Midnapore District Coastal Fish Vendor Union

Midnapore District Coastal Fish Vendors’ Union

(Medinipur Zila Upokuliyo Matsya Vendor Union)

1. Name of the Organisation: Midnapore District Coastal Fish Vendors’ Union

2. Address:
     Registered Address: Dadanpatrabar, Ramnagar, Purba Medinipur – 721455
     Working address: Opposite site of Mountain Club, near Contai Central Bus stand Mobile – 9800777458

3. Nature of the Organisation: Trade Union 

4. Year of Establishment: 1999 (Under T U Act)

5. Registration Number: 23219 Dt. 03.09.1999

6. Name and designation of Office Bearers:

     President: Sujoy Krishna Jana

     Vice President: Balai Bar

     Secretary: Achinta Pramanik

     Secretary: Mr. Omerr Ali Khan

     Treasurer: Nanda Dulal Jana 

 7. Coverage Area: Municipality (2)—Contai, Egra.    
                                Blocks (11) — Contai I, Contai III, Deshpran, Ramnagar I,  Ramnagar II, Egra I, Egra II,
                                                        Khejuri I, Khejuri II, Nandigram  II, Bhagobanpur. 

8. Members : 4200

9. Guiding Principles:

Catering good fish to consumers at reasonable price maintaining hygiene. Dignity of Occupation. Security of Trade. Socio-Economic Upliftment.

10. Formation:                                      

In 1992, the fish vendors from different parts of Contai subdivision used to come to Dadanpatrabar wholesale fish market to collect fish. On the way, local goons and musclemen used to extort large amount of money from the vendors for religious festivals and social occasions. The extortion continued throughout the year. At a point of time, the fish vendors refused to pay. The locals despoiled the vendors and abused them physically.  Agitated, the vendors joined together and blocked the road. After police intervention, the roadblock ended.  Extortion was stopped. Vendors got a taste of their united strength and enjoyed the success of the movement. After the incident, the vendors formed an alliance which eventually took the shape of a Union. 

11. Main Activities with Highlights:  

In 2002, the vendor union had submitted a deputation to Kanthi Meen Bhavan demanding bicycles for fish vendors. By 2003, 400 bicycles were allocated by State Fisheries Department for vendors. Later, vendor union placed applications and deputations at different levels of the administration for further distribution of bicycles, motorcycles and cold storage boxes.

From 2007 onwards, vendor union had started an initiative to form SHGs among the fish vendors so that the vendors could take loans from different banks through the SHGs. By 2009, vendors applied for loans from various banks through about 45 self-help groups.

The fish vendors had a long history of struggle for their recognition as fish workers. In 2009, their fight saw the light of success when the then Assistant Director of Fisheries (Marine) at Contai, issued forms for fishers’ biometric identity card to coastal fish vendors as well. Due to constant intervention from the Vendor Union the coastal small scale fish vendors got their identity cards and thus were recognized in the district fisheries department.

The vendor union was instrumental in curbing the rampant extortion of money in the name of festival subscription throughout the Kanthi subdivision in the year 2018.

The vendor union played an instrumental role in the modernization process of Satmile fish market.

In 2019 and 2020 Vendor union had put up protests against eviction of Balighai and Pichaboni fish markets and successfully raised the demand for rehabilitation of the vendors.

12. Charter of Demand:  
      Adoption of a National Policy on Fish Vendors;
      Identity Card for Fish Vendors on urgent basis;
      Extension of KCC facilities to small scale fish vendors;
      Modernisation of fish markets with sufficient space, shade, platform, water supply, drainage,
      cleaning, toilet and approach road;
      Provision for bleaching powder and lime for fish markets;
      Urgent provision for Solar Lights for all evening fish markets;
      Provisioning of cycle, motorcycle, other transport facilities, cold boxes, modern weighing
      machine, trey etc. for fish vendors;
      Extension of Savings-cum-Relief Scheme for Fish Vendors;
      Life and medical insurance cover, housing scheme, old age and infirm pension, allowance for
      widowed and distressed woman fish vendors;
      Self-empowerment of women fish vendors through special schemes and preferential access;
      Protection from extortions by goons and musclemen.

 Conclusion:

Since its inception, Midnapore District Coastal Fish Vendors’ Union have become the voice of thousands of fish vendors in the state. Apart from playing a pivotal part in securing the recognition of fish vendors as fishermen the union moved for formation of SHG groups for easy bank loan; placing of demands for different facilities under govt schemes; demanding hygienic fish market for both vendors and consumers; social protection schemes for fish vendors, formulation of National fish vendor’s policy, are some of the most important areas that vendor union is working on.