MUMBAI, 15 May 2025: The Maharashtra fisherfolk community, represented by the Maharashtra Machhimar Kruti Samiti (MMKS), has strongly opposed the state government’s recent move to classify the fisheries sector under the agriculture category.
The community has labeled the May 9, 2025 notification as vague, deceptive, and devoid of meaningful relief for their daily struggles.
While the government promised insurance benefits under the new classification, MMKS argues that the notification lacks clarity on what exactly is covered—boats, equipment, or individual workers. “The government's intentions are questionable. Are these schemes for our welfare, or a systematic plan to dismantle our livelihoods?” asked Kiran Koli, MMKS General Secretary.
MMKS had earlier submitted a comprehensive memorandum on August 6, 2024, to the chairman of the Maharashtra Fisheries Policy Committee, listing demands such as a natural disaster management plan and compensation mechanisms. None of these were reflected in the latest policy, the group stated in a press release dated May 14.
Adding to their woes, MMKS pointed to large-scale infrastructure developments like the Versova-Palghar sea link and the coastal road, which they say are displacing fishing families and encroaching on marine spaces. “The government cannot claim to uplift us while simultaneously pushing us out of our seas,” Koli asserted.
The MMKS has demanded immediate, transparent action from the state, including clear insurance guidelines, inclusion of their previously raised demands, and genuine consultations with the fishing community before implementing such sweeping reforms.
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