THE HUE AND CRY
>> They insisted thatmigrant crew members should be made to go for Covid test
>> Velim villagers tooexpressed their anguish and approached the South district Collector
THE GOVT VERSION
>> The decision is inview of the opening of the state borders and entry without Covid certificates
>> Boat owners andfisheries societies can insist on sending migrant crew for Covid tests
MARGAO
In a decision that has raisedmany an eyebrow, Director of Fisheries Dr Shamila Monteiro has told theFisheries Officers that it isn't mandatory for fishing crew members to carryCovid-19 test report along with them while entering fishing jetties or venturinginto the sea for fishing.
While the Fisheries Director’sletter is in line with the government decision to open the borders, airportsand railway station for people to enter the state without Covid testing, Healthauthorities and villagers of Velim were red over the decision to exempt migrantcrew from entering Cutbona fishing jetty sans the Covid test report.
In fact, Balli Primary Healthauthorities have questioned the Fisheries Director’s letter, insisting that itshould be mandatory for migrant crew members to go for COVID test beforeentering the Cutbona fishing jetty.
Velim villagers have alsoexpressed its distress over the Fisheries Director’s decision and have urgedthe South district Collector to step in to protect the health interests of thevillagers as well as the staff of the Primary Health Centre at Balli
Fisheries Director Dr Monteiroinformed that she has written a letter to the Fisheries Officers in view of theopening of the state borders and the railway stations for people to enter thestate without Covid certificates. “We had put a SOP in place last month,mandating the migrant crew to come with Covid negative certificates to thejetties. Accordingly, the migrant crew were all reporting to the jetties withthe Covid certificates”, she said, adding that the new directives dispensingwith the Covid certificates is in line with the latest government decision ofopening the borders for people to enter sans the Covid certificates.
Monteiro, however, said thatboat owners and fisheries societies can insist at their level to send themigrant crew for Covid tests, but pointed out that it is purely for the boatowners and the societies to take a call.
Balli Primary Healthofficials, however, were left fuming over the Fisheries Director’s decision,saying the decision can result in a huge problem in and around the Cutbonafishing jetty.
In fact, PHC officialsrecalled that the Health Centre had last month written a letter to the SouthGoa district Collector, Ajit Roy calling for mandatory Covid testing formigrant crew members descending at the Curtbona fishing jetty. “The Balli PHC will once again write to thedistrict Collector with a plea to insist on entry of migrant workers into thejetty only with Covid negative certificates”, an official informed.
Meanwhile, the Velim Civic andConsumer Forum has called for urgent review of the Fisheries Director’s letter,saying the September 1 letter has huge implications for the Cutbona jetty andthe people.
In a letter to the Additionaldistrict Magistrate, South Goa, the Forum has expressed its anguish over theFisheries Director’s September letter which clearly stated that carrying oftest report for Covid-19 is not mandatory for crew members while enteringfishing jetty and also while venturing into the sea for fishing.
“We are deeply distressed tosee the above contents of the letter issued by the Director of Fisheries as itwill result in a health disaster for our village of Velim and the surroundingareas in Salcete Taluka”, Forum Covnenor Ramona Almeida stated in her letter.
The forum has urged thedistrict Magistrate to direct the Director of Fisheries to review the letterand take suitable steps to protect the health interests of villagers as well asthe staff of the Primary Health Centre Balli.
