Palghar Presents ₹100-Crore Fishermen Welfare Package

The Palghar district administration will hold a stakeholders' meeting on September 8 to present a draft compensation and welfare package for fishermen affected by the Vadhvan Port project.

The meeting will bring together local residents, representatives of the fishing community, and other stakeholders to discuss the proposed package, raise grievances, and offer suggestions before it goes forward for final approval.

The administration has held several rounds of talks with fishermen over the past months, alongside preliminary discussions led by the Fisheries Department. A field survey commissioned by Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) to gauge how dependent local families are on fishing for their livelihood could not be completed earlier due to limited participation from sections of the fishing community.

The administration said it has since stepped up outreach to build confidence in the process. JNPA has now submitted a draft package to the district administration based on the survey data collected so far and subsequent consultations.

The proposed compensation is based on a State Government Resolution dated March 9, 2023, which set payout rates for fishermen across four categories, C1 through C4. Those rates have now been revised using the Consumer Price Index through 2025.

Under the draft package, fishermen operating within the port limits would receive ₹14.15 lakh for one-day Dol Net fishing and ₹15.72 lakh for multi-day Gill Net fishing. For those operating outside the port limits, the proposed figures are ₹7.08 lakh and ₹7.86 lakh, respectively.

Support for traditional fishermen, who manually collect fish, shellfish, and other marine organisms, would be eligible for ₹4.90 lakh, while fishermen dependent on subsistence fishing would receive ₹2.45 lakh. A 2x multiplier has been proposed for the more vulnerable C3 and C4 categories.

Beyond direct payouts, the package proposes doubling the fishermen's welfare fund to ₹100 crore, up from the ₹50 crore set out in the 2023 resolution. The fund is intended to support livelihood enhancement, skill development, fisheries infrastructure, and community development.

There is a proposal to build a fishing harbour at an estimated cost of ₹250 crore in partnership with the state government. The harbour intends to provide safer berthing, fish-landing, and marketing facilities.

A separate ₹100-crore proposal would upgrade five existing government Industrial Training Institutes in the district into ‘Centres of Excellence’ offering specialised training in modern fishing techniques, fisheries technology, and maritime safety.

The Vadhvan Port project has been a significant development in the region, and the proposed package aims to mitigate its impact on the local fishing community. The meeting on September 8 will be crucial in finalizing the package and ensuring that the concerns of the fishermen are addressed.

The proposal is a significant step towards supporting the livelihoods of fishermen in the region and promoting the development of the fishing industry. The package's focus on skill development, infrastructure, and community development is expected to have a positive impact on the local economy and the fishing community.

In conclusion, the draft package presented by the Palghar district administration is a significant development in the efforts to support the fishermen affected by the Vadhvan Port project. The meeting on September 8 will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss the proposal and provide feedback before it is finalized.