SOCIAL IMPACT OF FORMALIN LACED FISH BAN IN PATNA

Formalin is obtained from formaldehyde which a potent carcinogenic chemical often used to preserve dead bodies. This life-threatening substance is also used to preserve fishes as dead fishes decompose fast. A high content of formalin was found in the samples of fishes collected from various locations confined in Patna (capital of Bihar) Municipal Area. Looking on to situation, Government of Bihar declared a 15 day ban on fish sale, storage and transportation from the first week of October under the procurement of section 59 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The infringement of the ban was outlawed with imprisonment upto 7 years and Rs.10 lakh fine.

To assess the socio-economic impact of fish ban in the city of Patna, we conducted survey by visiting several wholesalers, retailers, and street vendors. Our study shows that the fish ban by government has negatively impacted the socio-economic condition of all the people involved in the business, which is severe for the retailers and street vendors. Our previous study of socio-economic condition of fisher folks in Patna (Meghna et. al., WAS 2018) showed that a majority of retailers and street vendors are illiterate. Nonetheless, they are skilful in fish processing. Thus, due to ban, a majority are facing the situation of unemployment. Many of them have migrated and few of them have started low wage employment such as house maid etc. However, the salary is very less compared to what they were earning before, hence, not able to fulfil their basic necessities. Even after the ban has been lifted, the fear of consuming formalin laced fishes in the mind of the consumers has led to drastic reduction in the selling of fishes.Unemployment became a soft target for the opposition political parties to provoke them against the ruling government. Lack of awareness about the formalin, fish processing techniques and fisheries related employment opportunities among the fisher folks has also aggravated the situation.