While the entire Gujarat is agog with election activities for the upcoming Assembly polls next week, fishermen in Porbandar seem to be aloof from it.
Porbandar (Gujarat), Dec 7 : While the entire Gujarat is agog with election activities for the upcoming Assembly polls next week, fishermen in Porbandar seem to be aloof from it.
The reason being that nobody from their community has been given nomination by any of the political parties to contest in the elections.
The fishing community of Porbandar complain that neither the State Government nor the Central Government pay heed to their plights and demanded representation in the state legislature to highlight their problems.
"Nobody is there to listen to our problems. We do not have our Member of Parliament and Member of Legislative Assembly. No one from our community has been given ticket for the forthcoming assembly elections. We want an MLA from our own community who can voice the problem faced by us," said Manish Lodhari, Secretary, National Fishermen's Forum.
The fishermen community has been demanding nomination from three constituencies namely Porbandar, Mogrol and Veraval.
Apart from demanding better infrastructure, pro-fishing polices and electricity, fishermen have been craving for security against seizure and arrests by the Pakistan Navy when they venture out deep into Arabian Sea off the Indian coast.
At times the fishermen unknowingly breach the border in international waters and fall into the clutches of the Pakistani authorities.
"It's my humble request to the government to pay heed to the matters of fishing industry and provide relief for us. There is a parking problem at the port. Drudging is also a problem even if ship meant to do this work comes but it actually never does it. The security should also be increased at the sea in order to save our boats from Pakistan Navy," said Kishore Gohil, a boat owner.
Majority of the people in the town make a living from going out on the high seas to catch fish.
ANI