Coastal belt witnessing an innovative fund collection
The state, which has seen many varieties of fund collection, including the ‘bucket collection’ of the Left parties, for different causes is witnessing another innovative process of fund collection on its coastal belts.
It’s ‘Mathi’ and ‘Choora’ that are replacing money as Kerala Swathanthra Matsya Thozhilali Federation (KSMTF) is on a fund collection drive with a tag line ‘contribute a fish’ in the coastal areas of the state for raising working fund for the organisation.
“We are getting a good response from fish workers who are all happy to contribute a part of their catch to the fund. The contribution varies from a single fish to a basket of fish and we are carrying it out in all the coastal areas of the state,’’ said president of Kerala Swathanthra Matsya Thozhilali Federation T Peter.
The fish collected by the KSMTF are sold in the market and the money in turn is deposited to the the fund.
“Sometimes, fish workers donate us the fish as they bring in the catch from the sea and it is auctioned there itself. We are also getting money apart from the fish donation. KSMTF has set a target of Rs one crore and we will review the fund collection in another two months,’’ Peter said.
The fund, according to KSMTF, will be utilised for organising various protests for the cause of the fishermen and for the welfare measure of the fishing community.
“We need funds from time to time for organising various events for our cause. The fish workers, both at the state and national-levels, are on a protest path raising various demands which are being overlooked by the State and the Central Governments,’’ he said.
National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) general secretary N Elango, from Puducherry, said that the innovative way of fund collection started by the KSMTF in Kerala would be replicated in other states.
“The way of collection of fund is an inspiration for other state units to start fund collection in a similar manner.
“For Rs one crore, a fish’ is an attractive catchline for the fisherman for whose cause we are fighting,’’ he said.