Bhusandpur/Khurda: Thousands of fishermen living in Bhusandpur village in Khurda district are feeling like fish out of water, literally.
They are dependent on fishing and other related activities to sustain their livelihood. But with the passage of time and lack of fishermen-targeted government schemes, their lone livelihood option seems to be at peril.
With the elections round the corner, several political parties and their ilk are making a beeline to the village, often disturbing its tranquility with bike rallies. Despite tall promises made during campaigning, the fishermen’s fate has not changed all these years.
Many members of the fishermen community in the village have left their traditional business and reportedly switched to other trades in the past few years. Many of them are also reported to have migrated to southern states either for fishing or other daily wage based works.
“Most of the villagers here rely on fishing as their business but the prospects have dwindled. Due to dominance of fishing mafia, the fish catch and their varieties too have dipped. Income from fishing has also dwindled,” said Bisambar Behera, a fisherman of the village.
Bhusandpur lies close to the Chilika Lake in Khurda district and is connected to the water body through a long canal which is considered the lifeline for the fishermen communities. A number of boats owned by them go to Chilika everyday for their catch.
Sukanta Behera, another fisherman from the area, said that many have migrated to Kerala and Chennai while many others who wanted regular income migrated to Gujarat seeking wage-based jobs. Lack of proper civic amenities in this area, which falls under the Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha constituency, also adds to the woes of the fishermen families.
“There are many other issues which the political parties have failed to fulfil. Lack of banks, post offices and public transport till the village yet remains a pipe dream,” Sukanta said.
Sanitation also goes for a toss in the village. Many in the fishermen’s community said open defecation is rampant in the area despite many households having constructed toilets.
