AGARTALA, Aug 1(TIWN): Thousands of fishermen in the state are going without work as the rivers have dried up, fisheries officials said. This list of rivers comprises the Haora, Gomati, Khowai, Fenni,Dhalai,Burima, Manu - Deo

Fishermen have mostly become unemployed and are trying to switch to other professions in order to survive. Most of the  fishermen in Khowai, Dumbur, Gandchera, Champaknagar, Sabroom along with their families are now starving as their livelihoods are connected to the flow of rivers, which has almost completely died up.

Many fishermen have been forced to change occupation as rivers remains dry for at least seven months a year during the lean period. Large chars emerged across the river bed causing absence of fisher men, forcing them to seek other means of livelihood –like day labourers in paddy fields, rickshaw puller, while female members of the families seek employment as house maids.             

Sadhan Das 59 who earns livelihood by catching fishes from Khowai river said, “ There was also a sharp decline in the fish population in the river. A number of previously common species including chital, boal, shol, gajar, and  padda are no longer available in the region”

Another fisherman Nayan Das said they catch fish only for a period of four months from June to September and used to earn Rs 300 – 400 a  day by catching and selling fishes even five years back. Both of them had been turned into day labourers now.  They said that they had to struggle to earn livelihoods as there were no adequate jobs in the area. Rajendra Chandra Das, a fisherman of Chakmaghat in Teliamura said, “ Once the Haora river was our source of livelihoods. Now we are struggling to feed our family as there is hardly any water in the river. 

“Fishermen suffering will not come down unless navigability is brought back to the rivers.The relevant authorities (like the water development board) should work toward this end immediately and end the suffering of the fishermen who are heavily dependent on the rivers for their livelihood,” said a high level official of fishery department.