Women Fish vendors Marched to Corporation Office . . . .

Thiruvananthapuram: Hundreds of women fish vendors under the leadership of Theeradesa Mahila Vedi, the women’s wing of Kerala Swathanthra Matsya Thozhilali Federation, marched towards the Corporation office protesting against the forcible taking over of fish from wayside women vendors by Corporation authorities and ‘goondas’. The march, which commenced from the Secretariat, was inaugurated by the District President of the Federation Shri.John.J.P. He noted that this act of force against women is part of the conspiracy by the Corporation authorities to make way for the sale of imported fish by giant companies like Wal-mart. If the Left Government, which has been elected to power with the backing of fishworkers, turns a blind eye to this, the strike in the coming days will be intensified, Shri.John said. Supporting the strike, the Councillor Shri.Somalan Vettucaud said that the Corporation must provide immediate compensation to wayside women vendors of Kumarapuram whose fish and basket were destroyed and added that the Corporation has not entrusted anyone to destroy fish of women vendors. Shri.Raymond, Councillor and the leaders of the Federation including Shri.Anto Elias, Ms.Maglin Peter and Ms.Friska Kurisippan spoke on the occasion. The dharna was led by Ms.Elizabeth Edwin, Ms.Rajamma Cleetus, Ms.Poonthura Celine, Ms.Jensila and Ms.Joosappy.