Amicable Settlement Ends Strike. . . .

Thiruvananthapuram: The day and night strike held by women fishvendors has come to an end, after completing four days, with the authorities of Matsyafed (the apex body of cooperative societies) discussing with the striking committee and deciding to implement the following:

1. Two new Ladies Special buses under the Matsyafed will be sanctioned.

2. Maintenance work will be undertaken in the buses currently in service and a spare bus will also be pressed into service.

3. Insurance scheme will be implemented to the women who travel in these Ladies Special buses.

4. A subsidized loan scheme for women travelling in these buses will be developed under the Matsyafed.

The strike came to a temporary end on the basis of the assurances given by the authorities. Matsyafed authorities also arranged a bus to help the striking women go back to their homes.

V.S Achuthanandan inaugurates Sathyagraha by Fisherwomen. . . .

Thiruvananthapuram: The Sathyagraha of fisherwomen held in front of the Secretariat, under the leadership of Theeradesa Mahila Vedi, the women's wing of the Kerala Swathanthra Matsya Thozhilali Federation, was inaugurated by the Opposition Leader Shri.V.S.Achuthanandan. He demanded the immediate replacement of wrecking buses with new buses and giving up the move to evacuate women from wayside markets for the sake of Wal-mart. He pointed out that women face several problems in fish markets and called upon the Government and the local bodies to start measures for the modernization of fish markets and to provide facilities for their basic needs, in the light of the incidence of uterine diseases in these women due to prolonged hours of sitting. He announced that he and his movement shall forever be sensitive to the rightful demands of the fishworkers.

The State President of Kerala Swathanthra Matsya Thozhilali Federation Shri.T.Peter, Shri.John.J.P., Shri.Anto Elias, Shri.Valerian Issac and the activists of Theeradesa Mahila Vedi, Ms.Elizabeth Antony. Ms.Friska Kurisippan, Ms.Maglin Peter, Ms.Mariam Francis, Ms.Mable Nasiance, Ms.Helen Johny, Ms.Flory Lawrence, Ms.Jecintha Joseph, Ms.Jenshila Antony and Ms.Mable Raymond spoke on the occasion.

The day and night Sathyagraha strike in front of the Secretariat was organized to raise demands like, giving up the move to evacuate women fish vendors from wayside markets, giving membership to all deserving fisherwomen in the Welfare Fund, arranging new ladies special buses under the Matsyafed, providing drinking water to fishing villages, modernizing fish markets and providing facilities for basic needs.

Shri.Neelalohithadasan Nadar MLA, Shri.Kadakampally Surendran Ex.MLA, Shri.V.Dinakaran, Matsyafed Chairman and Ex.MLA and Planning Board Member Shri.C.P.John offered felicitations at the Satyagraha pandal.