Against fishing insurance compulsions

15 December 2025

To,

Director of Fisheries, 

Government of Goa, 

Panaji, Goa

Subject: Objections against compulsion to get private cannoe and labour insurance and subtle pressure to sign Undertaking ultra virus of Constitution of India 

Madam/Sir,

All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union (AGSSRFU) expresses deep disappointment at the introduction of UNDERTAKING form to be filled by fishers of Goa on insurance without any reference to provision of law for its introduction, source and legal origin. The said form seeks to deny any legal remedy to the fishers in case of any accident, loss, theft, fire, damage or any unforeseen incident. 

The said Undertakihg seeks to deprive fishers from any legitimate claims of compensation, financial assistance, insurance benefit, relief, or subsidy. The Undertaking further seeks to push all the liabilities, penalties, compensation and legal consequences on fishers in the eventuality of any case of fishing canoes causing damage, injury, accident, or loss to any person, property, or environment.

The Undertaking seeks to absolve Fisheries department of any responsibility from compensation, claim, or legal liability connected with canoes.

The most dangerous clause introduced in the said Undertakjng is that Fishers shall not approach any Court of Law, Tribunal, or Government Authority in future for claiming any compensation or relief in respect of loss and damage to fisher canoe while it remains uninsured. This clause is ultra vires of the Constitution of India Article 14 Right to Equality before law. Goa Fisheries Department cannot make fishers sign any Undertakings which violate Fundamental Rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India and make them lose dignity.

Fisheries laws and rules in force in Goa does not specify that fishers should enroll for private insurance. There is already Corpus fund deductions which are meant to be used for providing financial back up during the instances of eventualities of fire, accidents and other type of damages and losses mentioned above. The management of corpus funds is totally corrupt to the detriment of small scale fishers and lopsided in favour of mechanised fishers as revealed from the track record of its functioning with cabinet decisions overriding fisheries department corpus funds management system.

Fisheries department must revive its existing Accidental scheme which is suitable Small Scale Fishers. 

Private insurance proposed for canoes and labour at the time when fishing fuel subsidies are slashed to Rs.30,000/- from Rs.50,000/- during Covid-19 period is extremely burdensome on fishers. Fishers however will be able to abide with insurance demands if Goa Government increases fuel subsidies to Rs.75,000/- as proposed by AGSSFU. As things stand today system of administration of canoe insurance is embedded in prevailing eco-system of corruption which refuses to take identities of laborers on record to uphold its fleecing intents.

You are requested to act accordingly by:

1. Making functioning of Corpus Fund transparent

2. Reviving Fisheries department Accident Insurance Scheme

3. Stop pressuring fishers to opt for private insurance

4. Withdraw controversial UNDERTAKING forms distributed from the office of Fisheries Department 

5. Increase Canoe Fuel subsidy to Rs.75,000/- 

6. Involve Small Scale Fisher organisations in Goa in decision making rather than imposing your decisions like this one on insurance.

We expect your co-operation.

Yours Truly,

Shaila D'mello 

President

AGSSRFU

Laximan Mangueshkar 

Secretary

AGSSRFU