Bhubaneswar, Feb 27: A thousand fishermen today staged a protest at the Lower PMG in Bhubaneswar demanding fulfillment of their 6-point charter of demands.
The agitators arrived from Paradip via buses. Bearing flags, the fishermen engaged in chanting slogans to emphasize their grievances under the Odisha Fishermen Association's banner.
Alleging exploitation by the government, the fishermen raised the issue of lack of attention to their community’s needs compared to measures taken in other states to support livelihoods. The absence of diesel subsidies, a key demand, was highlighted during the protest.
Additionally, demands were made for the inclusion of fishermen's families in the Public Distribution System (PDS) and other social security schemes during fishing bans.