Fisherwomen's forum plans human chain
By The HINDU

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, FEB. 25. The Theeradesa Mahilavedi, the women's wing of the Kerala Swatantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation, will from a human chain around the Secretariat on March 8 to protest against "the indifferent attitude" of the State and Union Government towards fisherwomen.

Addressing a press conference here today, the vedi president, Elizabeth Antony, and the general secretary, Geely John, said it would submit a charter of demands to the Government on February 29. The vedi would chalk out agitation programmes if the Government does not accede to the demands during the forthcoming budget session of the Assembly.

The vedi is demanding among other things an Adalat to settle the pending harassment cases in courts and in the Women's Commission, modernising the fish markets on the lines of those set up in Goa and introduction of a self-employment scheme for fisherwomen as envisaged by the Union Government.

The other demands include setting up of residential and technical schools for girls hailing from the fishing community, improving the facilities for fisherwomen at fish landing centres and in the buses that ply in the coastal area to carry fish, and steps to improve the service conditions of those working in the fish processing units.