Over 150 WB fishermen stuck in Narmada

Vadodara: They arrived in the tribal belt of Gujarat in January this year with the hopes of earning good money. But these 150 fishermen from West Bengal never thought that they would get stuck for months on the banks of Tapi River in Sagbara taluka of Narmada district.
They are not in regular touch with their families back home nor are they able to seek help from the West Bengal government.
“Hundreds of fishermen arrive in the state every year and stay here for few months. They are hired by the local cooperative societies that are into fishing business. The societies get contract from the government for fishing in the river and hence they need labourers,” said Kanti Kothari, general secretary, Sagbara Taluka Matysaudyog Sahakari Mandali Ltd.
“We hire them to fish in Tapi River. This year, though, we didn’t get the contract as water level in the dam was high. But the fishermen arrived in January and when they didn’t get work, they decided to stay here for a couple of months to look for some other work. Before they could return, the lockdown was announced,” Kothari told TOI.
Over last two months, the fishermen have been staying in hutments on the banks of Tapi River in Motidevrupan village. When they began running out of food, local villagers provided them groceries for a few days before the administration stepped in. “We have been providing them with food and some NGOs too have supported these fishermen. We have made all the arrangements for their return to West Bengal but we have to wait till their state government gives permission to run the train,” said H K Vyas, deputy collector, Narmada.