About Dakshinbanga Matsyajibi Forum in 20/4 Sil Lane, Kolkata

Dakshinbanga Matsyajibi Forum (DMF) was established by fishworkers’ leaders like Harekrishna Debnath,Nirmalendu Das, Gadadhar Das, Amulya Bar, Gopinath Das, Suklal Das, Shyamal Mondal in early 1990s.Registered under the Trade Union Act in 1992 [Regn. No.20474] DMF presently has more than 10,000 members spread over five (5) districts of West Bengal – East Midnapore, South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly.

OFFICE BEARERS

President: Pradip Chatterjee. Vice President: Gobinda Das, General Secretary: Debasis Shyamal, Assistant Secretary: Suklal Das, Treasurer: Milan Das.

BRANCHES

DMF presently has seven branch organizations functioning in different areas and sectors of West Bengal namely –

1. Kanthi Mahokuma Khoti Matsyajibi Unnayan Samity. (East Midnapore District)
2. Medinipur Zila Upakuliya Matsya Vendor Union. (East Midnapore District)
3. Sundarban Matsyajibi Joutha Sangram Committee. (North & South 24 Parganas District)
4. Kakdwip Mahokuma Matsyajibi Forum (South 24 Parganas District)
5. Diamond Harbour Mahokuma Matsyajibi Forum. (South 24 Parganas District)
6. Kakdwip Mahokuma Matsyajibi Forum. (South 24 Parganas District)
7. Hooghly Zila Matsyajibi Forum. (Hooghly District)
8. Rupnarayan Nad Matsyajibi Union. (Howrah District)

HIGHLIGHTS OF STRUGGLE

1996 – Delhi March to protect the coast from encroachments and pollution, for banning foreign fishing vessels and for implementation of Murari Committee Recommendations.

1997 – Hunger Strike under Gandhi statue at Kanthi on 21 demands like Kerosene and diesel subsidy, implementation of Murari Committee recommendations and CRZ Notification.

1999-2000 – Movement against Sahara Mega Tourism project in Hooghly river estuary and in Sundarban. Sahara was forced to withdraw.

2000 – Hunger Strike at Kanthi demanding relief and savings scheme, Cycle and tray for fish vendors, gloves and shoes for fish sorter women. All the demands were realized.

2000-2003 – Struggle against eviction of 10,000 fish workers from seasonal fish drying on Jambudwip island. State Government agreed to provide 100 hectares of land on Jambudwip for fish workers. Case pending in Supreme Court.

2005 – Coastal Padayatra (march) from Khejuri to Digha under the leadership of Harekrishna Debnath with the slogan ‘ Save Water, Save Coast, Save Coastal People”.

2006-2007 – Movement against proposed Haripur Nuclear Power Plant. The newly elected State Government in 1911 rejected the project.

2008 – Joining the historic Coastal Campaign organized by NFF under the leadership of Harekrishna Debnath. As a result the ill conceived CMZ Notification was withdrawn.

2008-2013 – Struggle for implementation of Forest Rights Act in Sundarban demanding right to fish and right to protect fisheries resources. Eight days’ Boat Rally in the rivers and creeks of Sundarban in
December 2013. The continuous movement has brought in some partial reliefs for fishing communities.

2012 – Spread of DMF organization in Howrah and Hooghly Districts. Submission of memorandums.

2013 – District wise Campaign, Workshop, Conference and submission of memorandum by the Fish Vendors’ Union of East Midnapore.