the boat,” he explained.
“There was a procedure involved in implementing the alternative subsidy and this is the reason for the delay in implementation. We are currently, in the process of calling tenders for the purchasing of items. Also on the instructions given by the Department on Friday, I have directed the field managers to get the ideas with regard to the two options given,” Mr. Jayasekera added.
Meanwhile, a protest held in Colombo Fort, organised by the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement with the participation of civil society members, human rights activists, politicians and the clergy have put forward four demands, one of which calls on the Government to re-implement the kerosene subsidy without further delay.