| FCS working towards improving lot of.. |
| Tuesday, 26 August 2008 | |
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Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS) claims that they are ready to invite the European Union (EU) inspection team to visit the Karachi Fish Harbour (KFH) by the end of September. Now all the relevant bodies including the FCS, Karachi Fish Harbour Authority (KFHA), Marine Fisheries Department (MFD) and Sindh Fisheries Department (SFD) are working in the same direction with close coordination, said the FCS administrator, Jaffar Khwaja while talking to The News. “We have made a deal with the Zarai Taraqiati Bank (ZTB), facilitating boat owners to acquire loans for the timely modification of their vessels. The FCS will pay the bank’s markup in order to achieve the target of meeting the EU’s requirements, which has been delayed for long,” he said. Meanwhile, the SFD has already decided that the government will contribute 50 per cent of the amount for the boat modifications, while boat owners will have to spend the rest on their own. However, several boat owners were witnessed as being reluctant in spending money on modifications. Although, now they seem convinced as the FCS has assured that they will be provided a boat loan. Auction of old materials The FCS plans to auction boat engines, nets, life jackets and other fishing tools, which were imported long ago by the organisation to facilitate the fishermen. The FCS had spent Rs50 million on importing tools in order to sell them to the fishermen at cheaper rates. However, the administration acted insincerely and fixed the prices of imported tools more than the prices available for the same tools in the local market. Therefore, the fishermen preferred to buy these things from outside instead of visiting the FCS store. This approach gave a bigger loss to the organisation and now they are trying to sell these old tools in order to generate funds which can be spent on the community. Fishing nets, life jackets and other cotton-made tools have been damaged by rats and insects. The administrator said that they have taken this decision after consulting concerned officials and community influentials. Earlier these tools were sold by the former administrator illegally although the community resisted the move and foiled the bid. Welfare schemes The FCS has designed a plan to reduce unnecessary expenditures and launch welfare schemes in the fishermen’s localities. In this regard a four-member committee has been formed to prepare need-based recommendations instantly. The committee comprises two members belonging to Karachi, while the other two are from Thatta, representing the coastal areas. “I know the loopholes and leakages of funds within the organisation and some employees’ union leaders pressurise to get extra conveniences by violating the FCS bylaws but I am sure we will be able to handle these hurdles smoothly. The community’s welfare is our top priority and we are designing schemes for different localities,” Khwaja said. The administrator said that they have introduced a life insurance scheme and registered 15,000 fishermen. However, they are trying to give a cover of insurance to at least 30,000 fishermen in the first phase. Moreover, the FCS has also approved a drinking water project ‘River Osmosis plant’ for the people of Keti Bunder and other neighbourhoods. A similar project is being introduced for the people of Hawkes Bay soon, he added. Each project will provide drinking water to approximately 5,000 people. Furthermore, the FCS formed in 1945 was initially was committed to compensate the victims of boat accidents during their livelihood activities in case of death and injuries, supporting widows in running their families after the loss of their sole bread earner and helping poor community members on the occasion of marriages of their successors. Apart from this, the organisation had built some basic health units (BHU) at different villages, which the administrator said are in deplorable conditions now. However, Khwaja said that he has warned doctors deputed there to ensure their presence at the BHUs in order to facilitate the community properly. “We will fire doctors and the para-medical staff if they are found negligent,” he claimed. According to him the FCS has signed a contract with a private hospital in Kharadar to facilitate fishermen with better health facilities. For this he said membership cards are being issued to the people of the community. “We are providing two ambulances, one for Keti Bunder clinic and the other for Karachi’s island villages,” he added. New membership Talking about the complaints of the community regarding the new memberships, Khwaja said that it is true that for the last 45 years no new membership has been made. About 30 per cent of the old members have already died. “We are starting a membership drive from October to eradicate grievances of the community. New people will be hired to run the new organisation,” he said. |
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