Barely two years after women engaged in dry fish business were trained and provided with hybrid solar driers for hygienic preparation of the produce, the move to privatise dry fish production centres in Ganjam and Puri districts has left them shattered. The Fisheries Department had recently floated tenders to privatise the 99 self-help groups which were provided eco-friendly hybrid solar driers in February 2014 as part of alternative livelihood programme under fishery component. The concept was introduced by Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZMP) and aided by World Bank. The officials of ICZMP selected the SHGs in the two districts for its pilot project, trained them in distinctive packaging aspects of perishable fish products as per the food safety norms. As per the plan, popular dry fish varieties which have a high demand are dried hygienically through solar platforms, processed and packaged by fisherwomen groups for supply to various places in the State. The packaging and marketing initiative is part of livelihood activities adopted by ICZMP to provide crucial linkage to marketing system for marginal fishing families in a dignified manner. As many as 30 solar drying platforms were supplied by ICZMP and machineries worth over Rs 7 crore. But, no attention was paid to basic facilities like marketing facility, light, drainage and drinking water near the platforms. No steps were taken to construct boundary wall for the machines, either. The areas where machines have been installed serve as a den for anti-socials, who occupy it after the working hours. As per norms, the SHGs should be provided financial assistance from time to time but the fund is yet to flow in. The SHG members said, they somehow managed to produce dry fish, but now the Department has floated tenders to privatise all the 99 dry fish units and fixed March 29 to declare agency name. SHG leaders A Parbati, B Polamma and others said despite their repeated requests to the authorities concerned, the latter have turned a blind eye to their problems. If the Fisheries Department does not revoke its privatisation decision, they will not allow the units to function, they threatened. The fisheries authorities were not available for comment.