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DAM-L LS: Appeal from Tawa Fishermen (fwd)
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Date: Thu, 6 Dec 2001 13:38:53 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <200112062138.fB6LcrM03074@DaVinci.NetVista.net>
Subject: LS: Appeal from Tawa Fishermen
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http://www.narmada.org/nvdp.dams/tawa/tms.appeal.html
TAWA DISPLACED TRIBAL FISH PRODUCTION AND MARKETING CO-OPERATIVE FEDERATION
LTD
KESLA, DISTRICT - HOSHANGABAD (M.P.)
REGISTRATION NUMBER - D.R.H/2635/DATED 3-10-1996
Email:tawamatsyasangh@yahoo.com
Phone: (07572-72171)
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An Appeal
Will the displaced tribals of Tawa dam be displaced once more?
Will the unique and successful experiment of fish cooperative of displaced
tribals in Tawa reservoir be killed mid-way?
Will the story of Bargi be repeated in Tawa?
Are the principles and concepts of people's participation, people's
empowerment, Gram Swaraj, democratic decentralisation, tribal self-rule,
tribal development, honesty etc. good only for preaching, and not for
practice?
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Dear Friend,
You may be aware that five years ago, after a long struggle, the displaced
tribals of Tawa Dam got the fishing rights in the reservoir on cooperative
basis. Thirty three primary fishermen cooperative societies of displaced
tribals, five primary cooperative societies of traditional fishermen and
their federation ( Tawa Displaced Tribal Fish Production and Marketing
Cooperative Federation, briefly known as Tawa Matsya Sangh), have done a
miracle in these five years. The cooperative has performed much better from
every angle than both the earlier public sector corporation and the private
contractor.
The fish production has grown two and a half times, the number of fishermen
has become three-fold and the total income of fishermen has grown seven
times. The middlemen were abolished and the money that was earlier going
into the pockets of the officers, contractors and traders, now went to the
fishermen. The Tawa Matsya Sangh successfully marketed the fish at local
level as well as in distant markets of Howrah, Delhi, Lucknow, Bhopal etc.
Along with increasing fish production, fish seed were also stocked honestly
and responsibly by the cooperative and fish conservation rules for the
reservoir were for the first time observed properly. The Federation also
paid lakhs of royalty to the State Government while earlier corporation used
to show losses for many years.
Thus the fish cooperative of Tawa displaced tribals established a new model
of successful management of reservoir fisheries through people's
participation. There are many achievements to its credit. It is also a new
model of rehabilitation of displaced persons as well as an example of how
local communities can best manage, use and develop the natural resources.
But naturally, there are some people who do not like this. The vested
interests are affected. The proposal for extension of lease of reservoir
that expires on 23rd December 2001 was sent by Tawa Matsya Sangh to the
State Government in early April. It asked for (1). new lease of ten years,
(2) reduction in royalty which is excessive, (3)provision of infrastructure,
such as an ice factory and handover of Pawarkheda hatchery and fish seed
farm to it, (4) exemption of registration fees and stamped duty for the new
agreement etc.
But for last seven months the State Government has not replied to this
proposal. The Chief Minister has not given even an appointment and hearing
to them. A review committee of three officials has been formed, but for the
last six months it has not even talked to the Tawa Matsya Sangh. It only
interviewed some fishermen in a rude manner. This committee consists of the
Principal Secretary of Fisheries, the Director of Fisheries and the Managing
Director of state level fish cooperative federation. Their hostility
towards the Tawa Matsya Sangh is not even hidden. Meanwhile the state level
federation has invented several overdues and discovered many complaints
against the Tawa Matsya Sangh, which were not even once demanded or voiced
during the first four years. Clearly, the purpose is to block the renewal
of lease of Tawa Matsya Sangh. The intention of the state bureaucracy, the
contractors, and the corrupt politicians is to take away the marketing and
overall management of Tawa Reservoir from Tawa Matsya Sangh and handover to
the state level federation over which they have full control. In this
manner they want to kill a growing movement of rights of local communities,
tribals and displaced persons. They are also apprehensive of spread of
this movement to other reservoirs. They have already destroyed a similar
experiment in Bargi Dam on Narmada river.
Meanwhile, sensing that the government is not in favour of Tawa Matsya
Sangh, the local agents, contractors, fish poachers, etc. have also become
active. Around forty bogus cooperative societies of fishermen were formed
in 1996 to intrude into this cooperative experiment but that time the unity
of displaced tribals and the presence of some good officials in the
Government, prevented their entry. They have become active again and are
demanding their inclusion. Certain fish poachers of neighbouring Betul
district got protection from a goonda and a state minister. They attacked
the tribal directors and employees of Tawa Matsya Sangh on 15th October
2001, who had gone there to check and enquire. The police even refused to
lodge an FIR and arrested the tribals themselves. After dharnas and
representation to State DGP and MP Human Rights Commission, an FIR was
registered after ten days. But the culprits have not been arrested as yet.
The displaced tribal and other fishermen have taken an oath on 2nd November
2001 that they will remain united and organized and will not allow anyone to
take away their rights. They will not allow any outside agency other than
Tawa Matsya Sangh in the reservoir. The men and women of the villages are
signing a petition to the President , the Prime Minister, and the Chief
Minister.
We appeal to you to help in this struggle of displaced tribal fishermen.
Please write immediately a letter to the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh
(Fax No. 0755-540501), write articles, reports and issue statements (please
send a copy to us), and help in any other manner. Your support and
solidarity in the struggle of displaced tribal fishermen against the
exploitation, corruption, loot and evil designs of vested interests will be
very important. We all must ensure that truth, honesty, justice and
people's will prevail in the struggle.
We shall expect a response and an early reply from you.
Yours sincerely,
Sabbulal,
Chairman, Tawa Matsya Sangh
Fagram,
Secretary, Kisan Adivasi Sanghatan,
Smita,
Asst. Manager, Tawa Matsya Sangh
Sunil,
Advisor, Tawa Matsya Sangh
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