Sewage release in Mandovi and insensitive CCP

Very soon thousands of people will visit Goa at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) site at Campal Panjim. However what often goes amiss every year is the city outlet that channelizes City sewage directly into Mandovi river through St.Inez Nallah.

This release of Panjim sewage in Mandovi river waters contributes towards keeping Mandovi river perennially polluted endangering marine ecology to an enormous extent. This is one of the major sources of pollution Mandovi river along with release of sewage from Casino floating vessels in Mandovi river that spins commers of immortality known as gambling and ancillary vices.

Clam fishers of Panjim who park their canoes at Campal are amongst directly affected people due to City sewage release in Mandovi waters. It is important that this reality of Goa be brought to the attention and put on agenda of public debate.

We wonder when the Corporation of City of Panjim (CCP) will develop enough sensitivity for right now it's headed by insensitive elements and release of sewage in Mandovi waters is impeccable evidence of CCP insensitivity.

Sebastian Rodrigues 

When feelings remains without expressions

Book Review: Before I Knew I Loved You

Author: Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Series: Before the Coffee Gets Cold #6

Published: 2024

Publishers: Pan Macmillan

The Concept

We are back in the small Tokyo cafe, Funiculi Funicula. There is one special seat there. If you sit in it and drink coffee, you can travel to the past or the future.

But the rules never change:

- You cannot change the present

- You cannot leave your seat

- You must return before the coffee gets cold

So this is not a time travel adventure. It is about closure, about saying what was left unsaid.

The Four Stories

- The Runaway: Azami ran away from home at 14. She could never bring herself to call her stepmother Yumiko "Mum." She goes back to finally say it.

- The Patient Man: Tomokazu has come to the same cafe every White Day for 7 years, waiting for a reply from the woman he loves. It is a story about love as patience.

- The Woman Afraid of Her Future: Rikako has just been diagnosed with cancer. She wants to travel forward to see what her future will look like. This is the heaviest story in the book, but also the most hopeful.

- The Student Who Misses His Father: Tsuguo lost his father when he was young. He goes back just to see him one more time.

And in between, we also get more of Kazu Tokita's story. She has blamed herself for her mother's fate as the ghost in the white dress, and she finally starts to let herself be happy.

My Take

This is not a fast thriller. It is slow, warm, and quietly heartbreaking.

Kawaguchi writes in very simple words, but the feelings are deep. Every story says the same thing in a different way:

We cannot change the past, but we can change how our heart carries it.

Read it if you:

- Have unsaid feelings for someone

- Feel like you were too late to say sorry, thank you, or I love you

- Want a quiet, cozy, emotional read

My Rating: 4.2 / 5

You can read it as a standalone, but if you start from Book 1, Kazu, Nagare, and the ghost lady will mean so much more to you.

Content Warning: Death, grief, cancer, and a car accident are mentioned. It will make your heart heavy, but it ends with hope.

Apeksha R. Tandel 

Save Water! Save Fish! Save Fishers!

Water is life. Without water, no living being can survive on this earth. Fish live in water, and fishermen live by catching fish. So if we save water, we automatically save fish and fishermen too. All three are connected to each other.

Today, water is getting polluted day by day. Factories throw dirty chemicals into rivers, people throw plastic and garbage into lakes and seas because of which the water becomes dirty and poisonous. Fish cannot live in dirty water. They die. When fish die, fishermen have no work. Their families suffer from hunger.

If we want to save fish, we must first save water. We should not throw plastic, garbage, or chemicals into rivers and seas. We should keep our lakes and ponds clean.

Saving fish is also very important. We should not catch small baby fish. We should let them grow. We should not use harmful methods like dynamite or poison to catch fish. This kills many fish at once and destroys their homes.

When we save water and fish, we save the fisherman. A fisherman depends on the sea for his living. If there are no fish, he cannot earn money. His children cannot go to school. His family cannot live happily.

So, let us all take a pledge:

Save Water, Save Fish, Save Fishers.

If we keep our water clean, fish will live happily, and fishermen will also live happily. Saving them means saving our future.

Apeksha R. Tandel

On why reading club matters

A reading club is one of the simplest and most powerful ideas in the world.

A group of people decide to read. Not for exams, not for marks, but for joy. They meet regularly, sit together, and share the love of books.

What happens in a reading club?

Usually, the format is very simple. Everyone brings their own book or they all decide to read one common book. They read silently for some time. Then they talk about what they read — what they liked, what confused them, what touched their heart.

There is no teacher, no compulsion, no judgement.

Why are reading clubs becoming popular again?

People are tired of endless scrolling. A reading club offers three things that phones cannot:

1. Focus: For one hour, your mind is with one book, not with a hundred notifications.

2. Community: You meet people you would never meet otherwise — different ages, different jobs, different thoughts — all connected by books.

3. Habit: Many people want to read but cannot stay consistent alone. When you read with others, you stay regular.

Who can join a reading club?

Anyone. A student who reads comics, a retired person who reads poetry, a young professional who reads self-help, a homemaker who reads novels. You don't need to be a fast reader or speak good English. You just need curiosity.

What does a reading club give you?

It improves your language and thinking without you even noticing. It makes you a better listener. It gives you a quiet space in a noisy week. And most importantly, it reminds you that stories still bring us together.

In every town, there should be a reading club. Because a town that reads together, grows together.

A reading club is not about finishing books. It is about not finishing the habit of reading.

Apeksha R. Tandel

Where stories meet the shore

In Honnavar, there is a sacred confluence. At Tonka, the Sharavathi River — after journeying through the Western Ghats and falling 253 meters at Jog Falls — finally meets the Arabian Sea. It is where two worlds become one.

From that very soil comes a new confluence of stories, people, and hope. Its name is Apeksha Reading Club.

Why 'Apeksha'?

Apeksha means hope, expectation, aspiration. It is the hope that in a world of endless scrolling, we can still sit together, open a book, and truly listen. The hope that our coastal town, known for its estuary, mangroves, turtles, and Yakshagana, can also be known for its readers.

Rooted in Honnavar Tonka

This club is born from Honnavar's own lessons based on reading club idea seed sowed by Loretti Pinto.

At Kasarkod Tonka beach, Olive Ridley turtles swim thousands of kilometers to return to the exact beach where they were born to lay their eggs. Fishermen like Rajesh Tandel protect them. The Forest Department and locals work together. It teaches us that stories also travel far and need a safe shore to return to.

Apeksha Reading Club wants to be that safe shore.

From Honnavar Tonka, where the river meets the sea, Apeksha Reading Club brings together different people, languages, and stories — just like the Sharavathi meets the Arabian Sea.

1. Silent Reading at Tonka: We meet near the beach, in parks, or under trees.  We read together in silence for an hour — with the sound of waves in the background.

2. Story Circles: After reading, we share. A line we loved. A folk tale from Honnavar. A memory of Idagunji or Apsarakonda.

3. Kannada First, All Languages Welcome: We celebrate Kannada — from Da Ra Bendre to Kayyara Kinhanna Rai, from Karavali folklore to modern writers — but all languages are welcome.

4. For Everyone: No fees. No age bar. No formalities. Students, fishermen,  homemakers, children — if you love a story, you belong.

Our Dream

Honnavar has always been called “untouched heaven” — for its Eco Beach, its mangroves, its Konkan Railway bridge, its temples. We dream that it will also be known as a town that reads together.

Apeksha is not just a club. It is our small promise to the next generation of Honnavar that they will have stories, beaches, and turtles; all protected together.

Apeksha Reading Club, Honnavar Tonka.

Where Stories Meet. Where River Meets Sea.

Apeksha R. Tandel

Tenure rights for SSF is the need of the hour

Raigad traditional small-scale fishers provide inputs at community led consultation; provide insights on key challenges to and reforms required to safeguard livelihoods 

Raigad district’s small-scale and traditional fishing community held the first consultation in Maharashtra for the development of the national plan of action (NPOA) to secure sustainable small-scale fisheries. Held at Sakav-Pen Praklap-Raigad on 1st of November 2026, the consultation convened small-scale fishers from fishing villages and societies in Uran (Hanuman koilwada, Uran koliwada, Kondegoan, Vindhane, Dighode) and Panvel (Belpada-Jasai, Gavhan, Diwale, Taloja, Vaghiwali, Belpada-Kopra, Kharaghar, Motha-khanda, Roadpali, Peth) block of Raigad district. 

Fishers who primarily fish in the sea using gillnets, cast net, stake net, doll-net from non-motorised and motorised boats were the main participants of the consultation. Fisherwomen involved in fishing, fish drying and fish vending also participated. This consultation is one of the most important steps in developing the national plan to secure livelihoods rights and security for small-scale fishers. This consultation is part of the process to implement the Voluntary Guidelines for Small Scale Fishers (VG-SSF) which began in 2014, as a bottom-up process by fishers to implement regionally sensitive policies and rules to protect fish resources and livelihoods. 

The consultation was divided into three thematic sessions. Session 1 focussed on defining who is a small-scale fisher, that is, to include community views on who should be included in the development plan. This would determine whose livelihoods would be protected under the NPOA. In this session, there was unanimous opinion that mechanised boats like trawlers and purse-seiners should not be included in the small-scale category. It was also clear that primarily those who were engaged in the direct act of fishing and allied activities from traditional fishing communities and members of fishing societies should be the ones included in the scope of the NPOA. 

Session 2 focussed on identifying key issues affecting fish resources and livelihoods and suggesting ways to resolve them.  A first theme focussed on the right of small-scale fishers to have legally defined secure access to fisheries resources and legal protections to prevent ongoing and future displacement. The second theme focussed on resolving conflicts in resource management, instituting community-based fisheries management plans and in turn, restoring the environment and fisheries habitats. There were two key findings that emerged from this session: the first is the near total absence of land titles to private and community lands for homesteads, recreation and fishing and allied activities. 

Second, the large-scale displacement caused by the establishment of JNPT, CIDCO, and other development projects forced fishers to relocate from their ancestral lands to unfamiliar areas, severely impacting their livelihoods, housing rights, and traditional occupational rights. Consequently, fishers demand prioritized access to the sea, strict enforcement of fishing regulations—including bans on destructive fishing practices—and a formal process for the demarcation and legal recognition of their traditional fishing territories.

Session 3 was subdivided into four themes focussed on: social development, value chain, gender and climate crisis impacts. Social development focussed on health, education, housing, social protection and occupational safety of small-scale fishers. Market linkages focussed on ways to improve the freshness of fish to provide economic boost to fishers’ livelihoods, including a focus on finance and organisations. The gender theme focussed on bringing the invisbilised labour and crucial roles of women in fishing, and inside households to the forefront, in order to improve access to schemes and finance and strengthen their participation in leadership. Finally, climate crisis focussed on tackling the impacts of and improving the ability of small-scale fishers to cope with climate events. 

The discussions once again provide insights from fishers that show the importance of the VG-SSF process since they call for a paradigm shift away from the way fisheries are currently managed. 

Due to large-scale displacement 40 years ago, small-scale fishers continue to suffer from insecure fisheries tenure, housing instability, disrupted livelihoods, and declining fish stocks caused by industrial pollution. During the last session, stakeholders emphasized that secure tenure and sustainable resource management must be prioritized. Only by securing these foundational rights can fishers harvest effectively and access markets, underscoring the deeply interconnected nature of SSF livelihood issues.

Here the fishers were clear that there was a need for securing livelihood, reducing pollution in estuaries, rights over fishing grounds, fish breeding sites in mangroves areas.

The women provided their views on a series of challenges and solutions: improving working conditions in post-harvest activities, access to healthcare, ensuring nutritional security within households, creating leadership opportunities within organisations, strengthening women’s SHGs by providing them various skills. There is also an urgent need to sensitise and change the views of society which stigmatise fisherwomen when they commute on public transport. 

Finally, climate crisis related changes call for an urgent range of interventions. While fishers provided inputs on early warning systems, on board radio and satellite communication systems and appropriate insurance schemes, they were firmly of the opinion that protection and restoration of the ecology takes precedence as the first line of action. There was also a novel suggestion made by the fishers to train fishers as climate-responders to be able to utilise local expertise while generating livelihood options.

The consultation was jointly organised by the Maharashtra Small Scale Traditional Fish Workers Union (MSSTFWU), National Federation of Small Scale Fishworkers (NFSF) and Dakshin Foundation with support from the FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization) BOBP (Bay of Bengal Program) and ICAR-CIFE (Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Central Institute of Fisheries Education) institutions. 

Oppressed must not become new oppressors

 

Book: Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire

Originally published in 1968. Latest Indian Edition (paperback) published by Penguin Books Ltd in 2017

This book says - education should not be like putting knowledge into empty pots. Real education is a dialogue.

Freire explains two types:

1. Banking Education - Teacher knows everything, student knows nothing. Teacher deposits knowledge. This makes people silent and obedient.

2. Problem-Posing Education - Teacher and students learn together. They ask questions about their own life, their oppression, and find solutions together.

Main idea: Oppressed people must not become new oppressors. They must liberate themselves AND their oppressors through love, dialogue, and critical thinking. No one liberates anyone else, people liberate together.

Why I like it: It connects directly to small-scale fishers, children, and village work. It teaches us to not just give help, but to sit with people and think together.

Rating: 5/5 - A must-read for anyone who works with community.

Apeksha R. Tandel

Why Reading Clubs Matter More Than Just Books?

In a world full of fast videos, short messages, and endless scrolling, sitting down with a book feels like a quiet revolution. And when you do that together with others -in a reading club - it becomes even more powerful.

A reading club is not just a group of people reading the same book. It is a small community built on curiosity. Every person brings their own life experience to the same page. For example, when five people read the same story, you will get five different meanings. One person experience love, another feel loss, another sense hope. This is the magic of a reading club – it teaches us that there is never only one way to look at life.

1. Reading Makes Us Think Better

When we read regularly, our mind becomes sharper. We learn new words without trying to memorize them. We learn how to form better sentences and better thoughts. Reading for just 20 minutes a day can reduce stress, improve focus, and help us sleep better. It is like exercise for the brain. A reading club keeps this habit alive because your friends are waiting to discuss the book with you. You don't want to miss it.

2. It Builds Confidence to Speak

Many of us are shy to speak in front of others. In a reading club, everyone gets a chance to speak. There is no right or wrong answer. You can say, "I liked this character" or "I did not understand this part." Slowly, you start speaking more clearly and confidently. You learn to listen to others and respect different opinions, even if you don't agree with them.

3. It Connects People

In schools and colleges, we often stay in our own small groups. A reading club breaks those walls. Seniors, juniors, teachers, and students can all sit together as equal readers. You start friendships based on ideas, not just on age or class. In many villages and towns, reading clubs have become a place where people come together to learn about health, farming, jobs, and life skills through books.

4. How to Run a Good Reading Club

You don't need a big library or a lot of money. You just need 4-5 interested friends and one book. Here is a simple plan that works:

First, choose one book for two weeks. It can be a story, a biography, or even a newspaper article.

Second, fix one day and time every week – like Saturday evening for one hour.

Third, everyone reads at home. In the meeting, each person shares one favourite line and one question from the book.

Fourth, write down the best thoughts in a small notebook. That notebook will become your club's memory.

If you don't have books, start with free e-books, local library books, or old magazines. The important thing is to start.

In the end, a reading club does not just make you a better reader. It makes you a better thinker, a better listener, and a better friend. One book can change a day, but a reading club can change your whole way of thinking.

So, pick a book today, invite two friends, and start your own reading club. Your journey of a thousand stories begins with a single page.

Apeksha R. Tandel

SSF Consultation calls for increase in SSF fishing Zone as preferential access

Goa small-scale and traditional fishers engage in fisheries community consultation; provides vital inputs towards finalising the national plan of action to secure livelihoods

Goa’s small-scale and traditional fishing community held the second consultation in the state for the development of the national plan of action (NPOA) to secure sustainable fisheries. Held in Odxel, Tiswadi on the 24th of October, the consultation convened small-scale fishers from in North Goa district. Fishing communities whose livelihoods are engaged in estuarine and marine waters participated with representation from fishers using rampons (shore seines), gill-nets, stake nets, oyster and shell fish collection as well as those involved in fish vending and auctioning. A few fisherwomen involved in fishing, fish processing and fish vending also participated. This consultation is one of the most important steps in developing the national plan to secure livelihoods rights and security for small-scale fishers. This consultation is part of the process to implement the Voluntary Guidelines for Small Scale Fishers (VG-SSF) which began in 2014, as a bottom-up process by fishers to implement regionally sensitive policies and rules to protect fish resources and livelihoods. 

The consultation was divided into three thematic sessions. Session 1 focussed on defining who is a small-scale fisher, that is, to include community views on who should be included in the development plan. This would determine whose livelihoods would be protected under the NPOA. In this session, there was unanimous opinion that mechanised boats like trawlers and purse-seiners should not be included in the small-scale category. It was also clear that primarily those who were engaged in the direct act of fishing and allied activities should be the ones included in the scope of the NPOA. Goa specific traditional methods of fishing like cast nets, futtani, Kumle, cholonni, oyster and shellfish collection were highlighted as small - scale, sustainable fisheries practices.

Session 2 focussed on identifying key issues affecting fish resources and livelihoods and suggesting ways to resolve them. A first theme focussed on the right of small-scale fishers to have legally defined secure access to fisheries resources and legal protections to prevent ongoing and future displacement. The second theme focussed on resolving conflicts in resource management, instituting community-based fisheries management plans and in turn, restoring the environment and fisheries habitats. In this session, fishers were vocal that violations of the Coastal Regulation Zone notification (CRZ) and the non-finalisation of the CZMPs were the two primary reasons for displacement and threats to livelihoods. As a result, the expansion of tourism, development projects and ports on the shore is squeezing fishers on land, while bottom trawling in no-go zones, dredging, water sport boats and effluent discharge is affecting fish resources at sea. Lack of proactive support and training from authorities was highlighted as a cause for concern. The discussion during the day provides a clear path to achieve livelihood security: rolling back the dilutions of the CRZ process, curbs on destructive mechanised fishing, regulation of tourist boats, enforcement of fisheries regulations, preferential access to resources at sea, extension of exclusive small scale fishing zones from 5km to 15km, protection fishing breeding sites and demarcation of post-harvest spaces on land. Together these point to an urgent need to implement a ‘Fishers Rights Act’ to achieve the aims and objectives of the SSF guidelines. A clear demand that all  fisher related issues (especially those operating 18-20ft boats) to be handled by the Fisheries department was raised. Fishers demanded that subsidies should match inflation rates and actual expenses. The licensing regime for different sectors should give preference to Goa’s traditional fishers first. Participants unanimously stressed on the need for experiential learning opportunities for students and young adults to understand the ecosystems and traditional fisher occupations. 

Session 3 was subdivided into four themes focussed on: social development, value chain, gender and climate crisis impacts. Social development focussed on health, education, housing, social protection and occupational safety of small-scale fishers. Market linkages focussed on ways to improve the freshness of fish to provide economic boost to fishers livelihoods, including a focus on finance and organisations. The gender theme focussed on bringing the invisibilised labour and crucial roles of women in fishing and inside households to the forefront, in order to improve access to schemes and finance and strengthen their participation in leadership. Finally, the climate crisis focussed on tackling the impacts of and improving the ability of small-scale fishers to cope with climate events. 

The discussions once again provided insights from fishers that show the importance of the VG-SSF process since they call for a paradigm shift away from the way fisheries are currently managed. At fish landing centres, fish markets and in net making and fish processing areas, access to hygienic and sanitation facilities is urgently needed, especially for women. To be able to access markets appropriately, issues of resource management and secure tenure must be ensured first. It is only after securing these that fishers will be able to catch the appropriate fish and sell them in markets, bringing into spotlight the interconnectedness of SSF livelihoods issues. The women provided their views on a series of challenges and solutions: improving working conditions in post-harvest activities, ensuring nutritional security within households, creating leadership opportunities within organisations, crafting new women' s collectives and upskilling in value-addition and marketing skills. There is also an urgent need to acknowledge the value of the role of women in the household and to support fisherwomen’s mental health needs. Finally, climate crisis related changes call for an urgent range of interventions. While fishers provided inputs on early warning systems and insurance schemes, they were firmly of the opinion that protection and restoration of the ecology takes precedence as the first line of action. They sought timely weather warnings and comprehensive insurance. 

The consultation was locally facilitated by the National Federation of Small Scale Fishworkers on behalf of the Bay Of Bay Program-Inter Governmental Organization (BOBP-IGO). Representatives from the Goa state Department of Fisheries were present at the consultation. Goa’s traditional fishworkers union representatives from All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union (AGSSRFU) participated in the consultation. The previous consultation for South Goa district was held on the 17th of October 2026. 

A Little Book About Art

This book is from the Orange Hippo! "Little Books" series. The idea of the series is simple - take a big topic like Art, Philosophy, Love, and make it small, beautiful and giftable. It's a 2025 publication by OH an imprint of headline publishing group limited

 

1. What is this book really about?

It's not a history of art. It will not teach you when Picasso was born or how to mix colors.

 

It is a collection of wisdom. The editor has collected 100+ best thoughts about art from the last 500 years - from painters, writers, photographers, designers.

 

The central question is: What is art? Why do we need it?

 

You will find answers like:

> "Art is not what you see, but what you make others see." - Edgar Degas

> "Every artist was first an amateur." - Emerson

> "Creativity is contagious, pass it on." - Einstein

 

2. How is it made?

- Size: Very small, palm-sized. You can carry it in your bus bag.

- Design: Hardcover. Your cover photo with Winsor & Newton GRIFFIN paint tubes is the best part. Inside, each quote is on a separate page with a different color background.

- Language: Very easy English. Most quotes are 10-15 words only. Perfect for your daily English practice that you mentioned.

 

3. Detailed Review

Point Rating Comment

Look & Feel  5/5 Looks like a piece of art on your shelf

Content 4/5 Inspiring, but some quotes are repeated from the internet

For Learning 5/5 Best for English learners and beginners in art

Value for Money 4/5 Small book for ~Rs. 400-500, but worth it as a gift

Pros:

- You can open any page and start reading. No need to read from page one.

- It gives you confidence. It tells you art is for everyone, not just for professionals.

- It is a great conversation starter. If guests come to your home and see this book scattered on the table, they will pick it up.

 

Cons:

- If you are looking for deep knowledge or techniques of painting, this book has nothing.

- No pictures of famous paintings inside, only text.

 

4. Final Verdict

This is a tea-time book. Keep it where your books and pens get scattered when you are not at home. Read one quote with your tea. Think about it for 2 minutes.

 

It will slowly make you an aesthete - a person who loves beauty.

 

My Overall Score: 4.3 / 5 Stars

 

Apeksha R. Tandel

Preferential access to SSF is a must! LED Fishing must stop!

Sindhudurg’s traditional small-scale fishers provide inputs at community led consultation; provide insights on key challenges and reforms required to safeguard livelihoods 

Sindhudurg district’s small-scale and traditional fishing community held the first consultation in Maharashtra for the development of the national plan of action (NPOA) to secure sustainable fisheries. Held at Barrister Nath Pain Sevangan, Chivla village on the 22nd of October, the consultation convened small-scale fishers from fishing villages and societies in Malvan, Devgad and Vengurla. Fishers who primarily fish in the sea using rapans (shore seines) and gill-nets from non-motorised and motorised boats were the main participants of the consultation. Fisherwomen involved in fishing, fish drying and fish vending also participated. This consultation is one of the most important steps in developing the national plan to secure livelihoods rights and security for small-scale fishers. This consultation is part of the process to implement the Voluntary Guidelines for Small Scale Fishers (VG-SSF) which began in 2014, as a bottom-up process by fishers to implement regionally sensitive policies and rules to protect fish resources and livelihoods. 

The consultation was divided into three thematic session. Session 1 focussed on defining who is a small-scale fisher, that is, to include community views on who should be included in the development plan. This would determine whose livelihoods would be protected under the NPOA. In this session, there was unanimous opinion that mechanised boats like trawlers and purse-seiners should not be included in the small-scale category. It was also clear that primarily those who were engaged in the direct act of fishing and allied activities from traditional fishing communities and members of fishing societies should be the ones included in the scope of the NPOA. 

Session 2 focussed on identifying key issues affecting fish resources and livelihoods and suggesting ways to resolve them. A first theme focussed on the right of small-scale fishers to have legally defined secure access to fisheries resources and legal protections to prevent ongoing and future displacement. The second theme focussed on resolving conflicts in resource management, instituting community-based fisheries management plans and in turn, restoring the environment and fisheries habitats. There were two key findings that emerged from this session: the first is the near total absence of land titles to private and community lands for homesteads, recreation and fishing and allied activities. And second, the rampant disregard for fisheries regulations by the mechanised fishing sector, such as the use of LED lights by purse seiners, small mesh sizes by bottom trawlers and bull trawling by pelagic trawlers. Fishers demand first access to the sea, enforcement of fishing regulations, including curbs on destructive fishing methods, and a process of demarcation of and legal rights over fishing livelihood areas. 

Session 3 was subdivided into four themes focussed on: social development, value chain, gender and climate crisis impacts. Social development focussed on health, education, housing, social protection and occupational safety of small-scale fishers. Market linkages focussed on ways to improve the freshness of fish to provide economic boost to fishers livelihoods, including a focus on finance and organisations. The gender theme focussed on bringing the invisbilised labour and crucial roles of women in fishing and inside households to the forefront, in order to improve access to schemes and finance and strengthen their participation in leadership. Finally, climate crisis focussed on tackling the impacts of and improving the ability of small-scale fishers to cope with climate events. 

The discussions once again provide insights from fishers that show the importance of the VG-SSF process since they call for a paradigm shift away from the way fisheries are currently managed. At fish landing centres, fish markets and in net making and fish processing areas, access to hygienic and sanitation facilities, drinking water facility and first aid is urgently needed, especially for women. To be able to access markets appropriately, issues of resource management and secure tenure must be ensured first. It is only after securing these that fishers will be able to catch the appropriate fish and sell them in markets, bringing into spotlight the interconnectedness of SSF livelihoods issues. Here the fishers were quite clear that there was a need for solar-powered ice-boxes that keep fish fresher and do not cost them extra. The women provided their views on a series of challenges and solutions: improving working conditions in post-harvest activities, access to healthcare, ensuring nutritional security within households, creating leadership opportunities within organisations, crafting new womens’ collectives and upskilling in value-addition and marketing skills. There is also an urgent need to sensitise and change the views of society which stigmatise fisherwomen when they commute on public transport. Finally, climate crisis related changes call for an urgent range of interventions. While fishers provided inputs on early warning systems, on board radio and satellite communication systems and appropriate insurance schemes, they were firmly of the opinion that protection and restoration of the ecology takes precedence as the first line of action. There was also a novel suggestion made by the fishers to train fishers as climate-responders to be able to utilise local expertise while generating livelihood options.

The consultation was jointly organised by the Maharashtra Small Scale Traditional Fish Workers Union (MSSTFWU), National Federation of Small Scale Fishworkers (NFSF) and Dakshin Foundation with support from the FAO-BOBP and ICAR-CIFE institutions. Representatives from the Sindhudurg district Department of Fisheries and the Mangrove Cell were also present at the consultation. The next consultation for Maharashtra is scheduled in Navi Mumbai on the 1st of November. 

 

Tonka village to Honnavar binocular view

I experienced beautiful moments with my binoculars that I will never forget.

It was in Honnavar where the Sharavati river meets the Arabian Sea; the view through binoculars is pure magic. I saw fishermen casting nets at sunrise, their silhouettes golden against the water. I saw Kasarkod beach alive with birds, the historic lighthouse standing tall, and the Apsarakonda falls hidden in green hills.

In Tonka Village the sea came alive with art and life. Small boats gliding like brushstrokes on a blue canvas, children's laughter, and fisherfolk weaving stories.

Binoculars are one of the simplest yet most powerful optical tools ever invented. They bring distant worlds closer to our eyes, whether it is a bird hidden in a tree, a star in the night sky, or a ship on the horizon.

How do binoculars work?

A binocular is essentially two telescopes joined together, one for each eye. Light enters through the large objective lens, gets magnified, and is corrected by prisms to give us a straight, clear, and magnified image.

What do the numbers mean?

You will often see numbers like 8x42 or 10x50. The first number is magnification 8x means the object appears eight times closer. The second is the diameter of the objective lens in millimeters.

For beginners, 8x42 is ideal. In a world where we often rush past small wonders, Binoculars teach us to pause and look closer especially in a beautiful place like Honnavar.

Apeksha R. Tandel

Fishing net, Boat and Courage

 

Preface

A fisherman is a person who catches fish for a living. He is one of the hardest working people in society.

His life starts very early in the morning, even before the sun rises. He takes his small boat and fishing net and goes deep into the sea or river. He has a lot of courage because the sea is not always calm. Sometimes there are big waves and strong winds.

Fishing is not easy. Sometimes he catches a lot of fish, sometimes he catches nothing but he never loses hope. He patiently waits for hours.

The fisherman not only feeds his own family but he also provides food for all of us. The fresh fish we eat in the market comes because of his hard work.

We should always respect fishermen for their bravery and hard work.

Introduction

A fisherman is a person whose main occupation is catching fish. Since ancient times, fishing has been one of the oldest professions in the world. Fishermen mostly live near the sea, rivers, lakes, and coastal areas like Tonka town, Malpe, Karwar.

Daily Life

The life of a fisherman is full of struggle. He wakes up at 3 or 4 AM when the whole village is still sleeping. He checks his boat, nets, and engine. With his friends, he goes 10-20 kilometers deep into the sea. He stays in the water for 8 to 12 hours.

His work depends completely on nature. If the weather is good, he gets a good catch. If there is a storm or heavy rain, he has to come back empty-handed and his life is in danger.

Skills and Knowledge

A fisherman is not just a laborer, he is very knowledgeable. He can understand the direction of the wind by looking at the sky, he knows where fish will be found by looking at the color of the water, and he knows how to repair his net himself. This knowledge is passed from father to son.

Problems Faced:

1. Risk of Life: The sea is unpredictable.Threat to life always a company to those inside fishing boat navigating over the waves of Arabian Sea. Still fisherman carries risk in his fist.

2. Low Income: He has to sell his fish to middlemen for a low price in the early morning market. Even after working 12 hours in the sea, he gets very little money and struggles to meet daily expenses

3. No Modern Facilities: Many fishermen still do not have big boats, GPS, or life jackets. Because they use old nets and small engines, they cannot go far and their catch is less compared to big trawlers.

4. Off-Season: During the rainy season, fishing is banned for 2 months for fish breeding, at that time they have no income. In these two months they have to borrow money for food and depend on government help to

Importance to Society:

Fish is a very healthy food, rich in protein. The economy of our coastal Karnataka depends a lot on fishing. Fishermen provide nutritious food to crores of people.

Conclusion:

A fisherman teaches us two great lessons - Hard Work and Patience. He goes to work every day without any guarantee of income. The government and society must help them by giving better boats, insurance, education for their children, and good market prices. We must respect them.

Apeksha R. Tandel

SSF consultation calls for Fisheries Rights Act to defend small scale fishers

Goa small-scale and traditional fishers engage in fisheries community consultation; provides vital inputs towards finalising the national plan of action to secure livelihoods

Goa’s small-scale and traditional fishing community held the first consultation in the state for the development of the national plan of action (NPOA) to secure sustainable fisheries. Held in Cavelossim, Salcete on the 17th of October, the consultation convened small-scale fishers from in South Goa district. Fishing communities whose livelihoods are engaged in estuarine and marine waters participated with representation from fishers using rampons (shore seines), gill-nets, stake nets, as well as those involved in fish vending and auctioning. Fisherwomen involved in fishing, fish processing and fish vending also participated in large numbers. This consultation is one of the most important steps in developing the national plan to secure livelihoods rights and security for small-scale fishers. This consultation is part of the process to implement the Voluntary Guidelines for Small Scale Fishers (VG-SSF) which began in 2014, as a bottom-up process by fishers to implement regionally sensitive policies and rules to protect fish resources and livelihoods. 

The consultation was divided into three thematic session. Session 1 focussed on defining who is a small-scale fisher, that is, to include community views on who should be included in the development plan. This would determine whose livelihoods would be protected under the NPOA. In this session, there was unanimous opinion that mechanised boats like trawlers and purse-seiners should not be included in the small-scale category. It was also clear that primarily those who were engaged in the direct act of fishing and allied activities should be the ones included in the scope of the NPOA. 

Session 2 focussed on identifying key issues affecting fish resources and livelihoods and suggesting ways to resolve them. A first theme focussed on the right of small-scale fishers to have legally defined secure access to fisheries resources and legal protections to prevent ongoing and future displacement. The second theme focussed on resolving conflicts in resource management, instituting community-based fisheries management plans and in turn, restoring the environment and fisheries habitats. In this session, fishers were vocal that violations of the Coastal Regulation Zone notification (CRZ) and the non-finalisation of the CZMPs were the two primary reasons for displacement and threats to livelihoods. As a result, the expansion of tourism, development projects and ports on the shore is squeezing fishers on land, while bottom trawling in no-go zones, dredging, water sport boats and effluent discharge is affecting fish resources at sea. The discussion during the day provides a clear path to achieve livelihood security: rolling back the dilutions of the CRZ process, curbs on destructive mechanised fishing, enforcement of fisheries regulations, preferential access to resources at sea and demarcation of post-harvest spaces on land. Together these point to an urgent need to implement a ‘Fishers Rights Act’ to achieve the aims and objective of the SSF guidelines. 

Session 3 was subdivided into four themes focussed on: social development, value chain, gender and climate crisis impacts. Social development focussed on health, education, housing, social protection and occupational safety of small-scale fishers. Market linkages focussed on ways to improve the freshness of fish to provide economic boost to fishers livelihoods, including a focus on finance and organisations. The gender theme focussed on bringing the invisbilised labour and crucial roles of women in fishing and inside households to the forefront, in order to improve access to schemes and finance and strengthen their participation in leadership. Finally, climate crisis focussed on tackling the impacts of and improving the ability of small-scale fishers to cope with climate events. 

The discussions once again provide insights from fishers that show the importance of the VG-SSF process since they call for a paradigm shift away from the way fisheries are currently managed. At fish landing centres, fish markets and in net making and fish processing areas, access to hygienic and sanitation facilities is urgently needed, especially for women. To be able to access markets appropriately, issues of resource management and secure tenure must be ensured first. It is only after securing these that fishers will be able to catch the appropriate fish and sell them in markets, bringing into spotlight the interconnectedness of SSF livelihoods issues. The women provided their views on a series of challenges and solutions: improving working conditions in post-harvest activities, ensuring nutritional security within households, creating leadership opportunities within organisations, crafting new womens’ collectives and upskilling in value-addition and marketing skills. There is also an urgent need to sensitise and change the views of society which stigmatise fisherwomen when they commute on public transport. Finally, climate crisis related changes call for an urgent range of interventions. While fishers provided inputs on early warning systems and insurance schemes, they were firmly of the opinion that protection and restoration of the ecology takes precedence as the first line of action. 

The consultation was locally facilitated by the National Federation of Small Scale Fishworkers with support from the FAO-BOBP and ICAR-CIFE institutions. Representatives from the Goa state Department of Fisheries were also present at the consultation. Goa’s traditional fishworkers union representatives from Goenchea Raponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) also participated in the consultation. The next consultation for North Goa district is scheduled next week on the 24th of October. 

What to do about Diabetes in Children and Youth?

Book: Diabetes in Children and Youth (Makkalu Mattu Yuvajanaralli Madhumeha)

Author: Dr. Kaushik Ural H

Associate Professor, Pediatric Diabetes and Hormone Specialist, Department of Pediatrics, KMC, Manipal

Original (English and Hindi): Dr. Eesh Bhatia, Dr. Vijayalakshmi Bhatia

Publisher: Department of Pediatrics, Kasturba Medical College, Mahe, Manipal

Year of publication: not mentioned.

1. What is the book about?

This is a medical guidebook written in simple Kannada for parents and young patients, about diabetes that occurs in children and adolescents (Mainly Type-1 Diabetes).

The book generally covers these topics:

- What is diabetes? Difference between Type-1 and Type-2

- Symptoms: Excessive thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, fatigue

- About Insulin: Why insulin is needed, how to inject it, how to store it

- Diet and Lifestyle: Diet plan for children, precautions to be taken at school, play and exercise

- Blood sugar testing (Glucometer), HbA1c.

- Emergency conditions: What to do when Low Sugar (Hypoglycemia) and High Sugar (DKA) occurs

2. Who will find this book useful?

- For parents whose child has been newly diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes - it works like a first guide.

- For ASHA workers, nurses, pediatricians, school teachers.

- For anyone who wants to understand diabetes in simple Kannada.

3.  Positives of the book

- Very simple language: Explained in common Kannada without using big medical terms.

- Credible source: It comes from a large institution like KMC Manipal, and the original authors are renowned Endocrinologists of the country.

- Removes fear: It removes the fear that life is over once you have diabetes, and gives confidence that a normal life can be led with proper care.

- Practical advice: Not just theory, it emphasizes what to do in daily life.

4. Limitations

This is like a small booklet given by the hospital to parents, not a large textbook. So it may not have in-depth scientific discussion or much detail about new technologies like Insulin Pump, CGM.

Final Opinion:

If a child in your family or relatives has diabetes, this is a must-read book for every parent to keep at home. When you forget the doctor's words, this book reminds you.

Apeksha R. Tandel

Devu-anna at the Sharavathi estuary meets Arabian Sea at Tonka

 

The dark waters of the Sharavathi River moved with a quiet, ancient heavy grace as they neared their journey's end. There at the narrow wind-swept spit of land known as Honnavar Tonka; the river finally yielded to the vast, turbulent blue of the Arabian Sea. Long before the first rays of dawn broke over the Sahyadri hills, the air in Tonka was already thick with the rich scent of salt, wet sand, and diesel engines warming up along the jetty.

For over forty years, Devu-anna had read this stretch of coast like the palm of his hand. He knew the precise mood of the sea by the way the foam curled along Kasarkod beach, and he could predict the tide simply by listening to the distinct, thunderous roar where the river estuary met the ocean swell. To the younger boys in the village, that convergence—the sangama—was a place of unpredictable currents and sudden sandbars. But to Devu-anna, it was home.

On a cool, starry morning, Devu-anna pushed his wooden boat out into the shallow surf, his nephew Gautham steering the small outboard motor. Gautham was restless, his eyes continuously scanning the dark horizon. He had grown up hearing tales of the great winter squalls that could sweep across the coast without warning, turning the calm estuary into a churning trap.

"Watch the water near the spit, Gautham," Devu-anna said softly, his voice cutting through the mechanical hum of the motor. "The river wants to slide out gently, but the ocean always pushes back. You don't fight the wave at Tonka; you learn where it wants to take you."

They navigated past the long sand spit, where thousands of migratory gulls sat huddled against the damp sea breeze. As the boat cleared the mouth of the river, the heavy pitching began. The vast Arabian Sea opened up before them in deep shades of midnight blue. Miles behind them, the glowing beam of the Kasarkod lighthouse swept across the dark shoreline, a steady beacon anchored in the night.

By mid-morning, two miles off the coast, the nets were cast into the deep. The sun rose high, turning the waters into a blinding sheet of silver. Floating together in the absolute quiet of the open sea, Devu-anna shared stories of the old days—before the big trawlers came, when men rowed out beyond the breaker line using only hand-woven hemp nets and the stars for navigation.

When the time came to haul, the nets came up heavy and glistening. A silver bounty of fresh kingfish, mackerel, and pomfret tumbled onto the deck, thrashing in the sunlight. Gautham’s initial anxiety melted away into pure exhilaration as they sorted the catch into wooden crates.

By late afternoon, as the sky softened into shades of fiery orange and deep violet, the boat turned back toward Tonka. The estuary welcomed them back, its waters now calm and painted in golden reflections of the setting sun. On the shores of Tonka, women in colorful sarees and children were already waiting. As soon as the hull scraped against the wet sand, the beach erupted into its familiar, vibrant evening rhythm—shouted bids, laughing children running through the tide line, and the creak of wooden carts hauling the fresh catch toward the main market.

Devu-anna stepped onto the firm, damp sand and looked back toward the river mouth. The tide was coming in now, pushing fresh seawater back into the Sharavathi. For the people of Tonka, life was measured not in hours or days, but in this endless, eternal rhythm of the river meeting the sea.

Apeksha R. Tandel

To be with Binoculars in Honnavar!

My binoculars brought Honnavar closer to me, very close.

Sharavati River and Kandla Forest: While going on the boat, through the binoculars I saw the living world inside the Kandla forest. Birds sitting on the trees, boats moving in the water, and a big steamer coming from far away.

The Magic of the Sea: When I looked from Eco Beach, the best moment of my life was seeing a dolphin jump out of the water in the distance! The fishermen, their nets, the waves of the sea - everything felt like it was right in front of my eyes.

Hills and Hillocks: When I looked through the binoculars from the hilltop of Apsarakonda, the whole of Honnavar looked like a painting. The place where the Sharavati river meets the sea, the green Kandla forest.

The Night Sky: At night, sitting at Tonka Beach, I saw the moon and stars through the binoculars. I could even see the craters on the moon! I had not expected this.

My Favorite: When my friends were playing at our Tonka Beach, I watched them from a distance through the binoculars. They waved at me, and I saw them from here itself - even though we were far, it felt like we were close.

Honnavar cannot be captured on a phone, it has to be experienced through binoculars. All these moments will remain in my memory for a lifetime.

Apeksha R. Tandel 

That's My Coast through Binoculars Honnavar!

 

My home is near the coast of Honnavar. Every morning before the sunrise the coast wakes up. You can hear it - the waves talking, the boats starting, the birds calling. The fishermen don't need an alarm. The sea calls them.

I have a small spot near Kasarkod beach where I sit daily. I take my 10x42 binocular with me. Not to see far but to feel close.

Yesterday I saw an old man teaching his grandson how to throw a net. With my binocular, I could see his hands - wrinkled, strong, full of stories. He threw the net and it opened like a flower on the water.

On the other side at Honnavar Sante (festival), women sell the morning catch. Their voices are louder than the waves. If you look through a binocular from far you can see the silver shine of the fish before you even reach the market.

In the evening, the coast changes color. The Sharavati river becomes orange, the Arabian sea turns gold. Couples walk, kids play in sand, and crabs run to hide.

The coast is not just beach and water. It's people, work, family, and memories.

My great-grandmother lived here all her life. She used to say, "Look at the sea daily, it will teach you patience." Most likely, she would have been very happy if she had a binocular to see the returning boats clearly from her veranda.

That's my coast. Honnavar. Simple, salty, and full of life. It simply doesn't sleep.

Apeksha R. Tandel

Beach life in-between land and courage

For a city person, beach is a photo for Instagram.

For a coastal person, beach is life, food, and God.

This is not just about Honnavar. This is about Karwar, Kumta, Bhatkal, Mangalore, Udupi, Malpe, Goa, Kerala, and every coast where the Arabian Sea touches India.

5 AM - When the Beach Wakes Up Before You

From Kasarkod to Kanyakumari, the story is same.

The first footprint on the sand is not yours. It's a fisherman's. In Honnavar it's a Kharvi. In Malpe it's a Mogaveera. In Kerala it's a Dheevara. Different names, same bare feet.

He has already pulled his boat ashore before your alarm rings. His wife has already taken the fish to the market in a basket on her head. The sea has already given and taken.

You come to beach with slippers and sunglasses. He comes barefoot, because beach is his temple.

What is a Beach Actually?

Beach is not sand and water. Beach is a border. Where land ends and courage begins.

- For a fisherman: Beach is his office, his highway, his parking lot.

- For a child in any coastal village: Beach is a playground no money can build.

- For an old mother waiting at home: Beach is tension. Will her son return?

- For you and me: Beach is where our stress ends. You shout, no one judges. You sit silent, no one disturbs.

Every beach is different but the pain is same

Kasarkod has silence. Malpe has lights. Goa has music. Marina has crowd. Kovalam has tourists.

But every beach is crying for the same reason - PLASTIC.

Karwar fisherman says same as Honnavar fisherman - Bale alli meenigu kinta plastic jasti.

Mangalore fisherman says - Net alli plastic.

Goa fisherman says - Same, plastic is more than fish.

One beach is dirty, whole Arabian Sea becomes dirty because sea has no compound wall. Plastic thrown in Mumbai reaches Honnavar. Plastic thrown in Honnavar reaches Kerala.

The beach is tired all over India

One chocolate wrapper you throw in Bhatkal - it takes 5 years to go and kills a turtle in Kasarkod.

One beer bottle you break in Udupi - a fisherman's son in Kumta bleeds while walking barefoot.

One plastic cover you leave in Goa - a dolphin in Karwar thinks it's jellyfish and dies.

We come to beach to clean our mind, but we leave the beach dirty. From Gujarat to Kerala, same mistake.

A Small Request - For ALL Coastal Beaches

Next time you go to ANY beach - whether it's Honnavar Eco Beach or Om Beach or Malpe or Kovalam:

1. Sit for 10 minutes without phone. Just listen to waves. The waves are same everywhere.

2. Take 3 pieces of plastic back that are not yours. If 1000 people do it, beach will be clean in one day.

3. Don't write your name on sand. Sea will erase it anyway. Keep the beach clean - people will remember you.

Last Line:

From Honnavar to whole India - Beach doesn't need us. We need beach.

Beach was here before you were born. It will be here after you are gone.

If we don't protect it today, our children will only see beach in photos.

Nanna Plastic, Nanna Javabdari - My Plastic, My Responsibility.

Apeksha R. Tandel